Losing weight is not simply a matter of how you look—it’s really a matter of how you feel. When you are at your ideal weight, you will feel freer, more energized and healthy than if your body is burdened by excess weight. It is important to approach any weight loss program with a healthy sense of purpose. Why are you losing weight? Is it so that you can fit into that bridesmaid dress, or because you want to look and feel better? Short-term goals rarely result in solid, long-term weight loss. Here are some important guidelines that have to do with eating your way to lose weight and gain better health.

Keeping Perspective - Do Not Eliminate an Entire Food Group from Your Diet

One of the best ways to eat your way to losing weight and gaining overall better health is to keep a healthy sense of perspective. Do not trust diets that cause you to eliminate entire food groups from your diet. In order to be truly healthy, your body needs all kinds of foods to thrive, including carbohydrates, proteins, and yes, even fats. Our bodies need a healthy balance of all three to be at its optimal best.

Feeding Your Body Right

Here are some general guidelines that can help you feed your body right. In general, carbohydrates and fats should be your primary sources of caloric energy. Your body uses protein as a fuel, but also depends on them mostly as raw material for growing strong body structures. Eating a balanced diet can provide the right kind of calories in order to replace those that have been used up in the course of living. But your body needs just the right mix of carbohydrates, proteins and fats in order to meet your body’s complex needs.

The General Characteristics of the Ideal Diet

Knowing that your body needs a variety of different nutrients, what does the ideal diet look like? In general, the optimal diet has variety. That means that you are eating enough different kinds of foods so that all of your nutritional bases are covered and that the intake of harmful foods and elements are generally minimized. Freshness is another important factor. The higher the percentage of fresh foods in your diet, the better you will feel. Another important characteristic of a healthy diet is unprocessed foods. The fewer processed foods that are in the diet, the healthier you will be. Another main characteristic of a healthy diet is an abundance of fruits and vegetables. In general, the more fruits and vegetables that are in your diet, the more protective nutrients that your body is absorbing.

How Many Calories Are OK Each Day?

The amount of calories that you should be consuming each day depends strongly on your body size, sex and activity level. However, in general, most adults need to consume between 2,000 and 3,000 calories. Most women need fewer calories than men. Also, the more active that you are, the more calories you will need in order to keep up with your body’s demands. If you are eating the right kind of calories and not varying the degree of activity, you should find that your weight does not vary significantly. There is also a recommended distribution of calories that you should aim for. In general, you want 50 to 60 percent of your calories to be consumed from carbohydrates. You should aim for 30 percent of your calories to be from fat, and about 10 to 20 percent of your calories to be from protein. Of course, these numbers will vary according to your specific body type, activity level, age and sex.