Intuitive Weight Loss System
An Effective Diet Plan to Safely Lose Pounds and Improve Health
Aug 18, 2007
Healthy Weight Loss Program
Would you like to eat whatever you want, lose fifty pounds, and keep it off without following a rigid weight loss program?
Health Science professor Steven Hawks did just that by following an intuitive diet. In addition Hawks conducted a scientific study to show that the intuitive diet produces a safe healthy weight loss.
Hawks and his team, including Hala Madanat, Jaylyn Hawks, and Ashley Harris, conducted a study of a small sample of college students. Those following this diet had a lower BMI, lower triglycerides, higher HDL (the good cholesterol), and an overall lower risk of cardiovascular disease. This study, published in the November 18, 2005 issue of American Journal of Health Education was with a small pilot sample, so Hawks plans the needed larger study.
Attitudes
This weight loss program suggests two attitude changes. First, accept your body. Your body type does not determine your worth as a person. The second is to give up weight loss diets and their rigid rules. If your weight loss program forbids a favorite food, you will crave it. Eventually you will give in, binge on that food, go off the diet plan, and gain back whatever weight you lost. Sound familiar?
Eat Only When You Are Hungry
The only eating rule for this weight loss plan is very simple. Eat when you are hungry, but only when you are hungry.
The key is the only. We tend to eat for many reasons besides hunger. We eat with friends at social events. We eat because it is meal time. We eat because we are nervous or upset. We eat because food is available. In some of these situations, we may also be hungry, but often we are not.
The key to the intuitive diet plan is to eat only when hungry and eat only enough to satisfy the hunger. Then stop eating! Do not eat until you feel stuffed, no matter how delicious the meal is.
This weight loss system allows any foods as long as you are hungry and stop eating when the hunger is satisfied. Training yourself to do that is difficult. But doing so will pay off with a safe healthy weight loss. Learn to understand your body's signals, and it will tell you when to eat and when to stop.
Even Cheeseburgers and Banana Splits?
Can I really have a cheeseburger instead of a salad? Yes. If you really want a cheeseburger, a salad won't satisfy you. You will continue to crave food because you weren't satisfied. You will likely binge on snacks in a fruitless effort to satisfy your craving.
Have the cheeseburger. When you are no longer hungry, save the rest for later. You will satisfy your craving and not feel a strong need to snack later. If you do not deny yourself cheeseburgers (or whatever your favorite food is) you are less likely to crave them. Reducing your cravings allows you to eat in moderation.
Eating in moderation is of course crucial to a safe healthy permanent weight loss. When you are hungry, enjoy cheeseburgers, banana splits, or whatever. Also enjoy healthy foods. But when you are no longer hungry stop eating.
Add Exercise Like Walking or Running
This intuitive diet plan by itself can lead to a safe healthy weight loss. When coupled with a healthy cardiovascular exercise program such as walking, running, bicycling, or swimming results will improve. The extra calories burned will make the weight loss easier and improve health and fitness. The combination makes a healthy weight loss system and improves overall cardiovascular fitness.
Start walking, and stop eating when you are not hungry.
