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When considering a change in diet you must consider getting your selections from the four food groups. To lose weight you will need to eat in the correct proportions. An average person will consume about 2000-2500 calories, give or take, depending on if you are a larger or smaller, man or woman. 50% of your calories should be from carbs, 30% will come from fats and 20% will be consumed as proteins.

Everyone has heard about carbohydrates. But they are not all bad. Carbs are your main source of energy. From simple sugars like glucose and fructose, that rapidly break down in your system. Your body starts processing sugar minutes after you eat it. It is complex carbs you want to have in your diet. Starches, like a nice potato, take longer to break down and are healthy in moderation.

Fats are chemically similar to carbohydrates, and contain fatty acids essential to health. Proteins are lysed (split) to make amino acids, that are then recombined to form proteins used in muscles and other structures.

Meat is a valid and healthy source of protein for almost everyone. About 3 ounces per meal is about right for the average sized person. A cup of pasta is a good source of carbohydrates. Two cups of leafy green vegetables supply fiber, minerals and vitamins.

Anyone can make a basic balanced meal. It is easy to fix if you just remember the following. You can make it up simply from a serving of meat or if you are a vegetarian, other protein source. Then add a starchy carbohydrate such as pasta, rice, corn, potatoes, or some fruit. Do not over do it on the condiments, like butter, cheese, sauces and other sources of sugar or fat.

Fat comes in at a whopping nine calories per gram. This is double the amount of other energy sources. So if you are watching your weight, this is why you need to consider keeping foods high in fat down to moderate levels. It is of value to know that if you are watching your cholesterol levels, this is imperative.

All sources of carbohydrates have four calories per gram. But healthy sources also contain needed minerals, vitamins and fiber. Some examples are fruits (apples, pears, peaches), nuts (walnuts are lower in fat than peanuts or cashews, for example) and grains (for fiber and minerals).

If you are watching your weight than candy is not the best choice for you. If you want to consume this sort of treat, then you must only eat very modest portions. I have a bag of small individually wrapped candy bars in my drawer and eat one, at the most two per day. Since candy is considerably high in fat and sugar, its biggest drawback is that it also is lower in helpful nutrients. So they provide enormous calories and few other beneficial nutrients.

By simply creating a list of what you consume each day, it can help to show you the break down, both good and bad of the nutrients you are receiving. A little bit of math added to your diet plan will go a long way in assisting you to reduce the number you obsess over - your weight.

Tags: Weight Loss