By Christine Bude

The Mayo Clinic Diet calls itself “A Weight Loss Program for Life” It is portrayed as a lifestyle that can help you maintain a healthy weight for a lifetime.

There are lots of diets, diet plans and gimmicks. The Mayo Clinic Diet is a no-nonsense lifestyle plan that is based upon solid principles. The Mayo Clinic’s Weight Management program is a plan to improve health and help to maintain a healthy weight for a lifetime.

The Mayo Clinic Diet has a simple goal, “to help you adopt a long-term lifestyle that allows you to achieve and maintain a weight that ’s healthy for you”. The plan consists of four essential components: correct nutrition using the Mayo Clinic Healthy Weight Pyramid, Increasing physical activity, setting action goals and keeping motivated. Following these four common sense components should result in weight loss in a healthy manner.

The weight management program consists of four important components:

1. The Mayo Clinic Healthy Weight Pyramid: The Mayo pyramid is a nutritious plan that endorses eating well. There are no severe restrictions. There is no extreme hunger. The base of the pyramid includes the foods that can be eaten in abundance, fruits and vegetables. Fruits and vegetables are high volume foods, that provide great nutrition. These foods are also low in calories. The food pyramid allows for an unlimited amount of fruits and vegetables. A person should eat a minimum of three fruit servings and a minimum of four vegetable servings. Next on the pyramid are whole grains and carbohydrates, of which four to eight should be eaten daily. Protein and dairy should comprise three to seven servings daily. Fats, such as nuts, should be three to five servings daily. Sweets, up to 75 calories per day can be eaten.

2. Increase physical activity. The next essential component is to get some physical activity. The exercise can be in the form of a formal exercise program or through being more physically active. Activity helps to burn the calories taken in. Every motion of the body burns calories and is beneficial. Therefore, cleaning hours, shopping and gardening are all beneficial forms of physical activity. Exercise is structured and repetitive. Exercise improves fitness while helping to lose the weight. Commit to exercising regularly, aiming for 30 to 60 minutes of moderate physical activity on most days.

3. Set action goals. Goal setting provides focus. Set activity goals rather that focusing on losing pounds. Activity goals can be controlled. The results should follow the activities.

4. Get started and stay motivated. Focusing on the positives about losing weight, such as increased energy and improved health. Dwell on the improvements, not the setbacks. Steer clear of dietary gimmicks. Seek out and support system. Try exercising with a friend or family member. Remind yourself that it’s not a quick fix. Healthy weight loss takes time.

It takes continuous effort to reach a healthy weight. Good planning and consistency will result in better health and and healthy weight. According to the Mayo Clinic website, this lifestyle change is an enjoyable way to feel better, reduce health risks and to live.

This information is not intended as medical advice. If you have a medical condition, consult a doctor.

Source: Associated Content

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