Lose your Tummy - How to Cure the Diet Quick Fix

by Teresa Brown

One of the contributing causes to the rising obesity
epidemic in the western world is that technology has given
rise to a culture of convenience and inactive lifestyles.
This has a strong influence on what we eat and live and by
what means we will take to lose the tummy. It makes sense
then why we eat fast food and lose the weight with fad
diets, because it's the quick and easy.

For everyone who has been on a diet to lose their tummy,
it's clear that they don't work because you end up going on
another diet in the near future. It's no wonder that in the
US the diet industry is a booming multi billion-dollar
industry. The reality is that managing a healthy lifestyle
and a healthy weight is an on-going activity that requires
patience, unwavering dedication, training and
self-awareness. The sad reality is that most of us don't
take the long and steady road to wellness and opt for the
short road to nowhere.

Unlike a healthy diet that consists of a balanced nutrition
with a variety of foods, the typical diet is grossly skewed
nutritionally because it either restricts or over emphasizes
a particular food or mixture of foods. The following diets
only undermine your ability to lose your tummy because you
usually end up with fleeting results at a cost to your
health.

Anti-Carb Diets

Diets with the "carb is bad" philosophy, such as Sugar
Busters, can make you lose your tummy but it is usually too
rigid and difficult to maintain for the long term.
Carbohydrates are the first source of fuel for your body and
keeping this fuel scarce will only make you tired and
cranky.

The body needs carbohydrates to function properly. The
carbs we should eat more of are the whole grains, fruits and
vegetables variety and less of the refined starches such a
potatoes, processed breads, pasta and rice. Diets with the
"carb is bad" philosophy can make you lose your tummy but
once you're off the diet, the weight will come back faster
than you lost it.

Non Fat Diets

Eating a low-fat diet to lose your tummy requires that need
to add something else to your diet and in this case it's
carbohydrates. Be wary of foods in the supermarket that
claim to be "low-fat" as they are packed with calories in
the form of sugars and will instead make you gain more
weight.

The body needs fat to function. Saturated and trans fats
are to be consumed "sparingly" while monounsaturated and
polyunsaturated fats are to be consumed more often.
Different types of fat provide different functions in your
body. For example an extreme low-fat diet would deprive
your body of vitamins E, B12, and of the mineral zinc, all
of which are found in saturated fats. Also, by having very
little fat in your diet will reduce your body's ability to
readily absorb the fat-soluble vitamins A, D, E, and K and
carotenoids which are required for healthy eyes, skin,
bones, teeth and immune system.

Even though fad diets work for the short term, is it really
worth the time, money, sacrifice and effort only to gain the
weight back and diet again? Most moms who are trying to lose
their tummy need to eat a balanced but calorie reduced diet
combined with increased physical activity. No more, no
less. Just remember to always strive for maintaining health
and wellness and enjoy life.