Healthy Lifestyle Weight Loss: Eliminate the Processed Foods

After finally making a commitment to yourself to lose weight, what should be your next step? Some people find that going "whole hog" (no pun intended) into an aggressive exercise plan serves to jump-start their weight loss efforts. Certainly exercise plays an integral part of any weight loss plan, however for many, the beginning of the weight loss endeavor is a very vulnerable time. An overzealous start at exercise, for someone who has a sedentary (i.e. "couch potato") existence, could back fire, leaving them so sore after the first workout that they are reluctant to ever return to the gym.

The same could be said regarding the dietary aspects of the weight loss plan. If one takes an overly aggressive approach and goes at it with the intention of practically starving themselves (in a relative sense), those efforts are not only ineffective and harmful, they are unsustainable and will go by the wayside in a hurry.

One starting point that might be useful for someone who is overweight or even obese is this. Before even selecting a diet plan or weight loss program to follow, make a close examination of the foods you are currently eating. Make a list of the foods that make up you meals and snacks over a typical week. Note which of these items are prepared foods that come out of a can, bag or the freezer. These are "processed foods" that may include items that are ready to eat. One of the problems with processed foods is that they contain a number of substances that contribute to obesity. Things like refined sugar, high fructose corn syrup, refined wheat flour, as well as additives, artificial flavoring and coloring.

One of the main difficulties of eliminating these things from the daily diet, is that they are so darn convenient. Coming home from work at night, what could be easier than pulling a TV dinner, or a frozen pizza from the freezer and heating in the oven or microwave? On the other hand, who has time to prepare fresh meals for breakfast lunch and dinner each day?

The goal here is to eventually eliminate as much processed food from the diet as possible and to do so in a systematic fashion. Try to eliminate such items from one meal each day. Then gradually eliminate them from the remaining meals and snacks. In the meantime, learn how to prepare and get into the habit of preparing fresh meals in advance. On the weekend, take some extra time and prepare some meals for the freezer, which can be used the following week.

Taking this step for 30 days, will give you a great start toward achieving your ultimate weight loss goal in whatever weight-loss program you chose to follow.


This article was written by Bruno Barbaro, a practicing pharmacist who urges you to adopt a healthy lifestyle and loss weight! For more information about a healthy weight loss method and a FREE Report go to dietnomore.weebly.com

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