How to Achieve a Healthy Diet

Click here to get this post in PDF

Good day everyone!

I hope this post finds you well.

Today’s discussion will center on an important factor that has a huge impact on your overall fitness level and general wellness: your diet.

What is a “diet?”

The word “diet” means “a collection of food items that a person regularly eats.”

Every person has a current diet. If you know someone who eats cheesy potatoes and cheeseburgers six days a week, that’s still considered a diet (admittedly, a very unhealthy one).

If you want to slim down and tone up, you have to examine the composition of your present diet to determine how many calories you are consuming per day. Analyzing your current diet can also reveal if you are getting enough essential nutrients, water and dietary fiber. We do not count calories here on the 22 Day Weight Loss Program.

The key point before you read on is that if you reduce carbohydrates, you will lose weight.

What is a quality diet?

A quality diet provides a balanced mix of macronutrients and micronutrients in the right amounts. Here is a quick recap of the essential nutrients that our bodies need to function normally:

Macronutrients

1. Protein – Protein repairs and builds muscle tissues. People who regularly perform cardio and weight training need sufficient protein to build lean muscle mass.Both male and female bodybuilders consume large quantities of protein-rich food to ensure that fat stores are kept to a minimum and that muscle girth and strength are maintained.
2. Carbohydrates – Carbohydrates are the main fuel of the body for the majority of our society.  Our bodies transform carbohydrates into glucose, a usable form of sugar. The body can also store glucose in the muscles.When glucose is stored in the muscles, it’s transformed into a substance called glycogen.For people that eat carbohydrates frequently the body depends on carbs for its fuel. Our ancestors developed the ability to do completely without carbs and it is possible to live very healthy with a minimal amount of carbs in your diet .
3. Fat – Fat performs numerous important functions in the body, including vitamin absorption, transport and storage.It also creates a padding around the muscles that acts as a shock absorber. Fat also improves a person’s thermoregulation and prevents too much heat from escaping the body especially during cold weather.Excess calories from food are stored in our fat tissues. When we lose weight, we don’t actually “burn off” fat cells. Our fat cells simply shrink as the excess fat is burned off through exercise and other physical activities.
4. Water – Keeping your body hydrated is easy! All you will ever need is pure water. My personal rule for hydration is equally easy to remember. If you’re thirsty, reach for water 99% of the time.If you are a soda drinker, try eliminating this from your diet.This alone will cause you to lose weight.Replace the soda with water and you will soon feel more energized because your body is not under the constant influence of diuretics found in soda.
5. Dietary Fiber – Dietary fiber plays a crucial role in maintaining cardiovascular and digestive health.Fiber has the ability to block some of the lipids or “bad cholesterol” from being absorbed by the body.Insoluble fiber on the other hand (fiber that cannot be digested by the body) acts as a cleaning machine inside the colon and helps you clear your colon effortlessly.

Micronutrients

1. Vitamins – Vitamins are used by the body to maintain normal growth and development. Vitamins also enhance major and minor functions within the body such as eyesight and skin growth. Vitamin deficiency can cause health conditions such as scurvy.
2. Minerals – Minerals are inorganic substances derived from the food we eat. The body cannot naturally create minerals.You have to make sure that you are getting enough minerals from your diet. Essential minerals include calcium, iron, potassium and zinc. Minerals naturally occur in meats, vegetables and fruits.How do you know if you are getting enough nutrients?Losing weight does not mean you have to sacrifice your nutrition. Weight loss actually comes naturally when you modify your diet and add more of the best food on the planet like beans, legumes, green leafy vegetables, cruciferous vegetables, etc. Super-foods like spinach and broccoli provide only a modest amount of calories in every serving so it would be challenging to “overeat” when your diet is comprised of at least 85% healthy, whole food. Usually, it’s the nutrient-deficient food items like candy bars and hamburgers that are responsible for caloric overload in a person’s diet.Be mindful of what you eat (even when you’re just snacking) and you just might discover the food items that are making you gain weight!

 

 

While you can buy a book and go on this diet on your own, it is much easier to manage with someone coaching you. That is where the Loveland Medical Clinic comes in. We have seen all the problems that people have had in switching there diets around and can help you navigate through this maze. You can learn more about our program here.

 

 

If you are local in Northern Colorado give us a call at

(970) 541-0903

Siegfried Emme , FNP

Loveland Medical Clinic

(970) 541-0903

The Loveland Medical clinic is dedicated to helping people live healthier lives. We have three main areas of focus : Urgent Care, Weight Loss, and Vitamin infusions. We have a very limited number of Concierge primary care patients.

The Loveland Medical Clinic runs the 22 Day Weight Loss Program that is partially based on the ketogenic diet. We have come to the conclusion that this is the most successful model that works for just about everyone. Once people have gone through our program they are able to manage their weight on there own. If you are interested in losing weight go to our weight loss page.

#22dayweightlossprogram #losebellyfat #LovelandWeightloss #Fortcollinsweightloss #Greeleyweightloss #LovelandMedicalClinic #siegfriedemme