A Food Plan That Works
By: Daniel Green
So many of us seem to make the same mistake again and again as we struggle with our weight: restricting ourselves until it becomes impossible to maintain our eating plan - or our sanity. It's the same all-or-nothing attitude that tells us that if we don't get to the gym five days a week, then it's not worth exercising at all. And it often yields the same disappointing results.
The keys to designing an eating plan are to know yourself, know your habits, and be realistic. If you know that you are not going to be happy eating a large salad for lunch every day, why set yourself up for disappointment? This may lead you to get down on yourself, and ultimately to inevitable failure. In addition, it may leave you lacking the energy to fully benefit from your workouts or even get through your day feeling happy and healthy. And finally, it may slow your metabolism to such an extent that you won't even reap the rewards for starving yourself.
So what works? A healthy, balanced diet using the Food Guide Pyramid as its foundation is your safest and wisest bet. Eating
smaller meals throughout the day - including a full breakfast - will keep your energy level high and your body fueled for activity. And perhaps most importantly, it's a realistic plan that most anyone can adhere to.
Something else about the Food Guide Pyramid makes this plan even easier to stick with. At the tip of the pyramid is the Fats, Oils, and Sweets Group, with the recommendation to "Use Sparingly." Notice that it doesn't say "one piece of cake will ruin your efforts" or "one slip-up and you might as well give up." So don't beat yourself up if you have a slice of birthday cake at the office or a scoop of ice cream on a summer afternoon. Just be sure that you make healthy choices as often as you can and return to the your diet plan with your very next meal.
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Daniel Green is the Managing Editor for the American Council on Exercise (ACE) and an ACE-certified Lifestyle & Weight Management Consultant. He is also a Contributing Editor to both ACE
Fitness Matters and ACE Certified News. Visit the ACE Web site at
www.acefitness.org.
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