Diet to Lower Cholesterol - Eat Your Way to Better Health
AUTHOR: Greg Dalton
Contrary to what many fitness gurus say, your primary consideration when planning a diet to lower cholesterol should be: What foods can I see myself eating for a long time?
Yes, veggies, fruit, and whole grain products are well and good, but if, for some reason, you have an aversion to certain foods, there's no reason you should eat them day in and day out just because a nutritionist says so.
Neither should you believe that you could sustain a monotonous diet for weeks. That's why the other key consideration of a diet to lower cholesterol is variety: Do you have enough recipes to motivate and encourage you to stick to your diet?
If not, then research.
Recipes For Your Battle Plan
One of the best ways to do this is to go to weight-loss or fitness food boutiques or restaurants, try out the menu (some even explain the health advantages of each dish!), compliment the chef, and ask him or her to explain how such a delicious dish was created!
Then rush to the grocery, pick up the ingredients, and duplicate the dish at home. In fact, it would be a good idea whenever you eat out to go to a place that specializes in, say, South Beach diets – and take advantage of the opportunity to add ammunition to your dieting battle plan.
Actually, if your nutritionist is any good, a diet to lower cholesterol shouldn't be a problem as they should be able to suggest a variety of recipes.
Regarding Weight Loss…
You can look at weight loss as either the pay off of your diet to lower cholesterol or as the means by which you can sustain your new dietary habits.
As you eat healthier foods, the easier it should be to lose weight and keep it off. But for many, the weight they lose is enough to motivate them to stick to their diets, sometimes even for life!
Just like selecting foods for your diet that you actually like eating, so should you find sports that you like and so can engage in regularly. If you like spending hours in the gym, a fitness routine shouldn't be a problem.
But even if you were a certified gym rat, it would be good to find a sport that you can use to vary your routine. This way, you are more likely to stick to both your weight-loss plan (if indeed it's a goal) and your diet to lower cholesterol.
If you already engage in a solitary sport, like running or swimming, find another more competitive one so you can stay motivated. Racket sports are a good example. Or you can join a weekend club, such as a mountain bikers' group.
Whatever you decide on, remember this: Fitness isn't a sprint. It's a marathon!