Diets shouldn’t be about starving yourself, they should be about achieving the right balance of the right foods in the right way that you can sustain and enjoy, which will lead to a longer and healthier life. At the Smart Way To Fat Loss we endorse the ‘eat less, exercise more’ model; but the key is balance.
It’s about getting the right amount of calories, proteins, carbohydrates and fats that are fit for you and your fat loss goals. It’s about regular well-portioned meals that will keep your body ticking over or even better, heighten your metabolism. Smart Way To Fat Loss isn’t here to tell you explicitly what that balance should be for you as an individual; it is here to help you get on the right track and start making better choices towards achieving a better life.
We talked about the Basal Metabolic Rate previously and if you haven’t already you should calculate your own dietary requirements.
If you are looking to cut your calories and reduce the amount of unhealthy fats in your diets then here are some simple swaps that can make a huge difference to your well-being without having a huge impact on your life and what you enjoy.
- Semi-skimmed or skimmed milk instead of full-fat (in cereals and tea/coffee etc)
- Whole-grain/wholemeal bread, rice and pasta instead of white
- Whole-grain cereals like porridge instead of sugary cereals
- Reduced or lower fat butters/spreads on sandwiches and in cooking/baking
- Lower-fat or fat-free alternatives to yoghurts, dressings and sauces
- Reduced fat cheeses and spreads on sandwiches or baked potatoes
- Lower-sugar or sugar-free drinks (or preferably replace with water or a sugar-free cordial)
- Fruits and nuts instead of unhealthy snacks (nuts in moderation)
- Lower-fat or reduced fat snacks for when you do have a craving
- Leaner cuts of meats and skinless poultry (and cut off any excess fat)
- Olive oil or vegetable oil instead of lards/butters
- Use a grill or griddled pan instead of frying foods
- Water or a sugar-free cordial instead of alcohol… not so simple?… try less alcohol at least
These changes in themselves are unlikely to transform you into a lean, mean fat burning machine, but they are at least a step in the right directions – and that’s what it’s all about.
Do check the labels on ‘low-fat’ or ‘reduced-fat’ products. Just because it is reduced fat doesn’t necessarily make it healthy, but it should be better for you than the full-fat alternative if you’ve been using that. Do compare the labels.
Do reward your healthy efforts every now and then and don’t completely deprive yourself of a reward as it keeps your cravings at bay and you are then less likely to over-indulge.
What simple swap tips do you have? Please comment below.
Photos: SW2FL