A slimming diet is one that focuses on reducing fat, rather than on building muscle or improving strength. With so many diet theories in the popular media, it is difficult to know which slimming diet to choose. It is important to remember that the effects of any diet will last only as long as the regimen is kept up; many health and diet experts encourage people eager to lose weight to think of a slimming diet as a lifestyle change, rather than a temporary fix.
One of the first misconceptions about many diets is that a person should consume as few calories as humanly possible. While most diets do require a calorie reduction, health experts warn that dropping below 1000 calories a day can throw the body into starvation mode, making it retain all possible weight. Additionally, severely reduced calories generally have a negative effect on general health and make it difficult to get the proper amount of vitamins, minerals, and essential proteins. A slimming diet will do very little good if the dieter is too sick or malnourished to make it out the door.
The best slimming diet will likely have two major characteristics: it helps dieters achieve their weight goals and is sustainable. A crash diet, such as a juice fast, may cause a brief drop in weight, but it is impossible to keep up for weeks or months without risking health. On the other hand, a diet that has no results quickly becomes frustrating and discouraging, leading people to quit. Finding a balance between these two concepts may be different for each individual, and may take a long period of trial and error to figure out.
Generally, health professionals advocate a diet of fresh and healthy foods rather than processed or diet food. Living on vegetables, fruit, whole grains, and low-fat proteins is all many people need to jump start a slimming diet. On the other hand, frozen diet meals can be a great way to manage portion control and help dieters keep track of calorie intake. Be sure to read labels carefully and keep an eye out for frozen or diet products with high sugar, fat, sodium, and carbohydrate contents.
Many diet experts recommend keeping a daily food diary that includes accurate calorie counts. This can be difficult, as calorie information is not always available even on the healthiest of foods. One great way to work this idea into a slimming diet is to join an online food diary site. These websites, many of them free, allow a user to search for foods through an enormous database. Other features include weight trackers, nutritional information, and support groups.
