Weight loss is a goal for many people. Weight loss is also an ongoing process that must be maintained or weight can return once the weight loss has been achieved. A variety of methods exist for both long term and short term weight loss. The main aim for a weight loss program is to achieve a healthy weight.
The truth is, almost any diet will work if it helps you take in fewer calories. Diets that change how you behave and the ways you think or feel about food or about your overall health usually have a great impact on weight loss. Other contributing factors to weight gain include but aren’t restricted to, cancer, heart disease, viral illness (including CMV or HIV), obesity, depression, and stress. These factors can cause your body to release chemicals that affect weight gain, including insulin and fatty acids.
How to eat a healthy weight is a question that frequently arises when people begin following a new diet. People often wonder what they can eat or cannot eat. People are also interested in what kind of diet they should follow. Can a Mediterranean-style diet work for me? If I should really be concerned about what I eat, what types of foods should I eat, or which kinds of foods should I avoid?
The answer to all these questions depends upon your lifestyle. If you like eating lots of fruits and vegetables but are concerned about your calories, you probably want to follow a Mediterranean-style diet. For most people, the key components of such a diet are plenty of whole grains, low-fat dairy products, fresh fruits and vegetables, and low-fat meat, poultry, fish, and eggs. This is also generally a good diet for those trying to lose weight, as studies show that most individuals who follow such diets lose some weight. However, one diet that fills the bill is a Mediterranean-style diet.
How much do you really need to eat and what types of foods can you have? In the Mediterranean, people typically have a diet that consists mostly of a diet rich in fruits and vegetables but with some red meats and poultry or fish as lean alternatives. Some people who follow such diets also include dairy products in their diet. And of course, there are several servings of whole grains in a day, as this is the staple food of the region. How much you eat and what types of foods you eat play central roles in maintaining a healthy weight, and what you don’t eat and how much you eat affects your weight loss progress.
But the thing about the Mediterranean diet is that it doesn’t exclusively emphasize healthy foods. Seafood is a big part of it, as well as legumes, unprocessed meats, beans, lentils, and whole-grain breads. There are still no reports on people who have followed such diets and have lost weight, though. As a matter of fact, people who have followed such diets have reported improved fitness and strength along with lowered blood pressure, blood sugar, cholesterol, and stomach fat. So, if you’re looking for a diet that works and will help you lose weight, then a Mediterranean-type diet is certainly worth a try.
