When it comes to dieting there are many mistakes that are made on a near daily basis. While there are many real profound mistakes that go along with the territory there are a few that seem to have far more profound and lasting implications than others. Hopefully by learning about these mistakes you can learn to avoid them in your own weight loss pursuits.
Perhaps the single largest mistake that dieters make is adopting an all or nothing attitude. These are the dieters that scour the pantry and the refrigerator removing anything that could be seen as a potential source of temptation. They embark on a dietary regimen that is nearly impossible to maintain and believe that all is lost the moment they stray from the strict guidelines of their diet.
While this may work for some in the short term, it sets them up for failure, frustration, and ill will towards the entire dieting process. The important thing when it comes to dieting is the goal. Your goal is to shed pounds. There are many ways in which this can be done that do not require starving yourself or punishing yourself in the process.
Another great mistake when it comes to dieting is selecting a diet plan where you eat the same thing every day. Despite our human need for structure and routine we tend to enjoy changing our lunch routine on occasion. Select a diet
or new nutrition plan that allows you to enjoy a wide variety of foods rather than one that limits you to the same meal or meal selection day in and day out.
Other common mistakes include depriving yourself of everything you enjoy. One thing that we often forget is the importance of moderation. Fill up on servings of fruits and vegetables but allow yourself to enjoy the occasional indulgence for the sake of sanity. If you never allow yourself to enjoy a taste of chocolate, why on earth would you want to live forever? Seriously, do not forget to enjoy food for the sake of dieting. There is nothing wrong or sinful about enjoying food. The problem lies when you enjoy only the wrong sorts of foods.
You should also avoid the mistake of not setting goals. While you do not want to set goals that are impossible to achieve you should also avoid the opposite end of the spectrum, which involves having no goals at all. Those who set aggressive goals that are achievable will see the greatest degree of success. Making those goals public and asking for support is another thing that will help you achieve greater success. This is one reason the Weight Watchers program has enjoyed the phenomenal success is has.
The final mistake when it comes to dieting that is made all too often is giving up. We all have setbacks along the way. Even those who have achieved monumental dieting success have met with failure on the road. The end result however, for those who stick with
the plan is a healthier body and that is something that is worth fighting for. Your goals may get side tracked but you can set new goals. You may have had a bad day or even a bad week when it comes to your dietary goals and plans. Do not let this defeat your desires to become a healthier you.
Learn to overcome those mistakes and move on from them. Let your failures teach you as much as your successes and you should be well on your way to the healthier person that you know is hiding inside. Whether you want to get rid of 10 pounds or 210 pounds the only way to achieve that goal and make it last is by dedicating yourself to the process of
becoming a healthier person. A healthy person has healthy eating habits and doesn't starve him or herself. Nor does a healthy person binge on things that aren't healthy. Learn to enjoy food in moderation and you should be well on your to the success you seek.
Benefits of eating a healthy diet are for everyone but for a diabetic there can be even
more reasons to follow a nutritious meal plan. Keeping a stable blood glucose level is the
biggest reason for a diabetic
to follow a diabetic diet. It takes commitment and patience
to stick with the diet and plan out all meals each week. But the more that it is done the
easier it will become.
Another benefit of eating a healthy diabetic diet is reducing the amount of insulin that is
needed. By eating good carbohydrate choices and lean meats you will lower the insulin
requirements for your body. The foods you eat all affect on your blood sugars and when
you do not choose the best foods for your body it will need more insulin to process them.
In addition to extra insulin requirements, you will suffer from high blood sugars also
known as hyperglycemia. This condition can have serious long-term effects on your
body and its organs.
By continuing with a healthy diet and combining it with regular exercise you can lose
excess body weight. This too is good for your insulin requirements and blood glucose
levels. By incorporating exercising into your daily
routine you can give your body’s
metabolism a boost and help it process the foods you are eating. When the foods you
take in are healthy choices your body is going to function better.
If you do not follow a healthy diet you can suffer from:
* Low blood sugar from not eating enough – hyperglycemia
* High blood sugar from eating too much or eating the wrong foods –
hypoglycemia
* Gain weigh and in turn increase your daily insulin requirement
* Lack the energy needed to exercise on a regular basis
Eating well can help control your diabetes and prolong your life expectancy.
Benefits of the Carbohydrate Counting Diet
The carbohydrate counting diet groups foods into three main groups: carbohydrates,
proteins, and fats. You dietician will provide you with the number of carbohydrates you
can have in a day and how that is divided up amongst your meals and snacks. Your
dietician will also educate you on how you can determine the numbers of carbohydrates
are in some of your favorite foods by reading food labels.
The biggest benefit of the carbohydrate counting diet is that it does not eliminate any
foods. A diabetic can choose any food they wish to eat as long as they only eat enough of
it to meet their carbohydrate needs. The trick to this is to choose wholesome foods that
will fill you up longer. The same amounts of carbohydrates that are in a small handful of
potato chips are not equal to the two slices of bread you can have instead. But it is nice
to know that if you really want to – once in awhile – you can treat yourself.
Another benefit is keeping a consistent amount of carbohydrates in your body. This can
help regulate your insulin needs and control. If your body has the same amount of
carbohydrates to process at the same times each day it will be beneficial to your health
and blood glucose readings.
When you choose a carbohydrate counting diet it is important to make sure you are doing
it correctly. If you don’t you can too much or too little and both situations can be
detrimental to your diabetes. Have a dietician teach you how to properly count
carbohydrates and closely monitor your blood sugar levels to make sure the diet it
working for you.
As with any new diet, give it time for you to adjust and learn how to plan your meals
properly.
The food industry has come up with a solution for people on diets or with diabetes that
have a sweet tooth. They are known as artificial sweeteners and they are used in
everything from chewing gum, coffee sweeteners, and even baking. There is some
controversy over the use of them as some of them are totally synthetic and others are
derived from the actual sugar plant. But to a diabetic who doesn’t want to give up on
their favorite pop or chewing gum they can be a life-saver.
The four different kinds of artificial sweeteners are: saccharin, aspartame, sucralose,
acesulfame potassium. Each of these types
can be found under various product names
and brands. Not all are made the same way and they have different uses. Some you can
buy in liquid or powdered form for baking needs and others like aspartame is only found
in foods that you purchase pre-made.
The use of these artificial sweeteners will not raise blood sugar and are safe for a
diabetic to use. Care and attention is still needed because the food items you put sugar in
or on most likely will have an affect on your blood sugar. Still follow your diabetic diet
but use some artificial sweeteners to make it a little sweeter.
Some diabetics
may want to use honey as a substitute for sugar. You certainly can make
this substitution, however, honey is very similar to sugar in carbohydrate content and the
effects it will have on your blood glucose level. It is best to enjoy honey in small
moderations if at all.
Aspartame has been linked in some medical studies with Alzheimer’s disease. Speak to
your doctor about the benefits and risks of using any of the artificial sweeteners if you
have any concerns about the potential health risks.
While this may work for some in the short term, it sets them up for failure, frustration, and ill will towards the entire dieting process. The important thing when it comes to dieting is the goal. Your goal is to shed pounds. There are many ways in which this can be done that do not require starving yourself or punishing yourself in the process.
