With the holidays behind us and with our new year’s resolutions in mind, ‘tis now the season to establish healthier eating habits. If you’re looking for healthy ways to lose weight and keep it off, set aside some time to learn about your options and to invest your efforts in a nutritional plan that will have lasting effects.
One of the main ingredients of a healthy body is getting plenty of exercise, stretching, and keeping your muscles and joints happy and strong. Thirty minutes to an hour of moderate exercise, like brisk walking, each day will help fend off the weight gain that is common with middle age.
But don’t underestimate the importance of also watching what you eat. The key to healthy eating is to commit yourself to a plan that suits your tastes and personality. In this infographic, we explore four diets, including Ketogenic, Paleo, the Mediterranean Diet, and Veganism. But remember to consult your doctor before making any major changes to your diet. In the meantime, let our guide kickstart your interest and inspire a little more curiosity and understanding about the food you put in your body.
Many studies suggest that one of the best ways to lose weight effectively is to keep a food diary. In 2008, one study found that people who tracked what they ate six days a week lost twice as much weight as those who only tracked their food intake once a week.
Plan your meals in advance — this will help you resist the temptation to order takeout at the end of the day. Also, studies find that people who cook at least five times a week live 10 years longer. Every time you cook a healthy meal, get the most out of it by making double the portion so you can pack away the leftovers for lunch the next day.
Sleeping less than six hours per night can produce an excess of hormones, ghrelin and cortisol, that make you feel hungry. One study found that sleep deprived women are 33% more likely to gain 30 pounds over 16 years, compared with women who sleep seven or more hours per night.
In this infographic, the four diets we explore have one thing in common: Each diet encourages you to eat multiple servings of vegetables every day. If you’re filling your diet with plenty of plant-based food, you’re on the right track. As food expert and author Michael Pollan famously said: “Eat food. Not too much. Mostly plants.”
