| Millions of people all over the world suddenly wake | | | | groups. But if possible concentrate more on |
| up one morning and find that their weight and | | | | vegetables, fruits and whole grains. These items |
| waistline have ballooned into stratospheric | | | | are usually high in fiber, and there are experts |
| proportions. They panic and then decide on the | | | | who say fiber intake should be the basis of a |
| spot that should go on a diet. | | | | sensible diet. The reasoning may actually be |
| So they pick up a diet book or join some diet | | | | simplistic but it does make a whole lot of sense |
| program. Eventually they find that the program is | | | | when you think about it--fiber cleans the system |
| beginning to become too restrictive and | | | | inside. And when your insides are clean, it |
| redundant. The dieter is getting bored. One day, | | | | becomes easier to absorb the healthful nutrients |
| they cannot stand it anymore and abandon the | | | | and eliminate the bad elements. |
| program. They welcome back all the foods they | | | | 3. Use your imagination and creativity when |
| were told to avoid like long-lost relatives. Then it is | | | | cooking. There is no evidence to suggest that |
| back to square one. Sound familiar? | | | | people become overweight because of spices. It |
| No one will argue that diet programs are | | | | is the food that the spices are used on that |
| restrictive. The problem is, no one also told you | | | | causes the weight gain. So since you will be |
| that there are ways around it. In fact you do not | | | | cooking healthy food from now on, use spices |
| even have to spend unnecessarily on books or | | | | generously! Some of the really healthy ones are |
| programs to lose the pounds. All you have to do | | | | garlic, turmeric, oregano, rosemary and curry. But |
| is educate yourself on healthy eating and adopt it | | | | be sure that you use fresh spices and not the |
| as part of your lifestyle. | | | | processed ones. Go easy on the salt, and consider |
| It requires a totally different outlook on food and | | | | using olive oil, vinegar and low sodium soy sauce. |
| eating. It may be a difficult adjustment at the | | | | 4. This item was left for last because it is sure to |
| start, just like when you start out on a diet | | | | draw some moans and groans--exercise. Without |
| program. But it is not as restrictive and it certainly | | | | it, all your efforts at dieting will feel just like |
| does not matter whether you are young, in your | | | | aimless wandering. Understand though that |
| midlife stage or in your senior years. In other | | | | exercising need not be strenuous. In fact many |
| words, it is neither too early nor too late to start. | | | | professionals these days endorse walking as a |
| To help you along, here are four easy and | | | | very healthy form of low-impact exercise. But be |
| sensible ways to get around the diet doldrums: | | | | adventurous. Open your eyes to other forms of |
| | | | exercising that will be beneficial to you. There |
| 1. A healthy diet should be low in saturated fats, | | | | certainly is no lack of information on those on the |
| trans fat and cholesterol. Your daily intake of fats | | | | web. |
| should come mainly from fish, especially the deep | | | | Dieting and exercising are the key to maintaining |
| sea variety, and vegetable oils. This also means | | | | the right weight, there are no two ways about it. |
| that you should cut out the processed foods like | | | | But with a touch of imagination, you can make |
| chips and cookies as well as the soft drinks. | | | | the entire process enjoyable and not be bored to |
| 2. A healthy diet should consist of all the food | | | | death with it. It is just a matter of will. |