Eating Healthy and Losing Weight: It’s Not Rocket Science

By TANYA ETESSAM| UPDATED: 03:28, 23 December 2019

The reason you cannot keep the weight off that was lost during these diets is because diets are not a permanent solution.

Good news is, losing weight and keeping it off is not rocket science!

Here are just a few of  the “USA TODAY TOP RATED DIETS 2014” (Can you actually believe there are 37 of them!?!)
http://health.usnews.com/best-diet/best-overall-diets

1. 17 day diet

2. Cookie Diet

3. Master Cleanse (Lemonade Diet)

4. Omish Diet

5. Vegan Diet

6. Zone Diet

I’m sure many of you are guilty of trying these diets, right? Maybe you did lose weight, but did you keep it off? Highly unlikely.

I promise you this whole “healthy lifestyle” thing is super easy. Will you lose 100 pounds in 1 week? Definitely not… but if you follow these basic healthy lifestyle principles you will lose the fat and keep it off forever! Patience and consistency are key; don’t expect to lose all the fat in 1 week.

Just think… how long did it take you to gain all the excess weight!??

Back to the basics: Keeping it simple!

1. Include a lean protein source every time you eat!

   • Fish (cod, flounder, tilapia, orange roughy*my personal fav*, mahi-mahi, snapper, grouper, halibut, haddock, corvina… there are SO many kinds of fish- there has to be a least 1 that you like!)

   • Eggs!! (such an amazing food! They are loaded with protein and other amazing nutrients)

   • Chicken/turkey breast

   • Lean red meat (Bison tenderloin filet is the leanest meat out there, however it can be expensive)… Regular tenderloin filet is also good or top sirloin filet

   • Protein powder (I would limit this, however it is a quick and easy solution for times when you are in a hurry)

2. Try to consume as much fiber as possible

   • Fresh green vegetables tend to have the most. Here are a few examples:

     • Broccoli

     • Cauliflower (this is not green, but has lots of fiber!)

     • Spinach

     • Brussels sprouts

     • Kale

     • Cabbage

3. Do not be afraid of eating FAT… We need it to maintain a healthy lean body!

   • Raw butters (coconut butter & almond butter are great and taste delicious!) *just be sure to select a brand that is raw, no sugar added*

   • Raw mixed nuts

   • Avocado

   • Flax seeds or Chia seeds

   • Olive Oil

4. Limit carbohydrates, but still have the good ones (just don’t go crazy)

   • Quinoa (my favorite!)

   • Brown/black/wild rice

   • Beans (yes, beans have protein, however they are mostly a carbohydrate)

   • Baked Sweet Potatoes

   • Oatmeal

5. Do you have to eat 5-6x per day??!

   • The answer is no… first of all there is not ONE way to do anything. Everyone is different, everyone has a different schedule, and there is always more than one good way to accomplish something.

   • The main point is to not starve yourself all day and then go on a total binge when you get home at night.

   • Start your day with some food in the morning to get your body going (remember must include protein)… everyone can fit in a few extra minutes to have some breakfast weather its a nice sit down meal or a protein shake to go!

   • I would suggest about 3-4meals for the average person with maybe 2 quick and easy to eat “snacks” throughout the day. (For workout fanatics the typical 5-6 meals is still great) Remember those “snacks” should still include protein!

     • Some examples of snacks:

       • Hard boiled eggs

       • Greek Yogurt with either raw nuts or flax seeds

       • Celery or raw green beans with  a serving of almond butter

       • Protein powder with some kind of healthy fat

   • Your main meals should include all of the essentials: Protein #1, Fats #2, & Carbs #3

     • Your plate should be about a hand size serving of protein, a ton of veggies (about half the plate), a serving size of fat, and a small fist size of carbs.

     • There is no ONE magic fat loss food or ONE secret way of losing weight.

     • Just keep your food selections FRESH, UNPACKAGED, UNPROCESSED, NATURAL and you are good to go!

       • Basically if it’s not in a package- its a safe choice!

Try this:

1. Eliminate packaged/processed foods

2. Include a lean protein source every time you eat

3. Drink LOTS of water throughout the day

4. Eat a ton of vegetables

5. Include healthy fats in your diet (a little portion goes a long way)

6. Limit Carbohydrates (tolerable amount varies from person to person, however most people think they need WAY more than they do)

7. Of course exercise is a key role in fat loss… more on that later! You can still create a significant change in your body with nutrition alone.

**There are MANY choices of healthy foods. The lists above are just some ideas for you; they are not the ONLY options**

Tanya Etessam

B.S. Exercise Science & Health Promotions

Fitness/Nutrition/Lifestyle Coach

IFBB PRO Figure Competitor

https://instagram.com/tanyaetessam