1. Live the Diet
When starting a diet, you have to learn what makes that diet work. The Flat Belly Diet is based around the use of monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFAs) that help break down excess fat and are contained in certain foods. The diet is based on the use of certain oils, nuts and seeds, avocados, olives and dark chocolate. The diet consists of four meals a day, each of which have 400 calories. The MUFAs can be spread over the meals, but need to be kept to the suggested amounts: 1 tbs. of oils, 2 tbs. of nuts and seeds, 1/4 cup of avocado, 10 olives and 1/4 cup of dark chocolate.
2. Don't Forget Exercise
Even though the Flat Belly Diet doesn't stress exercise, that doesn't mean you shouldn't include it. Exercising not only keeps your muscles toned, but it keeps your heart healthy. Exercising increases circulation and keeps blood sugar levels in balance. The word exercise can scare people. Most people think you have to go to a gym or suffer through extensive workout programs. If that is what you like, go for it. On the other hand, taking daily walks or riding a bike can be adequate. You need to develop a program that fits you as an individual, and not everyone takes well to the gym. Many people are active enough with their kids that a huge program would be overkill. Find a happy medium that works for you and incorporate it into your daily routine.
3. Get Support
In order to make any diet successful, you need a good support system. Everyone can use a little encouragement now and then to maintain motivation. Build a strong support system of family, friends and coworkers and see if any of them would be interested in doing the program with you. They will also be able to see results when you may not.
Include your kids in the process. The Flat Belly Diet has foods that the whole family will enjoy. The nuts and seeds make great snacks for the kids and are a great pick-me-up for the adults throughout the day. Avocados can be added to "taco night" and dark chocolate can be used in desserts the family will love. The Flat Belly diet foods can be added to almost every meal and will add nutrition as well as taste. Bringing the family together with good food is an excellent way to build support for everyone. Teach the kids how to eat well and stay positive and the process will last them a lifetime. Adding good, nutritious foods and exercise to the family routine will make everyone feel better--and nobody even has to know it started with the Flat Belly Diet.
4. Keep a Journal
Sometimes looking in the mirror is just not enough to prove the results are real. The Flat Belly Diet targets the areas we tend to notice the most. The stomach, along with our hips and thighs, are what we usually see first and many times we really don't like what we see. The Flat Belly Diet targets those areas and provides not only foods that break the cycle of cortisol, but shows how to prevent the cycle from starting again.
Begin a diary or journal that will help document your progress. It will help keep you focused on what you want to accomplish. It will also be a positive reminder of just how far you have come. Include pictures, comments, articles and milestones. All of these things may seem trivial, but if it sparks the desire to succeed, then it will be worth more than you realize. Record what and how much you eat every day. You can also log in an exercise journal. One good thing to keep in mind is to not weigh yourself every day. Weight fluctuates and sometimes will go up before coming down. A good rule of thumb is to weigh yourself every 2 or 3 days. Also, it's best to weigh yourself in the morning. Weighing at night can give you a heavier reading and can discourage even the heartiest of dieters.
5. Stay Motivated
Remember why you are dieting. Is it for the right reason? If you are doing it as a whim, you won't get far. If you are doing it because you are really trying to lose weight and be healthier, then you need to stay motivated. People use a variety of ways to keep their spirits up. Some people put up "before" and "after" pictures, while others challenge themselves to work harder or do more. Use positive affirmations written throughout your journal. You can also post them on your locker, desk or refrigerator, anywhere that they will be in plain sight so you can see and read them often.
The Flat Belly Diet offers motivational tips and suggestions on how to stay on top of the weight loss game. It encourages the inclusion of family and friends, not just other dieters. Even though the Flat Belly Diet says weight loss can be accomplished without excessive exercise, it still encourages you to stay active. Staying active will help to foster the motivation you need to keep going and reach the goals you have set for yourself.
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