Dreading the day when you need to squeeze back into that swimsuit is common for many people as the seasons begin to change from spring to summer. However, there is hope. Eating a healthy diet can help you lose weight before you know it. Choosing a healthy, low-calorie diet should be long-term goal, although it can lead to short-term weight loss. Consult your doctor before beginning any new diet.
MyPyramid Meal Plan
Following the U.S. Department of Agriculture's MyPyramid diet plan is an ideal way to lose weight before summer comes. MyPyramid can help you get that bikini body by showing you exactly how many calories you need to consume each day to shed pounds. A customized meal-plan report will teach you about the types of foods that can help you lose weight. The primary food groups recommended by the USDA include whole grains, low- or non-fat dairy, vegetables, fruits and lean meats and/or protein sources.
The MyPyramid plan is a safe and healthy diet program backed by scientific research on nutrition. It's also free to use the MyPyramid online tool, and it takes minutes to get a personalized report based on your age, sex, height, weight and daily physical activity level.
Low-Glycemic Index Diet
The glycemic index, or GI, is a measure of the how carbohydrates react within the human body. Specifically, it ranks foods by how much they affect the blood glucose levels in the body. Low-GI foods don't cause extreme fluctuations of blood glucose levels, so they can help to lower your risk of heart disease as well as help you lose a substantial amount of weight, according to the Glycemic Index Foundation and the University of Sydney.
By eating a diet based primarily on low-GI foods, you can get down to your target weight before summertime rolls around. The focus of a low-GI diet is to switch out certain high-GI carbohydrate for lower-GI alternatives. For instance, at breakfast, eat cereals made with oats, barley and bran rather than high-sugar cereals. Choose whole-grain breads over white breads. Finally, eat plenty of fruits and vegetables --- limiting potato consumption, because potatoes are relatively high on the GI scale.
Vegetarian Diet
Vegetarian diets are typically lower in calories than meat diets because they do not contain any of the high-calorie fats and protein found in animal products. A diet based on vegetables, fruits, whole grains and nuts, seeds and legumes is a healthy choice that can help you lose weight in short order. Most reputable health organizations, including the Mayo Clinic and the American Dietetic Association, support vegetarianism. However, the Mayo Clinic cautions, vegetarians should be wary of several nutrients commonly lacking in a vegetarian diet. These include calcium, iodine, protein, omega-3 fatty acids, zinc, vitamin D, iron and vitamin B12. Eating plenty of iron- and vitamin-fortified soy products and cereals, leafy vegetables, nuts, seeds and legumes --- and in wide variety --- will ensure that you're getting proper nutrition.
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