I would bet that without even thinking, you could name 4 or 5 diets or eating plans that are in the popular media…Weight Watchers, Nutrisystem, Atkins, South Beach, etc. Every time you turn around, there’s a fantastic “new” approach to eating. It’s enough to make your head spin!

But it doesn’t have to be that complicated. I’ve got some easy-to-follow nutritional principles that will help keep you on the right track. Beginner or advanced, these will work for you!

1. Focus your eating on natural, unprocessed foods as much as possible.

While I know it’s not always possible to get fresh fruit and veggies and other unprocessed foods everywhere you go, your body will always respond best when you feed it foods that are not altered through processing. Your body has evolved over thousands and thousands of years to process foods in their natural state – it’s only relatively recently that processed foods have appeared on the scene.

Your body has the digestive mechanisms for efficiently processing foods in their natural state. When you add in the fats, salt, sugar, additives, etc., your body starts having a hard time digesting and coping. Think of it like trying to put regular gas into a vehicle that runs on diesel. It may run, but it’s not going to be very efficient with the fuel and it could cause problems down the road (no pun intended!)

Bottom Line: Eating foods that are not processed allows your body to function more efficiently. You’ll lose fat without even trying.

2. Get plenty of good quality, lean protein sources in your diet

When you’re training, your body has a much greater need for protein. During weight training and endurance training especially, your body is constantly breaking down muscle tissue. Protein is required to rebuild it. By regularly feeding your body good protein sources, you’ll be able to hold onto and build muscle mass easier.

Good sources of lean protein include meats (look for leaner cuts like sirloin), poultry, eggs (while not lean, eggs will not shoot up your cholesterol as many worry), fish, low-fat dairy, soybeans, and various legumes (beans).

As far as how much protein your body needs, this will vary according to how much you weigh and your activity level. A level of around 1 gram per pound of lean bodyweight is a good guideline (we don’t count total bodyweight because fat is not metabolically active and doesn’t require protein to sustain it).

3. Don’t be afraid of “good” fats

Fats can be extremely beneficial, even when you’re trying to lose weight! Fats are important in a tremendous variety of bodily processes including hormone production, immunity, joint and organ protection, and even burning bodyfat. Without the “good” fats, your body will not function as well as it could.

“Good” fats include sources such as fish, nuts, flax oil, borage oil, and olive oil (there are many other good sources as well). Increasing your intake of these good fats can help keep you feeling good and burning your own bodyfat more efficiently.

Your total fat intake should be around 30% of your daily calories. A good way to go about getting this is to try and keep your focus primarily on low-fat foods while purposefully adding the “good” fats into your diet (like eating a few almonds every day or taking fish oil or flax oil capsules).

4. Carbs are fine

Despite all the talk about carbs being the enemy, it’s important to note that carbs and foods that contain carbs can actually be quite good for you! It’s generally the refined sugar added to foods that is the problem, not the carbohydrate as a nutrient on its own.

5. Non-nutritious foods should be minimized

This is an easy one. More than likely, you already know that you shouldn’t be eating Cheesy-Poofs or chocolate bars 3 meals a day. The calories you get from these foods don’t come with any actual nutrients. When your body is missing nutrients, it craves more food (not to mention the insulin response to the sugar in many of these foods) and you tend to eat more of the poor food that doesn’t have nutrients in it.

It’s ironic to think that many overweight people are actually malnourished! When you eat nutrient-dense foods, your body gets the nutrients it needs and functions much better.

5. Salads, fruits and vegetables will give you lots of fiber, roughage and nutrition

Eat plenty of salds, fruits and veggies every day. This is usually one that everybody already knows yet doesn’t normally focus on. The fiber in the foods helps keep you from getting too hungry and helps keep your digestive system clean.

6. Just do the best you can

It’s not always easy or convenient to follow good eating principles. There are plenty of tasty temptations to be found every time you turn around.

The REAL key to proper nutrition is to focus on trying to do well MOST of the time, not all of the time. It’s what you do most of the time that will give you the long-term results you’re looking for. Determining that you MUST be perfect all of the time is a sure way to set yourself up for disappointment when the time comes that you don’t eat a perfectly healthy food choice.

Sometimes, you just have to eat those Cheesy Poofs and not worry about it.

One of the many issues for men regarding weight loss is approaching a diet in a realistic way. While some men may affirm they are exercising, this does not necessarily mean they are losing pounds; in fact, they may be gaining muscle. Diet and exercise become weight loss issues for men as they age.

While we all know that one to two pounds per week is sufficient weight loss for most people, it is the morbidly obese who may be required to lose weight more rapidly. Having said that, weight has become a major issue as obesity is on the rise. Whether you are genetically predisposed to gain weight, which is open to debate; you are big-boned; or just generally gain weight more than your siblings or other members of your family, it is important to note that gaining weight consists of many factors. How much do you eat? What types of foods do you consume? Are you sedentary or active?

In order to take a common sense approach to losing weight, men should engage in a regular exercise routine accompanied by a proper nutritional diet, which does not include fast foods; fats; sodium; alcohol and sugars. Men need protein and fiber in their diet. Of course, there are direct links to weight and prostate cancer; high blood pressure; diabetes and other conditions which may occur.

To determine how much weight to lose is dependent upon any health factors, which only your doctor can check. It is estimate that losing just five to ten percent of your weight can benefit your health. While dieting for men is not an easy task; it may be a necessary one. As men age, problems associated with overweight begin to reveal themselves which then puts you in a position of having to lose the pounds; no ifs, ands, or buts. If you are overweight, look into a proper diet and exercise regimen that fits your lifestyle. Cut down on unnecessary snacks; beer; and all of the fried foods and steaks you have been consuming. Choose lean meats, and non-fact products that provide fiber and nutrients which may be lacking in your diet.

To diet and exercise now will afford you a longer and healthier life. While these weight loss issues for men may be waved away with a flick of the finger, think about your life and all of the things you want to do. Perhaps you are near retirement. Do you want to spend it taking daily medication or trips to the doctor or hospital? No, of course you don’t; who would? Talk to a nutritionist to find out what foods you can eat. With the way foods are prepared today, you can enjoy a delicious meal without sacrificing taste. Take care of your health.

Diet Plan for Men

We’ve all heard about the NutriSystem Diet Plan for women, but there is also one for men as well. What’s so great about this program is that it contains the vital nutrients and protein men are lacking in their diets. Let’s take a look at Men’s NutriSystem Diet Plan to determine how it can help a loved one or family member lose weight.

First, it is important to explain what this plan encompasses. It consists of 7 hearty breakfasts; 7 lunches; 7 dinners; and 7 desserts that will satisfy you even more.

In addition, it includes burgers, pizza, hot dogs, lasagna, pot roast, tacos and scrambled eggs. Using the Glycemic Index which contains good carbs; these meals are perfectly portioned to give you the right balance of fats, carbs, calories, and proteins. Here are some of the foods available to you on this diet plan.

For breakfast, some of the selections are: scrambled eggs with cheese; scrambled eggs with veggie sausage crumble; cranberry orange pastry; pancake mix; blueberry flavored pancake mix; chocolate chip pancake mix, and more. For lunch, you can choose from: chest tortellini; chicken and pasta in cacciatore sauce; pasta with beef; pasta parmesan with broccoli; cheesy home style potatoes with broccoli; turkey hot dogs; whipped sweet potatoes with cheese, and more. For dinner, Basil chicken breast with tomato sauce; cheese ravioli with basil tomato sauce; hearty beef stew; mash potatoes with meatloaf and tomato sauce; pot roast and gravy over beef, potatoes and vegetables; southwestern chicken with sauce, and I think you get the idea! The dessert menu is a surprise; but you can be sure you will have more choices than you may think.

There is even a diet for older men. You may have seen Don Schula promote this one on TV. In fact, NutriSystem also incorporates a Diabetic Type II program which has more than 90 prepared meals for those of you who need to watch your sugar intake and other dietary concerns.

You may want to check out this diet plan, as men’s NutriSystem Plan has incorporated 70 new meals just for men. Certainly, if you need to diet and do not know where to begin, why not try this particular plan for a week and see how it goes. You may find it will help you choose the proper nutrition and diet right for you. You have nothing to lose, except weight. In fact, if your spouse is on the same plan; you can both diet together. At least you won’t be eating a salad while your wife is enjoying a delicious meal on this plan. Dieting together will make it so much easier for you; and healthier too.