Food Sources – Weight Loss Diet Solutions

Being overweight can lead to a world of negative consequences. It can affect your mental state and your physical health. Obesity and depression go hand in hand in many cases. And it’s not even just depression – the same is true of heart disease, stroke, diabetes, asthma, skin conditions and even certain cancers. If you’re overweight, it truly is in your best interest to do something about it as soon as you possibly can.

Certain essential fatty acids can help with just this. Doesn’t it sound strange that FATTY acids can help you lose weight? Well, strange as it may sound, it’s completely true.

What are Essential Fatty Acids?

Essential fatty acids (EFAs) are known as good fats because they help to improve your health in a variety of ways. We can’t synthesize them on our own, so we have to get them through food sources. They are basically long chain fatty acids that are unsaturated. EFAs can be derived from oleic, linoleic, and linolenic acids. Omega 3 fatty acids and Omega 6 fatty acids fall into the essential category. Omega 9s are important for our health, but they’re not classified as essential because our bodies can manufacture small amounts of it.

Most people are deficient in Omega 3s, while consuming an excessive amount of Omega 6s. Bring your body into balance and burn more fat by consuming additional Omega 3s.

Omega 3 fatty acids increase your metabolic rate when you consume them consistently. A few simple changes to your diet and you’ll burn more calories all day long – even when you’re sleeping. In addition to that, they prevent some fat from forming in the first place. People who eat fatty fish have less of their blood sugar converted to fat. And the amount of enzymes that metabolize fat are increased as well.

Omega 3 for Muscle growth and Metabolization

These fatty acids will also help with muscle growth, by encouraging the metabolism of protein. When protein is metabolized, it’s broken down into amino acids before it can be used by the body’s muscles. Since Omega 3s improve this process, muscles have access to more of the amino acids they need to repair themselves and grow.

Maybe you’re thinking that you don’t really care about growing muscles, but if you’re interested in losing fat, it’s something you should consider. Muscles burn calories around the clock, just to live. The more muscle you have, the more calories you’re going to burn. You’re boosting your metabolism, making weight loss that much easier on you. Plus you don’t even have to bulk up if you don’t want to. Larger muscles don’t necessarily have to obvious. Every little gain makes a difference when it comes to fat burning.

Another thing these good fats will do is help you to feel fuller faster. It provides the nutrients your body actually needs, so your brain gets the signal that you’re satisfied sooner. You consume less calories and still feel just as full.

Omega 3 and Cell Oxygen

But Omega 3s don’t stop there. They also provide your body with the tools to better oxygenate your cells. When your cells are adequately oxygenated, you’ll find that your energy levels increase. You’ll be able to push harder during workouts. This is important because you’ll burn a lot more fat by working out furiously than you will be working out leisurely. You’ll also be more likely to be naturally active throughout the day as a result of this increased energy. That’s good news, considering the fact that people who move around throughout the day are more likely to be slim than people spend a lot of time sitting around, even if they hit the gym for an hour everyday!

So, how can you get more of these awesome fatty acids in your diet? Look to coldwater fish such as salmon, herring and mackerel. These type of fatty fish both improve your health and help with weight loss, while pleasing your tastebuds at the same time! Smaller amounts are also found in meat and eggs. Avacados and most seeds are good plant based sources of some Omega 3s, also. If you suspect you’re not getting enough via your diet, you may want to consider a krill or fish oil supplement.

So, enjoy those Omega 3s a little more often because these special fatty acids will do you body a lot of good. You’ll be rewarded with more energy, clearer thoughts, a healthier body and a slimmer waistline!

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I’ve been keeping all of my oh so interested food posts over at www.myfitnesspal.com username: lorriebee. If you’re at all interested in what I’m eating. I’ve got loads of food photos to share with you, but first I want to share some random thoughts I’ve been having lately.

I’m a ponderer, I wonder about things, it’s just my nature. And today I’m thinking about this: what if I never lost a pound again- would I change my actions?

Lately I’ve noticed a few conversations with people around that fact that they assume eating a healthy diet and exercise is only out of the pursuit of weight loss. I can’t help but feel that this is entirely short sighted. Granted, when I started out on this journey a long time ago I was pretty ignorant about food. I was raised in the low-fat era of diet sodas, fat free dressing, and Snack Wells cookies. I never gave a moments thought to the pop-tarts, chips, Little Debbie cakes that I was consuming.

If it was in a package it was okay to eat. I never questioned ingredients, food sources, chemicals or unethical practices. But that was then and now after many years of yo-yo dieting, reading, watching and consuming all things health and nutrition I think I have a pretty good handle on what is sensible eating for me. Of course, it’s not perfect- it never will be. But, I know about meat, I know about processed foods and I know that most items in the grocery store are only pretending to be something they aren’t…food.

My quest for thin got me here. I don’t know if I’d ever arrive to caring that diet soda is not the solution to a diet full of fat and sugar. Or that meat has been injected and filled. Or that the innocent vegetable has been manipulated to be bigger, shinier and will hold up longer in the fridge. My fat opened my eyes to the world of better eating.

So sometimes I get frustrated when folks assume that I’m drinking juices in the morning just to lose weight. Or that sometimes I say “no thanks” to dessert, processed snacks or questionable meat because I’m trying…yet again…to lose weight.

The truth is, I want to do this. Not just because I have 150 pounds to lose, but because it feels better than the alternative. As if, weighing less would give me license to eat anything and everything without a moments thought.

The source of my knowledge and motivation is weight loss. For a hundred or so reasons. This is true. But, it’s not all based on weight loss.

I’ve come to realize that this slow shift in my mentality has opened the doors for real, lasting success. Because I understand that the way I’m eating now isn’t something I stop doing when I lose weight. I feel good when I drink raw vegetable juice, eat salmon, salads, smoothies, oatmeal, and whole grains. I feel better about myself and my life. It makes me hopeful and inspired to be a better person. My work improves, my skin gets clearer and I’m a more pleasant person to be around.

So right now, today, my “plan” is to be good to myself. This involves exercise, not because it could and probably will make my ass smaller, but because I feel like a better human being. I’m eating less meat right now, not because of a fad diet, but because I feel better. Does that mean I won’t eat meat this weekend at the wedding? No. Does that mean I will never have the occasional steak? Like hell. I’m getting up and making making juice because it’s a good thing to for me to do. I’m exclusively eating whole grains unless it’s not an option (and when it’s not I don’t feel bad about the white rice or bread). I’m eating nuts or fruit for snacks because it doesn’t weigh me down. I’m finding new ways to enjoy dessert and my favorite foods. And to top it all off, to make it count, so I know I’m doing what I need to do to lose weight: I’m counting calories. Everything else is up to me.

I’m finally understanding “lifestyle change”. It doesn’t mean that one meal at chik-fil-a is a bad thing, it doesn’t mean that healthy food can’t be delicious (it really is!), and it certainly doesn’t have to be the painful, hopeless, sacrifice that I’ve wanted to believe it is. The myth that made me believe for so long that I couldn’t do it without a pill, surgery or the latest top-selling diet book.

This is no longer punishment. This isn’t perfection. This isn’t 30 pounds in 30 days. This isn’t a raw food only diet. This isn’t no carb, low fat, low calories. Not vegan or vegetarian. Not the cabbage soup, rotation, or delivery meal systems. This isn’t diet food. This isn’t about the “last meal” or the “I will start over tomorrow”. This isn’t what I’m eating just to lose weight. This is me being okay with the occasional treat, the occasional indulgent meal because if I’m consistent 80% of the time, everything will be okay. This is about being guilt-free about food. Guilt only causes pain which leads to binging for me.

Today I am still obese. I’m not an impressive weight-loss success story. The process is never impressive. The mental shift, the work, the never going to give up attitude, the reading, the studying, the learning wasn’t a loss or failure. If I don’t lose a pound on the scale tomorrow morning, I’m still going to drink my juice, eat delicious real food and move as much as possible.

So do me a favor. The next time you see someone eating a salad or saying “no thank you” to dessert don’t assume it’s just because they are “being a good dieter” and on the same note, if you see someone eating a cupcake or enjoying a nice burger and fries, don’t assume they’re “off the wagon”. Being healthy isn’t about black and white eating or never consuming refined carbs again. It took me a long time, but I’m so glad I finally realize this.

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