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[P794]Protein Diets And Weight Loss

by Donovan Baldwin, Don

Most people who are seeking a weight loss solution often start by reducing the amount of food they eat. This has a name. It is called a "diet" and it doesn't work. True, a relatively few people can lose a small amount of weight this way, but there are five major problems with dieting:

1. A diet is not a permanent weight loss solution2. A diet may backfire and actually cause weight gain.

3. A diet may not only be disappointing but may cause loss of self esteem.

4. A diet may cause health problems.

5. A diet may, in extreme cases, cause death.

6. There is a weight loss program that is better than a diet.

Let's take a closer look at these points.

A diet is not a permanent weight loss solution: Simply cutting back on calories may work for small losses of weight in some people over a short time period. However, diets are hard to stay on for many reasons. You get tired of eating the same food. You cannot stay on your diet when traveling, dining out, or when your schedule does not allow you the time to prepare meals. Special foods are required, or you must take the time to select foods from charts, one from column A, two from column B and so on. For this to work, you will have to stay on this diet for the rest of your life. Not only that, a diet simply denies your body some food. It does not cause your body to change the way it functions (except in a negative fashion talked about below), nor does it burn fat.

A diet may backfire and actually cause weight gain: When you first begin a diet, you may notice some weight loss as your body is denied the calories it is accustomed to. After a very short while, however, your will adjust to the new level of calories and your weight loss will stop. To lose more weight this way, the next logical step is to cut calories even more. By this point, in addition to you starting to get sick and tired of this nonsense, once calories drop below a certain level, your body will slow down the rate at which it metabolizes the calories you take in. Eventually, your body will learn to subsist on fewer calories, and weight loss will cease. If you fall off the diet wagon after your body has learned to get by on fewer calories you will be consuming more extra calories than before you started the diet, and you will gain weight. If you wanted to burn fat, this is not the way to go.

A diet may not only be disappointing but may cause loss of self esteem and motivation: As you may know from personal experience, it is hard to stay on a diet. As you can see from the discussion above, it is unrealistic to expect yourself to stay on a diet forever. Sooner or later, you are going to fall off the wagon. Not only will you probably blame yourself for your "failure", but it will be one more on a list of failed weight loss plans, and you will begin to lose respect for yourself and will begin to believe that others have lost respect as well.

A diet may cause health problems: Any time you restrict the amount or variety of the foods you eat, you are reducing access to the nutrients your body needs for good health. Your diet may take you to the point that you are not getting the proper amount of vitamins, minerals, protein, carbohydrates, and even the fat that you need to stay healthy.

A diet may, in extreme cases, cause death: Simply put, if you take your diet to the extremes, you may cause extreme health problems and damage internal systems and organs to the point of death.

There is a weight loss program that works and is better than a diet: It has long been known that sensible eating habits together with regular physical activity, i.e. exercise, is the most effective means of weight loss. If you don't believe me, pick up almost any bottle of diet pills, or enroll in any diet program, and you will probably see a disclaimer to the effect that "...this product, when used in conjunction with proper exercise and nutrition will..." enhance weight loss, cause weight loss, encourage weight loss. You see, all the people who manufacture these articles know that exercise and nutrition are the keys to healthy weight loss.

Instead of a diet, learn how to eat properly, exercise properly, and you will be able to burn fat from your body.

Protein is an extremely important part of all diet plans. A high protein diet is often recommended by bodybuilders and nutritionists to help efforts to build muscle and lose fat. High-protein, low-carbohydrate diets have been widely promoted in recent years as an effective approach to losing weight. These diets generally recommend dieters receive 30% to 50% of their total calories from protein. The Recommended Daily Allowance (RDA) of protein according to U.S. government standards is 0.8 gram per kilogram (2.2 pounds) of ideal body weight for the adult. Some of these diets restrict healthful foods that provide essential nutrients and don't provide the variety of foods needed to adequately meet nutritional needs. People on high-protein diets are consuming up to 34% of their total calories in the form of protein and up to 53% of total calories from fat.

Normally the body burns carbohydrates for fuel this is the main source of fuel for your brain, heart and many other organs. Protein is a vital nutrient, essential to your health. Some are high protein and emphasize foods like meat, eggs and cheese, which are rich in protein and saturated fat. Some high-protein diets de-emphasize high-carbohydrate, high-fiber plant foods. All diets are made up of calories. It is the building block of muscle. Protein is measured by the gram. Everything you eat and drink (besides obvious calorie-free things like water and celery, etc.) has calories in it. Proteins help replace and form new tissue, transports oxygen and nutrients in our blood and cells, regulates the balance of water and acids, and is needed to make antibodies. Protein malnutrition leads to the condition known as kwashiorkor.

Lack of protein can cause growth failure, loss of muscle mass, decreased immunity, weakening of the heart and respiratory system, and death. These foods help lower cholesterol when eaten as part of a nutritionally balanced diet. The anti-carb craze has everything to do with the recent resurgence in high-protein fad diets. Although protein is certainly an essential nutrient which plays many key roles in the way our bodies function, we do not need huge quantities of it. A healthy diet that includes a variety of foods and is rich in fresh fruits and vegetables along with regular physical activity can help most people manage and maintain weight loss for both cardiovascular health and appearance.

Article Source : Exercise To Lose Weight

About Author

Both Donovan Baldwin & Timothyjones are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.

Donovan Baldwin has sinced written about articles on various topics from Women, Health and Bodybuilding Supplements. Donovan Baldwin is a Dallas area writer. He is a graduate of the University of West Florida, a member of Mensa, and is retired from the U. S. Army. He writes articles on health, fitness, diet, and weight loss. Learn how to burn fat at. Donovan Baldwin's top article generates over 1220000 views. to your Favourites.

Timothyjones has sinced written about articles on various topics from ADHD, Acid Reflux and Beauty Tips. Timothy Jones writes articles for . He also writes for. Timothyjones's top article generates over 60500 views. to your Favourites.