These days there’s so many Instagram and YouTube diets and healthy eating ‘gurus’ out there suggesting quick fixes, it can be hard to recognise which type of diet best suits you.
Not to mention, the whole idea of changing your diet in the first place can be nothing short of overwhelming. But it doesn’t have to be.
Here’s some simple information you need to know before you start any diet program.
Always seek health advice first
The number one step you should always take before starting a diet is to talk to a health professional, such as a dietician. While most people think that having a weight-loss buddy is good enough, it can put your diet goals in jeopardy. The peer dynamics can have discouraging effects specifically when you start to compare yourself and ask why your weight-loss buddy’s diet is not working for you. Thus, a dietician understands the whole picture of your health and not just your target weight loss goal.
A dietician can determine any medical concerns that might affect your weight and the program you are trying to get into. You can be honest about the type of diet programs that interest you and your dietician can personalise your eating plans. Keep in mind that when it comes to dieting there is no one-size-fits-all approach.
Think of the big picture
A qualified dietician can help you make realistic weight goals, take your medications into consideration, understand your family medical history, and plan a reasonable timeframe. While it is easier to search Google for the trending diets which may have been “effective” for others, know that these factors play a major role in your overall diet success.
Furthermore, licensed dietician can address issues that others can’t, including how your current medications may impact your ability to build more muscles or lose weight or get a better idea of conditions you may be at risk due to your family history, including high blood pressure or diabetes.
In addition, a professional dietician can help you make an individualised diet plan that is balanced, sustainable, realistic, and safe. Diets that encourage restricting a certain food group or macronutrients are likely to be unbalanced and can put you at risk of nutrient deficiencies.
Eating a balanced diet is something that you need to fit into your lifestyle permanently because your diet plan is too stiff, you’ll probably have a hard time sustaining it in the long run.
Be realistic: Don’t expect instant results
Keep in mind that any type of diet that promises instant and drastic results can be dangerous to your health. Rapid weight loss for example can have ill effects such as losing muscles rather than fats, cause dehydration, and take a hit to your mental health.
Excluding carbs in the diet may have been a help to your friend to expose his abs and speed up his bulk but doesn’t mean it is also the best plan of attack for you.
It should be realistic based on your goals in order to be. For instance, if you’re training for a marathon, you need carbs to fuel your runs. If you need to bulk up, you probably going to need to eat more and add proteins as your allies. All these end games require pretty drastically different nutrition plans.
Lastly, dieticians can provide all the food and nutrition information that you need and support you to achieve your goals. They can provide sound and scientific-based advice on nutrition-related matters. They are qualified professionals with the skills to provide expert nutrition and dietary advice by translating the latest scientific information into practical recommendations about what to eat. Your dietician will ask detailed questions about your current diet, exercise habits, general health and lifestyle to allow them to tailor fit an eating plan based on your needs. If you have a medical condition and have been referred to a dietician by your doctor, your dietician will then work closely with your doctor to put together a suitable diet plan for you.
Active8me offers dieticians and health advice at your fingertips
With that being said, you may be wondering how to get in touch with a dietician? With Active8me, you get to have your dietician at the tip of your fingers. Activ8me diet programs, meal plans, and recipes are designed by qualified dieticians. We have hundreds of delicious recipes simplified, all of which can be customised to your tastes.
Our plans even incorporate advice about getting the right balance of foods when eating out. We’ve covered all your nutrition needs.
Exercise and mindset are also important factors to weight loss.
When trying to lose weight, exercise can increase the number of calories the body uses for energy. The burning of calories through exercise, combined with decreasing the calories through the right food you eat, creates a “calorie deficit” that results in weight loss.
On the other hand, your mindset plays an indispensable role in making any lasting change. You may be able to persuade yourself to exercise and eat a healthy diet for a few weeks. Even so, without the right mindset in achieving your lifestyle goal, you may find yourself crashing off into your unhealthy habits all over again.
To help you on your health and wellness journey, Plus there’s more! Workouts, mindset lessons, tracking and a whole lot more. It’s like having a dietician, personal trainer and life coach in your pocket. Check out the Active8me app today.
