Eat Clean to Lose Weight and Keep it Off

Today, obesity is considered an epidemic not just among adults but children as well. Obesity-related diseases such as heart attacks, diabetes and high cholesterol are at an all-time high. Yet, there are numerous weight loss strategies and techniques that seemingly make it easy to lose weight and keep it off, right? Wrong! The problem is that many of these so-called ‘diet’ foods contain so many chemicals and harmful ingredients that they actually have the opposite effect, making you gain even more weight. Your body simply doesn’t know what to do with all of those foreign ingredients and stores them as fat. This is what causes the roller coaster of gaining and losing weight.

So, what is the answer? Eat clean! No, this doesn’t mean washing all of your food with Pine Sol or Mr. Clean before you eat it; it simply means that you cut out the overly-processed foods that wreak havoc on your body and your immune system. Here is a good rule of thumb: if you can’t pronounce the ingredients listed on the package, it’s probably best left on the shelf. Chances are the product is made in a factory or in a lab. Some have coined these foods as ‘franken-foods.’

There are several principles of eating clean that involve not only what you eat, but when you eat. First, in order to increase your metabolism you must eat more often. Instead of three large meals per day, break up your food portions and eat five or six times per day. This will train your metabolism to know that it is getting food in a just a few hours, so it can dispose of the food it already has.

Next, combine lean protein with complex carbohydrates at every meal. Some examples are chicken with sweet potatoes or tuna and whole grain bread. Include water with every meal, so you are getting at least six glasses of water in per day. Water will help flush out fat and toxins from your system.

The most important aspect of eating clean is to eat whole, fresh foods like fruits and vegetables that grow naturally. If nature made it, it is good for you: it’s that simple. Fresh foods from the farm (or better yet from your garden) will help keep you healthy and living a vibrant life for years to come.

Have you ever noticed the layout of your local grocery store? Take a long look the next time you go; you’ll no doubt notice that the perimeter of the store contains the fresh fruits and vegetables, dairy products, eggs, meats and breads. The rest of store is filled with your processed foods: chips, candy, boxed and packaged goods, etc. This is the section you need to stay away from.

Don’t think that eating clean needs to be boring or bland; there are hundreds of recipes you can find online that will incorporate the fresh foods and herbs that you purchase. All it takes is a bit of planning and self-discipline. You will notice the pounds drop off almost effortlessly, while you enjoy a more vibrant, healthy life.

 

Johnny Guyzer is a responsible husband and father of three kids, which is why he really understands the importance of cutting down monthly expenses and saving money for the long term. He was able to cut down his family’s monthly expenses by finding the best rates for affordable health insurance rates through an online comparison website to compare quotes.