Maintain a Healthy Diet to Lose Weight Fast

It's kind of funny, in a sad sort of way, that the number of ineffective, short-lived fad diets continues to grow. And they grow despite the fact that they don't work, at least not as a long-term solution to losing weight. So, what are you supposed to do if you want to lose weight? Eat better.

We all know, deep down, that we need to eat better if we stand a chance of having a healthy diet to lose weight fast. Don't worry, this is going to be as common sense as it is easy to follow, no fad diet nonsense, just what works.

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Food is nothing more than fuel for the body. It contains the vitamins, minerals, and calories we need to survive. We only get in trouble when we eat too many calories without burning them off. Some foods are better than others, but nothing is forbidden. Here's how you can use food for a healthy diet to lose weight fast.

Start the day with something to get the internal furnace started. That means eating breakfast. There is no reason to skip breakfast. It takes virtually no time at all to grab a piece of whole-wheat toast and spread some peanut butter on it, then wash it down with a glass of orange juice. Or boil up some eggs for the upcoming week. Then have an egg, a banana and a granola bar. Even a ready made breakfast shake is better than nothing. The trick is to get your body use to burning calories for the day.

Now that you have your metabolism fired up, you need to keep it going by snacking. A light snack every two hours is all it takes. A small handful of nuts, some carrot sticks with non-fat yogurt, or a protein bar, are good choices. Regular snacking will prevent you from experiencing mid-afternoon burn out, too.

So, now it's lunchtime and you're feeling great! You're eating food you like and you're not hungry. Let's keep going with turkey breast on whole-grain bread, iceberg lettuce, tomato, and a small amount of mustard. Add a veggie-rich salad and a small glass of juice or skim milk and you're all set on maintaining your healthy diet to lose weight fast.

Don't forget your two-hour snack break.
For dinner try some baked salmon brushed with olive oil and a squeeze of fresh lemon juice. Include some fresh veggies of your choice (bake them with the salmon if you like), and a cup of homemade soup.

Remember to eat your next snack.
As you can see, this is all reasonable, simple eating. Food is there to keep you going, and it needs to be tasty, too. Remember, nothing is off limits. If you must have some ice cream, just keep the portion under control. Make it a habit to increase the better foods, and eat less of the not-so-good ones and you will maintain a healthy diet to lose weight fast, faster than you may have thought possible.