5 Golden Rules of Dieting

Want to lose weight? It's time to forget absurd crash diets and begin a new, healthier lifestyle! If you want to feel great and lose those extra pounds, check out these 5 golden rules of dieting!

Stereotypes, perfection... Today's society seems to stand on a foundation made of superficial things and a set of tips and tricks on how to get that to-die-for silhouette. Well, let's face it! Everyone wants to look and feel great! So, we all have tried, at least once, a weight loss regime hoping for a miracle. Still, it is important to set tangible goals and be aware of the fact that extremes are not the best solution. But what to do when nothing works? Always remember that not just short-term restrictions are essential but, when dieting, your entire lifestyle should suffer certain changes. And these five golden rules are crucial! Check them out!

Balance

Okay, so a balanced diet is the key when it comes to successful weight loss. The best thing to do is to eat more often throughout the day and have smaller portions. Why? Because skipping meals and craving for food all day long will have as result a copious dinner. Also, don't skip breakfast since the calories you consume in the morning are easier burned! Have three main meals and two healthy snacks and try not to have dinner after 7.30 or 8pm. Oh, and don't forget to drink water!

Portion control

The less is more rule totally works when dieting. And keep in mind that even healthy foods add extra-calories when eaten in excess. So, you should learn to estimate serving sizes and choose smaller plates, bowls, and cups in your kitchen and measure what they hold. One useful trick is to estimate serving sizes in comparison to known objects. "For example, three ounces of cooked meat, fish, or poultry is about the size of a deck of cards," said says Rose Clifford, RD, clinical dietitian in the department of pharmacy services at the Washington Hospital Center in Washington, DC.

Proper food combining

The way we combine different food groups is extremely important when dieting. Proper food combining not just helps us have an optimal digestion and stay healthy but it is very efficient when wanting to lose weight. Therefore, avoid to combine meat and potatoes/pasta/rice, meat and eggs and milk, potatoes and bread, or fruits and vegetables. So, potatoes and meat should be eaten only with greens, cereals with fresh fruits, and bread with a salad.

Exercise

Okay, so we must admit that diets can be a real burden and that facing cravings, well, a serious challenge. Therefore, what can we do when we simply cannot resist those delicious temptations? Exercise, exercise, exercise!!! You know already that this is a seriously helpful step in every weight loss plan. Walk, dance, jog, get moving! You'll burn calories and stay fit and healthy!

Keep a food journal

It might seem useless yet experts say that keeping a journal might help you "stop the vicious cycle of overeating and over-gaining". Therefore, you should start journaling and write down, every night, what you ate throughout the day. A study published in the Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics says that measuring food portions, recording what you eat, and reading labels and nutrition facts are practical tools when wanting to drop some extra pounds.

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How to Increase Dieting Willpower

We're determined to eat right, exercise and make good choices and then...life gets in the way and our willpower takes the hit. Arm yourself up with proper strategies for overcoming common willpower-draining obstacles.

Knowledge might seem like the universal cure for every single problem. Oh, if only life really worked this way: we'd all be slim, fit, toned and body confidence issues would be pretty much nonexistent. However, despite the plethora of tips, tricks and strategies, the process of shedding unwanted pounds is still a cumbersome one. Whether we like to admit it or not, motivation and ability to follow through are often as important if not more than the strategies themselves. This is why it's important to learn to predict our weak motivation moments and find strategies to cope early on. Here are a few common situations when your willpower level is predictably influenced and how to cope with it:

Stressful times
Research confirms what we've known in our gut all along: stressful times and proper dieting don't mix well. With our willpower used to the max, our determination weakens. Still, it's not all bad since being busy can actually increase willpower.

While stress is unavoidable, proper planning and an adequate sleeping schedule can avoid a downward spiral of dieting choices. Proper rest is particularly important since sleep deprivation is a known diet buster, so make sure to make it a priority.

Family members
While your loved ones might be supportive of your efforts, being around them when they're not on the same menu as you are, or they are constantly picking up snacks on the way home is one of the most frequent sources of temptations. Since asking them to stop is not likely to be very productive, asking them to indulge in foods they like but you don't necessarily crave to avoid conflicts is a better way of dealing with this frequent downfall.

Weather
Yet another reason to call summer your favorite season: this is when your choices are automatically more directed towards success. Unlike colder seasons, your cravings are now directed to lighter foods. Plus, the abundance of seasonal fruits and veggies also works in your favor. So, rather than dreading the 'bikini body' program that is so popular now, think of the hot days as your automatic diet improver to boost your motivation in the process.

'That time' of the month
Yet another predictable diet buster? The 'perks' of being a woman. Aside from awareness and the tough struggle to stay away from evil carbs as much as possible, consuming foods like leafy greens, red meat, oranges or legumes can help ameliorate the dreadful symptoms along with keeping hunger at bay.

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