To become lean and healthy is easy, however it requires dedication and a conscious effort on our part. I’ll start with most important step in our battle against the bulge.
Craving
If we are to become lean and healthy, we have got to control are craving for sugar laden foods and white flour products. By replacing low quality refined carbohydrates with high quality complex carbohydrates contained in fresh fruit, vegetables, beans and brown rice, we can help stabilize our blood sugar level and control our craving for sugary snacks.
Never skip meals or ignore your hunger. Doing this will slow down the metabolism and decrease the body’s ability to burn fat. Instead of snacking on potato chips or ice cream, grab an apple or a handful of berries or nuts. This one simple step will make a difference in how you look and feel.
Fat
We need a small amount of fat in our diet to remain healthy, but most of us consume far too much. In fact our bodies have no need for any saturated fat at all. Step two in our quest to become lean and healthy, is to cut back or eliminate the artery clogging fatty foods we love so much. We will need to cut fried foods, hot dogs and whole milk products out of our diet. Replace with fish and skinless chicken or turkey breast. Eat only lean beef. By simply checking labels we can eliminate a lot of the unnecessary fat in our diet. We will also need to be aware of what we drink. Water is essential to good health. Drink 8 glasses of water a day, switch to low calorie drinks and replace fruit juice with fresh fruit.
Tips
Write down everything you eat and drink this week. Find out what items you need to cut back on, and what items your not getting enough of. Be aware of the ingredients and the methods you use to cook your food. Eat fresh fruit and vegetables instead of canned or processed.
In my next article I will talk about the importance of exercise, and introduce you to foods that will speed up the metabolism, enabling the body to burn fat at a high rate.
The first step to becoming lean and healthy is easy. Eat more fruit, vegetables, Lean protein and drink 8 glasses of water a day, while decreasing refined carbohydrates and saturated fat. We will have more energy and give our bodies a chance to burn off stored fat.
Find easy to prepare recipes for a healthy lifestyle in Holly Cleggs Trim and Terrific Cookbook http://www.hollyclegg.com/
