I like to take the simplest approach to healthy eating. Diets are not for me! I just focus on balanced eating. Try to get everything in your diet that you need, without a lot of extras. When I'm in the mood to indulge, I do it. But remember, it should be an indulgence to eat that extra slice of cheesecake, not a habit. Below is a current food pyramid. This basic image is the foundation for a healthy, balanced diet. Click on the image in order to enlarge it.
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Another extremely important component in your diet should be water intake. Nutritionists generally follow the "8x8" rule. You should drink eight 8-ounce glasses of water each day. And always remember to drink extra water before exercising! Think ahead! You should drink 16 ounces of water 2 hours prior to exercising. Thirst is a sign that you are ALREADY dehydrated! So you should be drinking water even if you don't feel thirsty.
Another benefit of drinking water is that is boosts your metabolism. Try drinking water with your meal instead of soda. I guarantee that it will make you feel healthier, and will help you feel more energized in the long run. Water also helps fill you up without extra calories. Did you know that hunger is actually one sign of dehydration? If you feel hungry before meal time, drink a nice glass of water.Calorie Intake for Weight Loss
It is simple. In order to lose weight you must eat less calories than you burn each day. I hate dieting, so my solution has always been to workout more while making sure that I don't compensate with more calories. However, if you are looking at a more considerable weight loss, you may want to check out this site. These are the guidelines for the Biggest Loser Diet. As always, knowing is half the battle, and if you are unsure of how many calories you eat each day you should start a food journal. Here is a site that you can use to help you track your caloric intake, it is called My Fitness Pal. You have to create an account, but it is free and a very easy way to make sure you get an accurate calorie count. Once you know how many calories you generally eat, I highly recommend you talk to a nutritionist to see what deficiencies are in your diet and if you should be consuming less calories overall.
