Healthy Weight Loss Diet - Or Are You Actually Eating Like a Sumo Wrestler?

By Belinda Kan

Many Americans think they are on a healthy weight loss diet.

They exercise on an empty stomach, usually before going to work, because they think it will make them "lighter" on the gym scale.

They skip breakfast, because they are too busy, and just have coffee. Then they overeat at lunch because they are starving. They don't eat healthy snacks, "saving" their calories for when they go out to dinner with friends so it doesn't look like they are "dieting."

Many busy Americans think that because they didn't eat all day, their healthy weight loss diet allows them to eat most of their calories at night, when they're once again starving. A couple of drinks, some ice cream, and off to bed for a not-so-great night's rest.

A healthy weight loss diet also sometimes includes alcohol for some people, because people think it's liquid and thus doesn't contribute to weight gain. Or, they can't "give it up" in a social setting.

All of these practices, however, contribute to weight gain. In fact, practicing these habits day in and day out is precisely how Sumo wrestlers are able to get so fat. They eat in this strategic fashion to promote maximum fat storage. Here is a breakdown of the habits:

Skipping breakfast - Keeps the metabolism slow after a long sleep.

Drinking beer with meals - empty calories that are metabolized as fat

Exercising on an empty stomach - Store fat by triggering the body's starvation response, i.e. holding on to stored energy in the face of exertion

Have a sociable meal - It is so much easier to eat and drink more when you are in a social setting.

Having a nap after lunch - This is the one habit that most Americans don't practice. However, instead of taking a nap when our blood sugar drops, we reach for a soda and candy bar from the vending machine. You can bet this promotes fat storage even if we're not napping

In spite of all of these habits, sumo wrestlers actually eat very healthy. They eat a Japanese dish called Chanko-nabe, which is a stew that contains large quantities of protein sources such as chicken, fish and tofu as well as masses of vegetables which contain huge amounts of calories. These are healthy, whole foods, but they consume a lot of it and store the extra calories using the methods above.

Thus you can see that even if Americans are "eating healthy," the other things they are doing might still be promoting fat storage. Instead of eating like a Sumo wrestler, it is important to eat healthy foods in a way that promotes fat burning. Eat like a bird instead. Eating breakfast and spreading out calories throughout the day is the number one factor in keeping metabolism high.

Belinda Kan is a Certified Health Coach who helps her clients eat throughout the day in an easy and affordable fashion for weight loss and weight maintenance. If you want more if her healthy weight loss tips, visit her website at http://www.HealthyAffordableWeightLoss.com and download her free 5-day mini-course, "How To Eat Healthier With Limited Time and Money."

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Belinda_Kan
http://EzineArticles.com/?Healthy-Weight-Loss-Diet---Or-Are-You-Actually-Eating-Like-a-Sumo-Wrestler?&id=6041607