Starting a real food diet does not have to be terribly hard. Success lies in finding an approach that you can make work. It doesn't have to be perfect, it just has to work.
It's A Process
Try not to think of your diet as being a temporary plan. You'll find it easier and more productive to see it as a different way of living - and one that you will ease into. See it as an ongoing series of continual upgrades to your diet.
When you make a "mistake" - and eat something you feel guilty about -- move on! Realize that you've just been given a chance to identify something that doesn't work for you - and to find a way to handle it better the next time. That's all. That said, here are a few ideas to help you succeed.
Healthy Fats and Protein Help
It doesn't matter what we do, we are designed to have a passion for foods high in sugar and fat - and to avoid being too hungry. It's an automatic survival mechanism, and it makes it extremely difficult to stick to many typical diets. The great thing about eating a real food diet is that going hungry just isn't necessary. You just need to concentrate on eating good real food.
One example of this is exchanging typical low-fat diet foods for more satisfying choices. Real foods that are rich in protein and healthy fats - think eggs, grass-fed meat and dairy - will help keep you satisfied.
Once I switched my normal breakfast from soy milk and granola to scrambled eggs, I noticed a big change. My energy level throughout the day became much more stable, plus the mid-morning crashes and sugar cravings vanished -- and I lost some body fat. And my cholesterol is great, but that's a story for another time.
Eat With Awareness
A classic bit of dieting wisdom is to be mindful of your eating -- especially paying attention to when you begin to feel full. As you follow a real food diet, you may be eating foods with more protein and fat than you're used to. These foods will satisfy you much more easily than low-fat or high carbohydrate foods. Concentrate on trying to notice when you've had enough, and your portion sizes will adjust themselves naturally.
I realize that conventional wisdom is to never go back for seconds, but I disagree. I like to start a meal with one very small serving, and know that I can return for more if I want it. Just make sure to pause for a moment between servings and notice how much more you really want. I think it's a better option than heaping up your plate to start and then feeling obligated to finish all you took.
It Gets Easier
When you struggle with cravings - don't struggle too hard. The more you make improvements to your diet, the less they will bother you, so surrender a bit if you must. Also - if you don't notice fewer cravings after a while, you ought to reevaluate your diet and experiment a bit. Keep trying to eat less sugar, and make certain you're getting some healthy protein and fat with each meal.
Also -- and this is critical (at least for me) -- make sure that you always have something that you can indulge in. Find one thing that you truly enjoy (in moderation!), and invest in a good real food version of it. My indulgence is good ice cream, and I can say that it works wonders in keeping me content and satisfied while I go about my diet.
You Deserve to Succeed
Finally, keep your purpose in mind, and don't forget that you are worth the effort! You deserve to eat well, and you are worth the extra effort that it takes to enjoy healthy real foods. Also realize that it will only get easier and quicker with more experience -- hang in there!
It's A Process
Try not to think of your diet as being a temporary plan. You'll find it easier and more productive to see it as a different way of living - and one that you will ease into. See it as an ongoing series of continual upgrades to your diet.
When you make a "mistake" - and eat something you feel guilty about -- move on! Realize that you've just been given a chance to identify something that doesn't work for you - and to find a way to handle it better the next time. That's all. That said, here are a few ideas to help you succeed.
Healthy Fats and Protein Help
It doesn't matter what we do, we are designed to have a passion for foods high in sugar and fat - and to avoid being too hungry. It's an automatic survival mechanism, and it makes it extremely difficult to stick to many typical diets. The great thing about eating a real food diet is that going hungry just isn't necessary. You just need to concentrate on eating good real food.
One example of this is exchanging typical low-fat diet foods for more satisfying choices. Real foods that are rich in protein and healthy fats - think eggs, grass-fed meat and dairy - will help keep you satisfied.
Once I switched my normal breakfast from soy milk and granola to scrambled eggs, I noticed a big change. My energy level throughout the day became much more stable, plus the mid-morning crashes and sugar cravings vanished -- and I lost some body fat. And my cholesterol is great, but that's a story for another time.
Eat With Awareness
A classic bit of dieting wisdom is to be mindful of your eating -- especially paying attention to when you begin to feel full. As you follow a real food diet, you may be eating foods with more protein and fat than you're used to. These foods will satisfy you much more easily than low-fat or high carbohydrate foods. Concentrate on trying to notice when you've had enough, and your portion sizes will adjust themselves naturally.
I realize that conventional wisdom is to never go back for seconds, but I disagree. I like to start a meal with one very small serving, and know that I can return for more if I want it. Just make sure to pause for a moment between servings and notice how much more you really want. I think it's a better option than heaping up your plate to start and then feeling obligated to finish all you took.
It Gets Easier
When you struggle with cravings - don't struggle too hard. The more you make improvements to your diet, the less they will bother you, so surrender a bit if you must. Also - if you don't notice fewer cravings after a while, you ought to reevaluate your diet and experiment a bit. Keep trying to eat less sugar, and make certain you're getting some healthy protein and fat with each meal.
Also -- and this is critical (at least for me) -- make sure that you always have something that you can indulge in. Find one thing that you truly enjoy (in moderation!), and invest in a good real food version of it. My indulgence is good ice cream, and I can say that it works wonders in keeping me content and satisfied while I go about my diet.
You Deserve to Succeed
Finally, keep your purpose in mind, and don't forget that you are worth the effort! You deserve to eat well, and you are worth the extra effort that it takes to enjoy healthy real foods. Also realize that it will only get easier and quicker with more experience -- hang in there!
About the Author:
Want to learn more about real food diet plans? Visit www.real-food-diet.com to get great advice on real food diets and how they can improve your health.
No comments:
Post a Comment