03 Nov Staying Healthy on an Alternative Diet

If you are trying to lose weight, it is important to keep in mind that there is a difference between being skinny and being healthy. In fact, a person can have a nice, svelte physique, but that does not mean he or she is a healthy person.  Similarly, a person can appear to be a bit pleasantly plump, yet still be much healthier than his or her skinnier counterparts.  Therefore, when planning a diet and exercise program, it is important to keep your health your top priority and to choose a plan that will help you stay healthy rather than one that simply burns the fat off quickly.

Exploring Alternative Lifestyle Options

Many people attempt to get healthier and to lose weight by following alternative health lifestyles, such as becoming a vegan or vegetarian, by utilizing herbal medicine or supplements, or by fasting or detoxing on a regular basis.  While many people claim to have achieved great results with these methods, it is important to approach them with a sense of caution in order to make certain you do not follow a health plan that will leave your body unhealthy.  Remember, you should never deprive your body of important nutrients and to monitor your overall level of health and fitness rather than the number you see on your scale.

It is important to note that choose to follow an alternative health lifestyle does not guarantee that you will lose weight.  Becoming a vegetarian and cutting meat out from your diet, for example, does not guarantee that you won’t overeat.  Similarly, it does not guarantee that you are following a healthy diet that provides you with a properly balanced diet.  In fact, by cutting certain foods out of your diet, you need to make sure to supplement for them in other ways in order to keep your body healthy.   By cutting out meat, for example, you will need to find other ways to make certain you get enough protein and iron in your diet. Talking to a nutritionist will help you pursue your alternative diet lifestyle while still getting the vitamins and nutrients your body needs.

Getting Your Exercise

If you do decide that following an alternative health diet is right for you, it is important that you still remember to get regular exercise.  While your diet may help you lose weight, it won’t make your body physically fit or give your cardiovascular system the workout it needs to stay healthy.   In fact, exercise helps your body stay healthier in a number of ways.  These include:

• · Boosting metabolism
• · Building lean muscles
• · Helping you maintain a healthy weight level
• · Improving your mood
• · Reducing stress
• · Reducing your risk of stroke or heart attack

By combining your dietary choice with the proper amount of exercise, you will greatly increase your chances of losing weight while also feeling and looking healthy.