| It is mind-numbing to think about how many diet | | | | One important aspect I have incorporated into my |
| options there are out there. Plans exist for every diet | | | | life is to cook meals for my family from scratch. I |
| possible from low calorie diets to counting calories to | | | | have fashioned my meals after how my grandmother |
| extreme restrictions. One can become overwhelmed | | | | used to prepare them. Nothing processed, always |
| by finding the plan that will work for them. I'm here | | | | from scratch, lots of garlic! My grandparents lived |
| to tell you that your best option is not among the | | | | healthy, long lives and I am convinced that their |
| myriad of low calorie, restrictive diets you may find. | | | | healthy lifestyle had a lot to do with their longevity. |
| It is to make lifestyle changes that include healthier | | | | When I was a kid, processed foods were all the |
| foods. | | | | rage. TV dinners, canned vegetables and anything |
| I have found that it is not so much the number of | | | | quick and easy for mom to prepare was what we |
| calories I consume that enable me to keep the | | | | were all eating for dinner. Slowly and steadily, we |
| weight off, but more the quality of the calories I | | | | were drawn away from real, whole foods and lured |
| consume. | | | | into a lifestyle of processed junk foods. They tasted |
| For health reasons, I decided I needed to overhaul | | | | great and were so easy to prepare. But now, 30 |
| my lifestyle and incorporate changes to my diet. In | | | | years later, we find ourselves living in a world ridden |
| doing so, I eliminated processed foods, refined sugars | | | | with cancer, heart disease and diabetes. What is |
| and saturated fats that come from dairy and meats. | | | | wrong with this picture? |
| I replaced these foods with organic produce, nuts, | | | | In order to lose weight and stay healthy, don't focus |
| beans and whole grains, basically a healthy vegan diet. | | | | so much on low calorie diets, focus on eating REAL |
| By making these changes alone, I steadily dropped | | | | foods. The weight will come off as a side effect of |
| the excess 50 pounds that had crept up on me over | | | | your new healthy way of eating. Since I changed my |
| the last several years. I had tried every diet | | | | lifestyle, I have been transformed. I lost the weight, |
| introduced to mankind, nothing worked. When I | | | | feel younger and stronger and most importantly |
| started taking in more high-quality calories and | | | | regained my health. I eat until I am satisfied and have |
| eliminated the crap calories, the weight dropped off, | | | | not counted a calorie in the process. |
| and my health improved. | | | | |