Diet vs Meal Plan

What is the difference between a diet and meal plan? Well, diet’s are using some form of “new” fat to lose the most weight in a short amount of time. Diet’s also are hard to stick to for a duration of time. Diet’s usually require the person to remove some type of essential nutrient for the body.

Here is the deal! Everyone’s body needs proteins, carbohydrates, and healthy fats. You can’t eliminate any of these three items out of your daily food intake. These are essential for the body to function properly.

How many times have you heard someone saying they have cut out all carbohydrates out of the daily food intake? I hear this one all the time. Sure, you may see some initial weight loss, but what happens when you add carbohydrates back to your daily food intake? You gain weight! The reason why this happens is the body will store it as body fat in the fear it will be deprived from it again because it is essential!

Now, there are different types of carbohydrates: Simple and Complex. Simple carbohydrates are found in processed sugar like candy, soda, and other quick fix junk food items. Complex Carbohydrates come from starches etc. The body benefits from complex carbohydrates and energy levels last longer than the “sugar” crash that you feel after having simple carbohydrates.

Diets may also limit the amount of times you eat a day to put the body in a calories deficit. Well, what if I told you that you really need to eat 5 meals a day. Now, you may be wondering how is eating 5 times a day good for you! Now, eating 5 times a day means that the meal plan of course is made up of good, healthy foods along with good habits. Eating 5 times a day does not mean you can eat pizza 5 times per day to be lean, mean, and hard working machine. This will be a quick way to become a big blob of blubber! Which none of us what to be in this position. Pizza is high in carbohydrates and pizza can drag you down, bloat you and deplete your energy.

It’s time to change your eating habits and start eating light and healthy. The first step is to change your lifestyle and your eating habits is to start the day with a good healthy breakfast. Your body needs a source of protein and a carbohydrate at breakfast. As you move through your day continue eating a good source of protein, carbohydrates and some fats every 3-4 hours. Do not let your body go for more than 4 hours without food as you may slow down your metabolism. Eating more throughout the day is working to raise your metabolic rate so your can burn calories all day long. Drink plenty of water before and after meals and throughout the day to curb your appetite. You want to flush out any toxins and excess fat in your body.

It is important to plan your meals with foods you enjoy to have the best success. So, if you don’t like tuna, do not force yourself to eat tuna. You will never stay consistent if you dread what you have to eat. Eat your meals slowly while sitting down. We are often eating on the run, standing in the kitchen, or even in the car. We do not give our bodies the chance to tell our brains we are satisfied and as you may know, if you are not satisfied, you might over eat.

Of course there will be days that you may “fall off the band wagon.” So, if you eat a high fat meal or over eat at dinner. It happens, just don’t give up- just get right back on your eating plan the next day and your body will not be affected. If you throw in the towel, that is where you get into trouble. If you make a mistake at work, you don’t just quit your job - you correct the mistake and move forward. Remember, quitters never win and winners never quit!

Here is some helpful tips to follow if body fat loss is your goal:

* Have your food steamed, baked, broiled or roasted.

* Eliminate any rich, thick sauces and soups such as Bernadine, hollandaise, Alfredo’s an sauces (marinara is a better choice)

*Remove skin and fat from chicken.

*Eliminate butter all together.

*Eat smaller portions- more often- never stuff yourself.

*Share dessert- do not eat the whole thing yourself!

*Learn to just have a taste- if it is a food you cannot resist, stay away from it all together.

*Chew gum while baking- especially during the holiday’s.

*Ask for salad dressing on the side- dip your fork in for taste.

*Do not go out to dinner starved- this will lead you to over eat. Drink water before you meals.