A Diet that Really Works: Proven from Personal Experience

You know I feel like I have tried everything in the book to lose a little weight; I have tried pills, eating less, running constantly, and keeping myself away from sweets. I was never really an overweight man but I wanted to look like I did back in high school again. However, I never gave up on trying to find that perfect diet for me. Well I finally found it and it really isn't that hard at all, in fact I live a pretty normal lifestyle that doesn't require me to starve myself.

Now even though this worked for me it may not work for everyone, but I figured I would share my story with you and perhaps you can benefit from my experience. The key to my diet, believe it or not, is fiber. Lots of fiber. Unfortunately, it wasn't just lots of fiber that helped me lose weight. It was a combination of a few different things that worked, mentally and physically. I am not going to lie the first week or so it is a challenge. Not because it was hard to do like some diets or where I felt hungry all the time. No it was just the period of changing my lifestyle and making a habit. Isn't that what dieting and getting your health back on track all about?

Ok here is the list of what I did and then I will break it down to each day of the week to better assist you on getting to where you want to be. Now I must worn you, you will not lose what you want over night. This is gradual, but when you start noticing it will move even faster for you. You have to get yourself past the thresh hold. As I said before I eat a lot of fiber (NOTE: this will make you want to go to the bathroom a lot, so be prepared), I worked out 3 times a week, I portion controlled my food daily, and I told myself everyday that I could see the difference and started being more present when it came to talking to others. In other words I boosted my ego a little. You would be surprised what that does for you emotionally.

When I said I eat a lot of fiber, what I mean is I buy the double fiber wheat bread, which contains the most fiber per serving, and started using that as a snack through out the day. I eat fiber one cereal for breakfast and I eat lots of apples due to the fiber content. Why fiber? Well, the fiber is a natural intestinal cleaner that cleans all the bad stuff out of you. this bad stuff just sticks around and packs on that bad weight. I know this sounds disgusting but it is true. Eat lots of fiber. This was number one for my diet.

Next I work out 3 times a week at the minimum. Sometimes I work out more than 3 times a week. I only work out for an hour at a time. I am not trying to body build or get a lot of muscle I am trying to gradually lose weight. That is my goal anyway. When I work out I do a ton of cardio (i.e. jogging, walking fast, treadmills, biking, stair climbers, etc...). I do a little weight lifting but only light weights at a bunch of reps. This tones your muscles instead of bulking them up. Honestly, walking or jogging outside is the best because you are working your cardio better than on a treadmill. Don't run fast, this only builds endurance. Jog or run slowly as this burns fat faster, in fact you will sweat faster than if you are running fast. I don't do any ab work at this point as ab work only pushes the fat forward as you build muscle and doesn't make you feel like you are losing any weight.

Next I began portion controlling my food intake. I eat 6 times a day instead of the 3 big meals. Now I am a very busy person with work as I stand all day and teach. So at first I had to make a routine. I eat first thing in the morning a bowl of FiberOne cereal with fat free milk. At 9 a.m. I eat a slice of bread as described above. At 11 a.m. or at noon I eat another slice of bread with a red apple (red apples contain more fiber). At 3 p.m. I eat a vegetable (i.e. celery, spinach leaves, broccoli, etc...). Notice that I was eating green vegetables. These are higher in fiber. I would also eat another slice of bread. At 5 p.m. I would eat a normal meal that wasn't full of salts and fat, like baked chicken breasts with green beans or brocoli. Lastly, at 7 p.m. I would eat another snack of my choosing. Most likely something that I ate previously in the day. As I said portion control, lots of fiber, and several snacks throughout the day. Now I must worn you. Taking in this much fiber will constipate you if you are not drinking lots of water. I drink a lot of water. In fact, I don't drink anything but water anymore. I cut soda and coffee out of my diet. Now this was hard at first because I loved my diet Dr. Pepper. If you buy those FiberOne water packets it really makes a difference in drinking water and your getting that extra shot of fiber. Like I said you have to drink lots of water. This will flush all that bad stuff out of your body that the fiber was grabbing onto all day. You will probably go to the bathroom 2 to 3 times a day, so be prepared.

After the daily eating ritual it is time to boost the ego. You may not feel great after just a few days or maybe even a couple weeks but I promise that you will eventually start seeing difference. I stand in the mirror at each shower and admire my weight loss. I step on the scale to see the one or two pounds disappear. I talk more to people and hope to hear those wonderful words, "wow you are looking good, what are you doing?" Like I said on a psychological level I boost my ego. This will keep you motivated to stay on track with your new life style. Plus it just makes you feel good about yourself.

Now I must warn you, it is not overnight. So patience is a virtue. Also, you may feel hungry a lot the first week or two but that will go away after a couple weeks once you establish your habit. You may also feeling fluish in the first week and have body aches and headaches. This is because you are doing something different to your body and it is trying to establish a norm. It was used to caffeine and sugars. Like I said though, get past the first couple weeks and then it is normal. You won't be as hungry all the time and you won't want to eat huge meals because you will get full faster (stop eating when you feel full, don't try and finish the plate).

So with that I wish you the best of luck with your health and wellness and getting back down to what you want to be. Watch the inches disappear, it is the best feeling in the world when you do something for yourself. Good Luck.