Find The Right Eating Plan For You

When you are trying to lose weight, what works for one person might not necessarily work for you.

There is so much confusion as to what is best for weight loss. There are so many fad diets around it is hard to know what works and what doesn't.

For me even the thought of a diet is enough to make me grab for the chocolate bar. Don't get me wrong, now that I have got older there are plenty of times I need to watch what I eat and lose a few pound. If you have read some of my previous posts you will know that I like to follow lean and clean eating habits This is the post here is you want to read it

I don't always follow it to the latter but it sure is a good way to reduce any bloating and my waistline. 

Because you are eating only foods in their natural state, there is no build up of toxins and excess fluid. I have yet to speak to anyone who has not lost weight with it. However, like I said earlier you all have your own method that works for you.

I used to believe that the best way to lose weight was to keep my metabolism ticking over by eating six small meals a day. I found this doesn't work for me but what does work if I am diverting off the lean and clean approach is to not graze in between meals. If I stick to three meals a day with no snacks, then I find this has the same affect in weight loss although I do still get some bloating depending on what I eat.

Getting to know your body and what works for you is one of the best pieces of knowledge anyone can acquire. If you are still working it out then experiment with different options, but remember, starving yourself isn't one of them. Whatever option I decide, I always make sure I never, ever go hungry with it. When you starve yourself, you will initially lose weight but then your body will think it is going into starvation mode and will hang on to every bit of fat or fluid it can. Also in the weight loss mode you will not only lose a bit of fat but also important muscle tone. Having lean muscle is one of the best tools you can have to burn calories (to get this you need to add some weight training in to your exercise routine!)

So with all of that in mind find out what works for you and use it to your advantage.

Healthy Body, Healthy Mind

I have always tried to eat healthy but like most people I am guilty of falling short in this quest from time to time.

I enjoy having fish and chips and the occasional ice cream. However, to fuel my body properly and to give me the best energy, I need to focus on eating healthier more of the time.

I have studied Nutrition and over the years and have listened very carefully to how my body reacts to certain foods. For example I suffer from palpitations and I know that if I have too much caffeine, alcohol or sugar then for the next day or two I will get more occurrences than normal. Also if I have eaten too much 'junk' food then I know I will feel tired and bloated. It is quite a good bit of knowledge to know about yourself.

When I feel sluggish and tired the last thing I feel like doing is exercising and in order for me to train in time for the charity events I am taking part in, then I need to eat right.

So how do I do this?

I eat what I call 'clean' foods for as much of the time as I can. I never ever tell myself that I can't have certain foods, so I eat 'clean' all week and then allow myself a treat day. This is not a day to pig out and eat whatever I choose, but a day to allow myself a meal of eating pizza or fish and chips (or whatever I feel like) and maybe an ice cream or piece of cake.

The results over time are amazing. I feel less bloated, have more energy and lose a few spare pound in the process. It is not a diet but a way of eating natural foods that have not been processed or changed in any way. 

I have covered this way of eating in a previous post but you can read it here:

http://lookgoodover40.blogspot.co.uk/2012/10/non-toxic-eating.html