With the neverending parade of fad diets, diet habits and restrictions that are readily advocated by books, magazines and television shows, it can be hard to know which diet tips are the real deal. Some fads, like cutting out entire types of food from your diet, or only eating one type of food, may help you to lose weight initially, but don't teach you how to eat properly. And some diet tips don't work at all. What does work is a focus on healthy weight loss and a better lifestyle.
Clean Fridge
Dr. Mehmet Oz, M.D., host of "The Dr. Oz Show" gives this piece of advice to anyone looking to eat healthier: Clean out your fridge. Even if you head to the store and buy only the healthiest food, old temptations lurking in your fridge and pantry can cause your diet to derail. Get rid of the processed, sugary foods and replace them with healthy snacks that you actually enjoy: fruit, veggies, whole grain crackers and cheese.
Make Substitutions
You may love that every Friday at your house is pizza night. Just because you're on a diet doesn't mean you suddenly have to make it a tofu night instead. Make healthy substitutions with the food that you love to make it healthier without feeling hungry or deprived. Choose a whole wheat crust and load it with low-fat cheese and veggie toppings rather than fatty meat. Or choose lean ham over pepperoni. Enjoy your favorite foods, but make them better for you.
Food Diary
Keeping a food diary is one of the easiest and most useful diet tips, and one that is endorsed by the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. Writing down what you eat and how much you eat can help you control your portions when you suddenly become accountable for the food you put in your body. It can also help you identify unhealthy eating patterns, like choosing chips when you're bored or noshing on Chinese takeout when you're sad. You can then find healthier alternatives.
Small Meals
Eating small meals throughout the day helps keep your metabolism revved up to burn calories. When you eat constantly, rather than tanking on three large meals per day, you tell your body to store fat and calories since you won't be eating again for a while. Eating five or six small meals per day tells your metabolism to quickly burn the calories since you'll be eating again soon. Choose more snack-like meals more often throughout the day.
Exercise
Unfortunately, no fad diet or diet secret will be successful without the addition of physical exercise. Exercise will help your body to burn excess calories and will allow you to see better results when you make smarter health and diet choices. Even a brisk walk after dinner will help you to burn calories, digest your food and allow you to feel better.
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