Lose weight with the true Mediterranean diet

Although there are many countries bordering the Mediterranean Sea, there's one particular country that maintained a healthy diet for the heart, that keeps the body in good shape, prevents aging and tastes great. It is the classic Greek diet. Unfortunately, modern Greeks have forgotten their old habits and now eat junk food, dine at the restaurant and base their diet on high saturated fat. The traditional Greek diet, found in the villages of this country, contains 60% fruit and vegetables, only 20% meat, 10% carbohydrate and 10% fat. I mean it's a diet rich in natural fiber, vitamins and minerals, small quantities of bread and starchy foods and a daily dose of the wonderful olive oil.

Typical Greek Diet


Breakfast: It will always contain fruits if it's the right season. In winter or spring they eat citrus fruits. Start your breakfast with fresh fruits. You can choose between tea or cafer but in the morning the ordinary Greek loves to drink a cup of coffee. You can also eat fresh bread (one slice, remember that you are on a diet!) with honey. A traditional Kasseri or Graveria cheese is also welcomed. Breakfast will be less than 250 calories and you start your day in a wonderful manner.

The morning snack: If you get hungry before lunch (and quite probably you'll do so, because the Greeks lunch at around 2 or 3 P.M), eat some fruits. A good choice would be an apple that you can find almost all year. Another choice would be melon (seasonal fruit). You will thus eat only 100 calories.


Lunch: Greek cuisine contains a lots of dishes. Try some that don't contain meat and starch together. For example you can eat spanakorizo (spinach with rice), but no meat. Or you can try kokinosto (a Greek goulash), but no potato. Eat meat with lettuce, other vegetables or with nothing. Never with bread. Doing so, dinner will not even add up 500 calories.

Dinner: Many Greeks eat at dinner what they eat at noon. But they apply the same rules, meat with vegetables, starch-based products with vegetables (do not mix starch with protein). A perfect dinner would be paidakia (or lamb). Eat it with cooked vegetables (the Greeks eat Horta or Vela, two native grasses that seem to grow anywhere in the world). You can also eat tomatoes with feta cheese (a typical Greek salad called horyatika) and drink some red wine. You will not exceed 600 calories.

Conclusion: Meat and vegetables are a good combination. Pasta without meat, again, a winning combination. Try eating 1500 calories a day and besides loosing weight, you'll find that olive oil is a medicine for your heart and you will detoxify while keeping this diet. Eating like the Greeks, but separating the starch from the meat, you will consume about 1400 calories and you'll start to lose weight. In addition, you will not be hungry.
    
So, follow the Mediterranean diet and you will look better, feel better and lose weight.

Lose Weight with the Mediterranean diet

This summer change not only your diet but also your way of living. For thousands of years, people around the Mediterranean have enjoyed an active lifestyle, sprinkled with natural dinners with their families.

What exactly is the secret of the olive skin Greeks or Italians ? Balance. Eat as healthy and as good as you can, enjoy preparing dinner for family and friends and plenty of outdoor movement activities. This are the principles of the Mediterranean lifestyle.


The Mediterranean lifestyle has nothing in common with unlimited portions of pizza or pasta, as we see in some movies of the '50s. In fact, consuming moderate quantities of the delicious dishes, rich in nutrients, and especially with your loved ones, making the dinner a good time for communication and relaxation is what's making the Mediterranean Diet so special.

Basically, what is the Mediterranean Diet consists of ? They eat meals based on vegetables, whole grains, fresh fruits, nuts, seeds, olive oil, fish, occasionally chicken and very rarely red meat.


All these foods are eaten fresh, unprocessed and unrefined. A study published in 2001 in the International Journal of Obesity shows that people lose weight and maintain their figure easier with the Mediterranean diet than with a hipolipidic diet, precisely because the first contains foods that are tastier and the diet can be maintained for a longer time.

A first change would be to replace margarine, butter, mayonnaise and sauces with olive oil. Added to tomatoes, green onions, garlic and fish, olive oil gives a distinctive taste. It also can be used not only in salads but also for cooking.


The benefits of olive oil refers primarily to a sufficient amount of monounsaturated fat, so necessary to the cardiovascular system, and antioxidants, including vitamin E. All trials show that the daily use of 20 ml of olive oil can reduce the risk of coronary heart disease, just because of this monounsaturated fat. So, the  Mediterranean diet helps to increase its adepts longevity.

Another ingredient of the Mediterranean diet is outdoor movement. Experts explain that, in addition to the benefit of burning calories and body weight loss, a daily fitness routine help reduce stress and tension by improving metabolic function and resistance in general. So, you can start with 30 minutes of walking and then gradually increase and change the intensity of effort (running, if your doctor recommends).


So, it's not necessary to dine at a Greek tavern, or to walk on the beaches of Ibiza or the ruins of Rome; purchase fresh fruits and vegetables at the market, cook them correctly, take long walks in the park and  enjoy living. This is sufficient to keeps us young, supple and healthy.

4 easy methods to lose weight

Are you a big popcorn fan? Can't say no to a steaming roast? Or do you fill your plate with goodies when you reach a Swedish buffet party? Then you know that your figure is in danger! However, don't let your frustration affect your brain and stomach, we offer several low calories alternatives for your favorite foods!

1. Always choose your popcorn with salt only! Any nutritionist advice is to stay away from those huge cinema popcorn buckets, especially if you watch your figure. They contain large quantities of butter, cheese and salt. And they would not be so dangerous if you would eat them as dinner or lunch. But we know that they are just snacks for you. If you can't resist temptation, choose a the smallest portion you can buy. And combine it with light soft drinks, no sugar.

2. Stay away from cereals with sugar, honey and glazes! You'll say that a healthy breakfast should contain plenty of fiber and cereals. We let you know that in addition to fiber, many kinds of cereal are full of sugar, additives and plenty other threats to your silhouette. So we advise you to carefully read the labels of the products you buy and look after those transparent bags with muesli and dried fruits. These products are refined sugar free and make a good match with the also sugar free soy milk.

3. Eat a lean steak! Even if you're a convinced carnivore, you have the opportunity to maintain your figure. How? Very simple. When buying your meet, buy always the leanest muscle and cook it on the grill, with just a pinch of condiments. At the restaurant, stay away from the ribs and scruff specialties. And don't forget to mention the waiter not to add butter over your grill, because it will load your "bill" with an extra 100 calories.

4. Stay away from the Swedish buffet! Studies have shown that people sitting next to the tables at cocktail parties, are loading themselves with goodies, eating much more than those positioned closer to the dance area.

3 unusual ways to lose weight

There are a few other things to consider besides a well balanced diet, which can make you look your best in record time.

1. Wear comfortable shoes

According to a survey of U.S. experts in sports, people who wear comfortable shoes consume 6500 extra calories a year than those who prefer high heels. It seems comfortable shoes are a good stimulant to make long walks.

2. Choose a partner with a college degree!

A Polish study has revealed that women married to men with superior studies are more likely to keep their perfect figure to those who have less educated partners.

3. Get rid of boredom!

Another study, this time British, has shown that we are tempted to eat more when you're bored than when we are undergoing a major stress. So a hobby can save you from gaining weight. And why not, you can even lose weight if your hobby is a sport.

3 myths that can ruin your plan to lose weight

Don't believe everything that's been said regarding exercise and diet. Listen to the famous American fitness trainer from New York, Jen Cassetty, that dispels some of the myths circulating among female students.

Myth: late-night snacks makes you fat.
Fact: this is partly true. Weight gain caused by late meals is also conditioned by your lack of exercise, learning and sleep schedule. So if you work until 2 A.M and you also workout during the day, don't avoid late frugal meals, because you need energy to resist. Opt for light milk, fruits or some raw nuts.

Myth: I can remove fat only from my belly and thighs.
Fact: no matter how much you'd like to lose weight in certain areas of the body, some things are not possible. If you are on a cardio workout, it's good to know that you will lose weight from every part of your body, not only belly and thighs, no matter what some gadgets manufacturers may promise you. Focus on your whole body shape and lifestyle changes, for long term work.

Myth: College is the perfect time to try a new diet, to completely change my lifestyle, and why not, to become a vegetarian.
Fact: vegetables, fruits and grains are perfect, but that does not mean giving up meat is not risk free. If you don't take a nutritionist advice which could make you a balanced diet not lacking certain vitamins, minerals and protein, you risk to get serious alimentary deficiencies.

3 Golden Rules to Lose Weight

The recommendations come from Lindsay Duncan, a nutritionist who worked with celebrities like Courtney Cox or Demi Moore. Let's see some of the main tricks of these celebrities diets !

1. Eat lots of yogurt. Always opt for a simple yogurt, with no chemicals, sugar or sweeteners. Choose one with friendly microorganisms that stimulates your digestion. According to nutritionist Lindsay Duncan, this enzymes stimulate fat burning and prevent their deposition. If you choose two portions of yogurt a day, you will see results after 10, 15 days.

2. Hydrate yourself properly and completely! Surely you're already aware of all the doctors recommendation to drink at least two liters of fluids every day. But besides that, drink a cup of green tea, coconut milk or a cocktail of fruit juices with dried goji fruit.

3. Take vitamin B! Go to the doctor and ask for a prescription for supplements that contain a complex of vitamin B. This will maintain your energy level optimal and after a 30 days diet you will notice the difference on the scale.