By Darlene Vazquetelles
Receiving the new year is always exciting as we take notes of what we learned from the past and what we want to achieve in the present and the future. We are filled with goals, wishes, dreams, plans and of course: resolutions.
I am pretty sure that you will agree that the number one resolution people have when starting a new year is to lose weight. As part of the process of shredding those extra pounds, you have involuntarily welcomed the dreaded word: DIET!
There are plenty of diets to choose from. I believe that it is very important to consider your lifestyle, the specific goals you have and your health condition. I want to share with you some trendy diets that I came across while doing some research on the topic.
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New Year's Resolution: Diet & Exercise
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(1) THE FORKING DIET
This concept debuted in France in a book called Dine Avec Une Fourchette. It is very simple and more than a diet, I would say it is more a way of eating. Silverware is the important aspect of this particular method of losing weight as you can only eat what you can grab with a FORK. There is a French adage that says that you should have breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince and dinner like a pauper. With the Fork it Method, you have three meals a day. There are few restrictions for breakfast and lunch. But at dinnertime, you are only allowed to consume foods that are naturally eaten with a fork. Among those foods are some veggies, pasta, salmon and only white meats such as chicken and turkey. So, no cheating with pizza, burgers and steak. I believe that every diet has its pros and cons...
Cons of the Forking Diet:
One of the parts that I did not like about this particular one is that you are not allowed to eat sashimi, edamame or any other Asian food because of the use of chopsticks and/or hands. Aside from Puerto Rican cuisine, Japanese food is one of my favorites and there is no way that I would ever leave my sushi behind. Also, you are not allowed to snack under the Fork It Method, and I love snacking throughout the day. This diet is based on three meals a day, and I do think that it is better for your metabolism to have several small healthy meals a day.
Pros of the Forking Diet:
On the positive side, this method is very easy to implement and maintain, as well as safe to practice. For more information, food suggestions and different options depending on your goals, you can visit www.forkitdiet.com.
(2) 5:2 DIET
Developed by health journalists Michael Mosley and Mimi Spencer, the 5:2 or 2 Day Diet promotes short term weight loss. You can eat normally for five days of the week and then restrict calories to 500 (600 for men) for the other two days. Although there is limited evidence on how much weight one will loose, some have admitted to losing up to 1.5lbs a week while undergoing the two non-consecutive days of fasting.
This is a diet that I would definitely consider. It is not about going crazy the other five days of the week but you have the flexibility of choosing what you eat, and then for two days you keep counting calorie intake. For example: For breakfast, eat 2 scrambled eggs with ham and green tea, and water or black coffee; for lunch/dinner, eat Grilled fish or meat with vegetable. For menu ideas, you can go to www.thefastdiet.co.uk/
(3) FLEXITARIAN DIET
Although I don’t see myself ever going the vegetarian route, I found this diet pretty interesting. Flexitarian is obviously a combination of the words flexible and vegetarian with the philosophy that you don’t have to eliminate meat completely to receive the health benefits associated with vegetarianism. Although meat is limited, the diet does contain approximately 50 grams of protein daily. The Flexitarian diet can inspire people to eat less meat and more plant-based meals. It teaches you to add more disease fighting and earth friendly plant foods to your diet. Examples of foods that are acceptable in this diet are: The “new” meat (tofu, lentils and beans), peas, nuts, seeds and eggs. Also, fruits and veggies, whole grains, sugar, spice and one of my favorites: Agave nectar sweetener! (This is the only one I use with my coffee.) There are different stages in this diet. Beginners can do two meatless days a week and then progress to three or four.
If you think this is the diet for you, I strongly recommend reading this book. It gives you a range of options, recipes, meal plans, tips on losing weight, and it can serve as an introduction to vegetarianism.
(4) THE REBEL DIET
Former gymnast, Dr. Melissa Hershberg breaks the rules of dieting with her own Rebel Diet. Under less strict conditions, this diet helps you stay fit and improve your nutrition, energy and health. You can skip breakfast, consume coffee, carbs, sweets, chocolates and breads. This diet works for the person that is constantly on the go. You can eat everything but in moderation. Hunger deprivation can lead to rebound weight gain so this type of diet may work better for those who do like to eat. In her book, Dr. Hershberg offers medical insight on some diet myths we constantly hear about, and she offers plans that allow you to keep eating those foods that you enjoy.
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| Supermodel Gisele Bundchen |
Remember that there are plenty of diets that can help you achieve your goals. Try to choose the one that works best for YOU, not necessarily your friend or a relative. It should be easy to follow, nutritious, safe, effective for weight loss, against diabetes and heart disease.
I want to wish you all a happy and healthy 2014!
Darlene Vazquetelles
www.twitter.com/darlenevaz
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