Diets…

I despise them, you hate them, and we all hate them.

Nonetheless, it is a multibillion-dollar industry. That’s a very profitable bottom line for goods and services that makes people cringe at enduring them. The only reason anyone would empty their wallets to suffer the deprivation of a diet, in my opinion, is because they don’t know how to eat correctly.

I will walk you through some simple steps to make changing your lousy eating habits more bearable and enjoyable!

Step 1: Alter Your Mind

The most crucial step is how it works. To avoid feelings of guilt and dread at mealtime, it is beneficial to gain an understanding and appreciation for what Food is intended to do.

Food exists to provide us with energy. Its purpose is to give us the necessary power to get us through the day and nourish our systems.

When you’re on a “diet,” your mindset is about restriction. What effect does limitation have? It intensifies our desire for what we can’t have. It causes resentment, insecurity, lack, and, of course, rebellion.

Unfortunately, we rebelled against ourselves, and the cycle began again. Feeling deprived leads to binge eating, which creates guilt and feelings of failure.

Try this instead.

Do some research to find out what Healthy Foods can do for you. Learn about how salmon provides us with omega-3 fatty acids, which are essential for our hearts, how broccoli contains almost every vitamin and mineral available, how blueberries provide us with antioxidants to help alleviate stress and inflammation to our DNA, and so on.

When we are proud of the beneficial nature of the foods we eat and try to incorporate them into our menus, we replace the guilt of eating with positive thoughts about healing our bodies and fueling ourselves with everything we need!

Step 2: Experiment With Various Healthy Foods

I’m speaking from personal experience here. I used to despise many of the foods I now adore them! Mushrooms, onions, salmon, bell peppers, and many other nutritious foods were not welcome in my life. I realized it was time to experiment only after my epiphany (explained in step 1).

I reasoned that the worst-case scenario would result in a certainty of what I didn’t like, which was fine with me because it would be an educated conclusion.

What transpired was a pleasant surprise.

It turned out that I loved many of the healthy foods I had previously rejected. It started a whole new mindset, lifting a massive weight off my shoulders. I started making foods that were both healthy and tasty.

The guilt associated with eating was gone, and my pride in caring for myself took over.

I advise experimenting with healthy foods and gradually incorporating them into every meal. You’ll have less room for bad foods if you slowly add more good ones. (Note that I said useless rather than harmful. It completely changes the meaning of the concept).

As you practice this more frequently, it will become second nature.

If you enjoy pasta, try whole grain or gluten-free pasta instead and give yourself time to appreciate the subtle difference in flavor. If portion control is an issue, steam some vegetables and incorporate them into any meal.

Gather your friends and try out some new recipes. Make a potluck function into a party. Since society has become aware of the weight issues that plague so many of us, a wealth of techniques and recipes is available to learn. Simply searching for healthy recipes online will yield a plethora of results!

Step 3 – Eat every three to four hours or so.

Depending on our activities, our systems have enough energy (blood sugar) to last about 2 1/2-3 hours. When we go more than three hours without eating, our Blood Sugar levels plummet, and we become irritable, lightheaded, and tired.

Have you ever noticed that if you haven’t eaten in several hours, you suddenly crave carbs?

This is because sweets and bread provide instant energy, precisely what we need when our blood sugar drops. Cravings almost feel out of our control, and that’s because they are.

By this point, no rational thought is involved because getting sugar has become a matter of survival for our nervous system.

Blood sugar must remain stable to alleviate this. This is accomplished by eating every 3 hours or so. Combining complex carbohydrates (high-fiber foods) with lean proteins and healthy fats (nuts, seeds, olive, coconut oil, etc.) is the best way to achieve this.

This slows digestion and keeps us fuller for extended periods while releasing energy more slowly. Low-sugar, high-fiber oatmeal, vegetables with hummus, fruit with low-fat cottage cheese, a handful of unsalted nuts, and other similar snacks are appropriate foods.

Eating more living whole foods rather than processed snacks will give you more natural digestive enzymes that help your “gut” function properly.

Maintaining a steady supply of food in your system also boosts metabolism. When there is too much time between meals, the body goes into starvation mode and stores fat for survival. Our bodies were designed to do this, so starving ourselves is pointless.

The nervous system depends on blood sugar (glucose); if it is unavailable, muscle tissue is broken down to provide the energy that food does not offer. Because muscle burns more calories than fat at rest, this slows metabolism.

Some of you may find it difficult at first because there will appear to be a lot of food during the day. If you are used to skipping breakfast and eating only 2-3 times daily, you may be skeptical that you can eat this frequently.

Because the body adapts to habits and behavior, I’ll remind you that you have a choice. Either get out of your way and try this strategy, which could solve a significant food problem for you, or keep doing what you’ve been doing, and you’ll keep getting what you’ve been getting.

Step #4 – Eat “Bad” Food Occasionally

It’s unrealistic to think you’ll never be able to eat your favorite foods again. Who would do something like this? If someone told me that ice cream was terrible and that I should never eat it again, I’d spend a lot of time trying to prove them wrong, and then I’d probably hate them too! All foods, in my opinion, can be enjoyed in moderation.

If you have mastered the art of eating correctly and find that you no longer dread mealtime and that you now enjoy your vegetables, then by all means, give yourself some leeway. Eat well most of the time to enjoy the freedom of having pizza while watching football or eating the food at the next party you attend.

I attended a staff party and visited my in-laws during the previous holiday season. Both scenarios included an abundance of fattening foods. Since I followed the steps I just described, I could eat whatever I wanted with the understanding that it was only temporary and that I don’t usually eat this way.

My typical eating patterns of innovative foods promptly filled the following days and weeks. This approach to tempting foods relieves guilt and can prevent bingeing.

The truth is that there are no shortages of sugary snacks and other fattening and processed foods available, so if you refrain from indulging for no reason most of the time, you’ll be able to enjoy them at the correct times under the right circumstances, and in the right amounts.

Before drastically changing your eating habits, consult your doctor or a licensed registered dietitian. Knowing what your system may or may not agree with is always a good idea.

This article’s tools and techniques are for inspiration, guidance, and direction.

There is far too much doom and gloom in the news, our jobs, and society.

Food should not be associated with sadness.

You could set yourself up for a satisfying and loving relationship with nutrition while kicking unnecessary guilt to the curb if you take the time to learn to think differently.

Dana Gore, creator of http://www.iammyimagination.com and author of “A Simple Guide to Exercise Safety (What You Don’t Know CAN Hurt You),” graduated from Fitness Institute International, Inc. in 2009 as an outstanding graduate.

Dana inspires her readers to seek self-awareness to achieve overall well-being and inner peace by combining her natural interest in human consciousness with her education in health and fitness.

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