Articles: Weight Loss

One of the most efficient ways to lose weight is to eat healthy. A healthy and balanced diet not only will help you lose weight, it also helps to maintain your body cells, tissues, and organs. A healthy diet also helps you to maintain your weight loss. People, who eat healthy, find that they have more energy to help them throughout the day. Their food is not stored as fat, because they consume the right amount of calories for the levels of activity they are doing.

When designing a personal healthy diet plan for yourself, it is important to take into account the amount of exercise you are doing. An average female who does 30 minutes of moderate exercise most days, should eat approximately 2000 calories per day to maintain her weight. An average male who does 30 minutes of moderate exercise most days, should eat approximately 2800 calories per day to maintain his weight. If you find that you gain weight when you eat a certain amount of calories, you should eat fewer calories. If you find that you are losing too much weight, you should eat more calories. The key is to find the right balance for you as an individual.

What Is a Healthy Diet?

A healthy diet is a diet that is balanced. It is one in which the appropriate food groups are consumed on a daily basis. These food groups are found in the food pyramid. You can visit mypyramid.gov/ to receive a free personalized healthy diet plan for yourself that includes all the food groups.


What Are the Food Groups?

The main food groups include:

Grains
Vegetables
Fruits
Dairy
Meat and Beans
Fats and Sugars (Limit- Up to 265 calories for women and 425 calories for men

Average Female Daily Consumption (2000 Calories Per Day)
Average Male Daily Consumption (2800 Calories Per Day)

Tips for Eating Healthy

* Plan Meals With a Wide Variety of Foods - As stated above, a healthy diet is one in which all the food groups are consumed on a daily basis. When you plan your meals make sure all the food groups are included, and you eat the correct amount from each part of the food pyramid.

* Moderation is Key- You can eat your favorite sweets, fried foods, and even junk foods and not feel guilty- as long as you keep it in moderation. The key is to only eat these foods every once in a while. When you do eat these foods, be sure you don't eat more than your personal food pyramid allows.

* Don't Eat Too Much- Over the years, portion sizes have become bigger and bigger. The fact is that we don't need all the food that is served to us. In fact, if we do eat all the food that is served to us, we are more likely to gain weight. Therefore, be as conscious as you can when you make your own meals. Be sure to keep your portions to the correct amount of your personal food pyramid. Eating out at restaurants can be tricky, because most offer twice, sometimes even triple, the portion size that you need.

Here are some ways to eat the right amount of food at restaurants:

* split an entre' with a friend
* order an appetizer as your meal
* don't be afraid to ask for a doggie bag

Compliment Your Healthy Diet with Exercise - A healthy diet is not just about what you eat. Physical activity is very important to overall health. An adult should get about 30 minutes of moderate physical activity most days.