After years of trying to lose weight and trying lots of diets I concluded three years ago that there is a lot of rubbish about diets and people become overzealous about a particular method which they take to an extreme and then find hard to keep it up. I designed the 80/20 diet for normal people with normal lives: 80 % of the diet benefit for 20% of the effort. I lost 3 stone on it and kept much of it off for 3 years.
My diet comprises five elements CREMS
- Carb reduction (but NOT elimination - the 80/20 part is in how to do this to get most of the benefit and kill the addiction without being anal about it. What shortcuts work and what don't work? Smart carb control is the biggest element of the diet because carbs trigger insulin which raise blood sugar levels which make you want more carbs.. There will be a scientific explanation of this.
- Replace some carbs with extra vegetables a) as an extra filling course which has since been renamed SOUPING by Americans (I will share some great tasting and low carb/low calorie soup recipes I've invented for my soupmaker and will tell you all about the soupmaker I use as well), b) as a side dish to your protein so your meal is more interesting having eliminated a lot of carbs c) as a snack - I have lot of idea
- Exercise smartly for just 20 minute every other day (rather than long cardio). There is a particular regime I use that had amazing results when I look at before and after photos of me. It claims to stimulate hormones to target fat reduction and mood improvement and is cleverly designed so people can do it at their own pace and yet get a thorough workout. It worked for me. More about that in the chapter on exercise.
- Measure. No NOT weight so you can see change and be motivated. There are a range of things I measure. More on this in the chapter on measurement
- Substitution of the things you love that aren't great on the waistline. I will share with you a long list of substitute foods that have worked for me. Some are actually fantastically healthy and tasty. Some are moderately unhealthy but much less unhealthy than the thing you are substituting them for.
I'm new to Steemit (I joined yesterday) and am not sure if this series of articles/chapters will be of interest. So if you vote for this introduction I will write the next chapter, if not I will assume there is no interest in the topic. If you want to give me any constructive feedback in the comments, that would also be gratefully received!