Posted by evens

Dieting has a bad image! We tend to think of rabbit food salads and unhappy, hungry people. But dieting need not be unpleasant and the choice of foods need not be restricted. In order to keep yourself healthy and safe, dieting plans should adhere to certain basic principles. You can follow a good diet plan by joining a club (such as Weight Watchers) or you can plan your own method. It will be successful if you avoid over-eating and take up some moderate exercise!

So what can you eat?

There is no set formula for safe dieting. What you should do is ensure that you eat moderate portions selected from the main food groups. These are: grains; fruits; vegetables; dairy products; meat or alternatives; and fats, oils and sugars. Match this with some moderate exercise and you are on a healthy, safe diet. (However, if you are pregnant or have any medical condition, you should always discuss safe dieting with your health care professional first.)

How much should you lose in a week?

Many professionals recommend a target of losing one pound per week.

What, only one pound?

Yes, this may not sound much and may seem to take forever, but surely you want to set goals you know you can achieve and that will last for the longer term? This goal can be safely achieved by making some very simple changes to your lifestyle. Losing more pounds per week often ends in discouragement and a rapid return to the old ways.

So why not start by aiming to lose 500 calories per day? Eating 250 calories less is not all that difficult. Nor is burning off 250 calories through exercise, either through outdoor activities or on a exercise machine. In a week you will have burned 3,500 calories which is equal to one pound. Simply avoiding an extra cookie or trimming the size of your portions can easily save 250 calories, as can a brisk walk on a treadmill for half an hour or so.

Dieting scams are rife!

Major hindrances to safe dieting can be the scams that are rife on TV and in magazines. So often we hear about pills, patches, powders and heaven knows what being promoted as the latest ‘instant cure’. And so often these are not approved by the legitimate medical authorities. Many desperate dieters who want to fit into a smaller suit for a family wedding or look good in a bikini on next month’s vacation can be sucked into these scams. To avoid these temptations, just think of the high numbers of casualties who have been hospitalized and the mounting lawsuits against the scammers. (Often the claim ‘Approved by Doctors’ has no legitimacy at all.)

Instead, why not take your inspiration from celebrities like Oprah Winfrey or Ricki Lake who have shown what can really be achieved by safe dieting and moderate exercise?

Frank McGinty is a teacher, counselor, and internationally published author, with lots of experience in helping people improve their lives. Would you like to overcome your weight problems - and be happy, healthy and optimistic? Discover some outstanding resources here: http://www.weightloss.fssgold.com - and claim your free weight loss report.

By Frank McGinty