The Power Of Salad & Protein For Rapid Weight Loss

The best way to lose weight is in a steady, controlled fashion over a period of time. If you really have to shed the pounds fast, though, there are several diets offering quick results with minimum effort. While this may seem too good to be true, there are some dieting tricks that have proved to be successful.

Function

According to the Weight-Control Information Network, you will need to burn more calories every day through exercise or other daily activity than you consume through food. On a diet like this, you will be aiming to restrict your calorie intake as much as possible to speed weight loss -- the greater your calorie deficit, the faster you will lose weight.

Features

In terms of nutritional composition, the key components of a protein and salad diet are protein and complex carbohydrates in the form of vegetables. Unlike other crash diets, a salad and protein-based diet should keep you feeling relatively full and should keep your energy levels well-balanced, provided that you eat small meals at regular intervals. Five to six meals spread throughout the day, eaten every few hours will keep you from suffering hunger pangs or dips in energy. Protein is slow to digest in the stomach and keeps you feeling full for longer, as do complex carbohydrates, even though they are comparatively low in calories.

Considerations

Avoid refined carbohydrates such as white rice or white pasta, which are high in calories but nutritionally poor. They are rapidly converted to glucose in the body, which can lead to energy fluctuations throughout the day, potentially giving you excess energy that will be stored in your body as fat while also leaving you hungry at other times. Limit the amount of dressing you use. It can be high in fat.

Types

If you do not eat meat, you can still find protein from other sources. According to the Harvard School of Public Health, fish and poultry are lower in fat than red meat, while nutritionist Ian Marber recommends tofu, eggs, cheese, raw nuts, chickpeas, beans and lentils as alternatives. Salad is a wide-ranging choice. Stick to green leaves, bell peppers, tomatoes and other vegetables when making your salad. Avoid rice, pasta and potato-based salads.

Tips

When the body is deprived of calories for an extended period of time, it begins to adapt. Your body will then try to preserve its supplies of energy by slowing your metabolism, reducing the effectiveness of your diet and slowing weight loss. Compensate for this by incorporating cheat days or meals into your diet plan, eating as much of whatever you like to trick your body into raising its metabolism again. Other tricks include drinking plenty of water, which will not only keep you hydrated but will also keep you feeling full for longer.