Food Diet Plan to Lose Weight Fast

Food Diet Plan to Lose Weight Fast
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Losing weight ultimately comes down to an equation. One pound equals about 3,500 calories, so it's necessary to consistently eliminate or burn that many calories to lose weight. The faster that happens, the faster the weight will drop. You are more likely to keep weight off if you lose it at a gradual pace, so consider starting a new diet plan slowly and making more changes as time goes on.

Guide

A helpful diet guide is the United States Department of Agriculture's food pyramid. Not all of the items in the pyramid are suitable for all diets, but a healthy eating plan for weight loss should include foods from all of the five main groups: grains, vegetables, fruits, lean proteins and low-fat or nonfat dairy products. Without such a balance, people become subject to nutrient deficiencies, and their health and immune systems can become compromised.

Changes

One of the most significant changes to make in a diet is reducing the amount of calories that you eat daily. To lose about a pound per week without increasing physical activity, it's necessary to eat approximately 500 fewer calories per day. One way to reduce calorie consumption is to choose lower-calorie foods, such as fresh fruits and vegetables. Another way is to eat less food altogether. Substitution is another helpful technique that HelpGuide.org recommends to save calories. To do it, replace high-calorie and high-fat items, such as doughnuts, flavored lattes, bagels and pancakes, with healthier items such as berries, plain coffee, whole-grain toast or oatmeal.

Portions

It's possible to further accelerate weight loss by practicing portion control. Reducing portion sizes can inspire dieters to eat less food and even feel more satisfied with the portions they do have. KidsHealth.org suggests mentally dividing plates into quarters and filling two of the quarters with fruits or vegetables, one quarter with protein and one quarter with starch or grains. HelpGuide.org recommends ordering appetizers instead of entrees at restaurants and serving up food in smaller dishes than usual at home.

Details

Customizing a diet plan can make a big difference in its effectiveness. The Mayo Clinic encourages people on diets to customize the eating plans to their preferences, budgets, lifestyles and habits. Choose foods you like that are also healthy, and allow small occasional splurges. Following a plan that is enjoyable and that fits with your life may help you lose weight more quickly than you would with a plan that isn't as suitable.

Tips

Resist the temptation to eat when you're not hungry. When you feel like reaching for a snack or fixing a big meal, wait 10 minutes and re-evaluate. If you're still hungry, make healthy, low-calorie food choices. Drink plenty of water throughout the day to prevent dehydration and promote fullness and satisfaction with the food you eat. Finally, eat consciously. Pay attention to how full you feel, chew food slowly and plan meals in advance so that you can enjoy them and don't have to grab supplementary snacks later.

References

Article reviewed by Greg Duran Last updated on: Jun 14, 2011

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