Eating Well for Optimum Health and Weight Loss

Weight loss has proven to be the hardest battle women will ever have to undertake in there lives. We live each day counting the calories in the small, tasteless portions of food we consume. While endlessly counting the minutes in between breakfast and lunch. Our grumbling tummies telling us we want to eat, we need to eat. We live out our days focused on having our small portion of cereal and juice in the mornings and forcing down the Lean Cuisine meal at lunchtime. While craving a cheeseburger and fries every moment, but knowing we shouldn't have it. Sometimes we get lucky and stick to this starvation diet plan for a few days and lose a couple of pounds. But then we revert right back to our old way of eating, which now is even worse since we've denied ourselves for a few days. And not surprisingly, we gain it all right back, plus more. Since we stuff our stomachs with all those cheeseburgers, fries, chocolate cake and sodas we've been denied. It's an endless, vicious cycle that never ends. But dieting really doesn't have to be this circle we've been traveling around forever. Not if we use our heads and make some wise and informed choices when choosing what to eat everyday.

We first need to realize that starvation diets don't work. Especially if your body has gotten use to being stuffed full of food every single day. You're body will realize when it's being deprived and it will go into starvation mode. Meaning it hordes every single calorie you consume, making it extremely difficult, if not impossible to lose weight. The sensible way to lose weight is by making wise and informed food choices. Skipping breakfast is also never the answer to losing weight. This can slow your metabolism and cause your body to store excess fat and lead you to eat more throughout the day. You should always make the most of everyday by starting it out with a healthy, substantial breakfast consisting of whole grains and lean proteins.

Some quick and healthy options would be whole grain waffles with a small amount of maple syrup and orange juice. Or, 3 egg whites scrambled with a small amount of reduced fat cheese and sliced scallions. A slice of whole grain toast and 1 cup of orange juice. Or make your own low fat and calorie sausage mcmuffin by adding a Morningstar sausage patty and a slice of low fat cheese to a Light Fiber One English Muffin. Cereals are also excellent breakfast foods when trying to lose weight. Just make sure that it's low fat and high fiber like Fiber One with 1 cup of no fat milk and 2 cups of fruit slices. Always strive for at least 1 serving of fruit in the mornings and you might also want to consider adding a multivitamin to your daily routine for optimal health benefits.

Adding water rich foods to your diet can also help you lose that extra weight. Almost all veggies will fit this bill, just make sure and include them in your daily lunch menu everyday. Some healthy examples of these foods would be 3 ounces of canned tuna packed in water, 2 tablespoons light mayo and 1 teaspoon of pickle relish on whole grain bread with lettuce and tomato. Or; 2 cups baby spinach, 2/3 cups of chick peas, 3 ounces of light tuna in water, 6 cherry tomatoes and 2 teaspoons of a light vinaigrette dressing. For the optimum health benefits drizzle your daily veggies or pasta with 2 teaspoons of healthy oils everyday for an added dose of vitamin E and essential fatty acids. Sushi is also a delicious, water rich food to add to your diet. Of course the best part of your new way of eating, besides the health benefits; are the deserts and snacks you can eat without feeling guilty.

With this new eating plan you can indulge in the treat and leave the guilt behind choosing foods that are low in fat and calories. Satisfy your sweet tooth with low calorie, portion controlled selections like low fat muffins, dried fruits, delicious or ice cold fruit bars. For those with a chronic sweet tooth there's Hostess 100 calorie snack packs in a variety of different flavors. Raisins and sorbets are also very good snack choices. You could also consider good for you foods like fat free yogurts, fresh fruits or fruit salads, baked tortilla chips with salsa or air popped popcorn. These are all excellent, healthy options for snacking. On your new healthy eating plan its ok to snack through out the day if you make sure the foods you choose are low in fat and calories. Eating well and healthy doesn't have to break the bank or make you feel deprived. As long as you choose delicious, vitamin rich, healthy foods which will satisfy your hunger while helping you to take off the extra weight.

If your interested in more weight loss ideas visit www.yourtotalhealth.ivillage.com, www.weightwatchers.com or www.webmd.com