The 7 Commandments Of Smart Dieting

 Losing weight can be challenging at the best of times, especially when there’s so much conflicting information about how to do it. 

 Any one person’s body is different, so what works for one may not necessarily work for another. That is why you should always remember to do what’s best for your own body — you’re the one that knows it best, after all! 

 That being said, there are some fundamentals, what we could call the “Diet Commandments”, that hold true, practically, for all and should be followed by anyone who wants to see the best results from any diet plan. They have the power to take you to the Promised Land, flowing with good health and energy.

 Sadly, many dieters miss out on one or more of these essentials, and it often costs them their success.

            1. Prioritize Fresh Foods and Eat Lots of Vegetables and Fruits

 When selecting your foods, remember processed foods are not a healthy choice. Eating fresh is a must. In our world, processed foods are around every corner, waiting to cause weight gain and thwart our efforts for a healthy life.

 Minimize processed food and give your diet a major boost. Focus on natural foods, like fresh fruits and vegetables, whole grains, healthy fats and oils, and lean proteins. This isn’t the Garden of Eden—reaching for the apple is the right choice.

 Lunch and dinner should always include loads of vegetables. Fruit is a good option to include in your breakfast or as a snack, and is best enjoyed on an empty stomach.

 You could call this commandment the Golden Rule of dieting. If you make only one change to your diet plan, make this one.

            2. Eat More Protein, Consume it at Every Meal

 Of all the foods you might eat while on a fat loss diet, protein is probably the most important. Protein combats hunger by promoting satiety, stabilizes blood glucose levels which prevents the body from burning glucose rather than fat, and prevents lean muscle loss. The result is raised metabolism and accelerated fat loss.

 Don’t let your protein intake fall short. Aim to consume some in every meal and snack, especially at breakfast. For some unexpected sources of protein, consider quinoa, bulgur, avocado, and whole wheat bagels.

            3. Eat Regularly

 You may have heard that metabolism increases the more often you eat. That’s somewhat misleading. Actually, the boost you get from a meal is directly related to meal size — eating regularly does help keep hunger at bay though, and helps prevent your metabolism from slowing down between meals

 Feed your body frequently throughout the day to avoid food cravings and energy lows. If you let yourself get too hungry, it will be harder to make the best food choices. Some guidelines are to eat at least five times a day and, whatever you do, avoid going more than five-six hours without eating. You could opt for something light and healthy, i.e., that includes fruit and vegetables, and, even, the, practically, “negative” calorie foods.

 Those who follow this commandment are more likely to stick to their diet or weight loss program.

            4. Stay Hydrated

 Drinking a lot of water is important for your health and for achieving your weight loss goals. It’s not a secret that people who don’t hydrate properly tend to feel hungry more often and eat more. It’s common for them to confuse the feeling of hunger when they are actually thirsty.

 Try to drink a glass of water before every meal. This is a way to know you’re not thirsty when you’re eating.

 You should aim to drink two to three liters of water every day. It will keep you hydrated while, at the same time, helping flush out toxins from your body. As a supplement to your water intake you could also drink healthy herbal teas, just make sure to drink them without sugar.

            5. Sleep Well

 If you want to lose weight, you should get at least 7 hours (ideally 8) of sleep every night. During rest hours, our body does most of its healing.

 Sleep also helps regulate the hormones that affect and control our appetite. When you lack sleep, your body produces more ghrelin, a hormone that triggers hunger and causes you to retain fat. Not to mention that you tend to make wrong choices when you’re exhausted.

            6. Set Short Term Goals

 One diet rule that you should abide by is to continually set short term goals. Think about your strategy in the here and now, not months ahead. If your goals can only be achieved far down the road, it becomes too easy to lose sight of them. 

 You should also ensure that you put your goals in writing and, it’d help to, share your intentions with someone you trust. The accountability will redouble your commitment. 

 Try thinking in three-week segments. Three weeks is generally the period necessary to form habits, so it’s the perfect amount of time to build good behaviors that stand the test of time. 

 This is why The Custom Keto Diet was created and why we recommend it. It will help you stay motivated and consistent until good decisions become automatic.

             7. Avoid Fruitless Comparisons

 Finally, stop comparing yourself to others. Realize this is your journey. As already mentioned, your body is unique, so it makes sense that you won’t see the same results as everyone else, so don’t expect to.

 Instead, start comparing yourself today to yourself from yesterday. That will give you all you need to know. If you find that you improve every day, and hold fast to your diet program, then you are already a success.

 Keep these diet commandments in mind. Focus on them and be confident you are building a truly vigorous body, while heading towards a healthier, happier you.