The Mayo Clinic diet has received a great amount of praise, and rightly so. However, there is a slight misconception about this program. While the name, the Mayo Clinic diet gives the impression that you are following a diet program, it is actually an eating program, designed to help you not only maintain a healthy weight, but also a healthy lifestyle. It is not your typical diet that puts major restrictions on what you can eat for a few days, causing you to lose water weight but not really helping you get healthier overall. According to the Mayo Clinic staff, this weight management program focuses not only on the right foods to eat to lose weight but also on your overall health.
So how do you begin to begin the Mayo Clinic diet? Well, there are four main parts to this program. The first is to follow the healthy weight pyramid that the Mayo Clinic has designed. You are instructed to eat until you feel satisfied; restricting your food intake until you feel extremely hungry tends to cause overeating or binging. By following the pyramid, you will be able to lose approximately 1-2 pounds a week, which is considered a safe amount.
The second aspect of this diet is to increase your physical activity. The reason for this is that you will burn calories while working out, resulting in fat loss. You will also be helping your body get in better shape, improving your health. If you are unused to any sort of physical activity, the program recommends starting out with just 10-15 minutes of exercise everyday, then slowly building up to a more strenuous and long lasting routine.
The third part of this diet includes setting goals. However, rather than just setting goals regarding the number of pounds, you are encouraged to set goals regarding the number of miles you walk or jog per week, the number of healthy foods you eat in a day, or other goals related to improving your overall health.
The fourth aspect of the diet is to get started on the management program and stay motivated. Motivation is very important when making such a big lifestyle change. To keep yourself motivated, you should emphasize the positive results that will come from losing weight, such as reducing many health risks and gaining more energy. You are also setting a good example for other family members. When you feel yourself lacking in motivation, it is also a good idea to reach out to others for support, whether it is a friend, family member, or co-worker.
The Mayo Clinic diet is a great lifestyle change for any person who really wants to lose weight and become healthier.