Balancing act

I really can’t stress the importance of a balanced diet.  Other than just helping with weight loss, a balanced diet has so many other health benefits such as:

• Strengthening your bones, muscles, and teeth
• Increasing energy levels
• Helping with digestion/bowel movement
• Enhancing your skin and giving it a natural glow

One thing that drives me mental is hearing people say they have given up carbohydrates to lose weight.  Like any other plan that produces a reduction in overall calories consumed, a no-carb diet will shed the weight.  However, it is not realistic in the long-run, and once you do revert to eating carbohydrates, you are more than likely to gain weight.  Moreover, a drop in figures on the scale doesn’t automatically translate into fat loss.  A good chunk (pun very much intended) of it reflects a loss of both water weight and muscle loss (say bye-bye to looking toned)

Instead a balanced diet which includes all three macronutrients (i.e. carbohydrates, protein, and yes, contrary to popular belief, fats) regulated by portion sizes will produce long-term FAT loss.  It really all does come down to balance.  If you feel you’ve overdone it with the carbohydrates during breakfast and lunch, opt for reducing your carb portion in the evening and have more protein instead.  Here’s an example of a typical day for me:

Breakfast-Pear and strawberries topped with natural yogurt, oats and flaked almonds

Lunch– Terryaki prawns with veg ‘fried’ rice (brown rice) and salad

An apple

 

Dinner- Honey mustard chicken with homemade potato wedges, stir fried vegetables and ketchup

An apple

Snacks- Sugar free jelly

A Nature Valley cereal bar

Chopped strawberries with yogurt and a sprinkle of cereal (e.g. Coco Snaps- I like the crunch)