Free Dieting Resources and Tips

About the Author

Abby Campbell, BSc, SFN, SSN, CPT, is a leading professional fitness and nutrition expert, researcher, and published author of One Size Does NOT Fit All Diet Plan, one of Amazon's Top Gluten-Free and Weight Loss Diets. (You may read more about Abby at the bottom of this article.)

In a world full of confusion due to various diets, magic pills, and misinformation - finding helpful information for healthy weight loss or dieting can be buried amongst the thousands of weight loss resources available. For those who not only want to reach or maintain a healthy body weight, certain types of resources can be invaluable to the dieter. If you are dieting the healthy way through natural foods, this article will share with you four types of resources that are invaluable. They include sources that will encourage and motivate you through your dieting process, as well as sources to help you with actual dieting.

Finding encouragement or motivation for any dieter can be difficult at times. With two-thirds of the United States and other countries being overweight or obese, finding support can be difficult in your time of need. In your mind and heart, you may want to diet, exercise, and live a healthy lifestyle. However, your surroundings may coerce you into that family barbeque with corn cobs, baked beans, and sugar-filled desserts for side items. Maybe your employer is holding a birthday bash for your boss with an Italian theme consisting of every pasta dish made known to man, and only with cake and ice cream to top the celebration. Your spouse may even want to surprise you for that special occasion you share with a box of chocolates and champagne. How do you stay on track with so much temptation?

Obviously, you can't just be a recluse and hide from the world. Your family and friends need you just as much as you need them. There is hope! You may not find the support you need from your usual surroundings. Though there is support for you in other areas. You can find online diet groups or forums. Fitness and healthy cooking magazines are also great ways to spend your free time to stay in tune with your goals. Just by looking at those who are fit will inspire you and get your courage up to continue. Moreover, they will provide ways for you to overcome those temptations with great dieting and exercise suggestions. Health websites are also great resources in learning how your body works, while educating your mind on why it's important to diet correctly and healthily. To your upper right in blue are some website resources on healthy dieting you may find helpful.

The best produce for your body are the ones grown right from your backyard. Having a green thumb may not be your forte though, so local farmers markets are your best source for the freshest vegetables, fruits, and grains. Several reasons include:

1. Better Health. Small farms are usually less aggressive with chemicals, genetic alterations, and preservatives. Since the produce is also fresher from local farms, it's also packed with nutrients.
2. Better Taste. Because you are buying direct, local farmers can concentrate on what's more important which is selection, growth, and harvest. They spend less time on packing, shipping, and shelving which ensures you with the freshest and most nutritious produce. Nutrition plus time for produce to grow to maturity, you are provided with better tasting foods.
3. Better Economy. By supporting local farmers and farmers markets, you are also supporting your local economy. Farmers who must ship their produce profit approximately 20 percent from their own goods. By selling to you (the local consumer), farmers are able to make 100 percent profit which helps build their farms for better future produce.

Please check out www.LocalHarvest.org to find your local farmers markets.

Since the 1990s, many grass farmers have stopped sending their animals to the feedlot to be fattened by grains, soy, and other supplements. Instead, they are allowing their animals to feed off their native diet - the pasture. Grass-fed animals live a lower stressed life which lowers the likelihood of illness. Due to their good health, they do not need antibiotics or drugs. Nor are they introduced to hormones or growth-promoting additives.

Spending your food budget on proteins sourced from farms that raise their animals in an ethical manner is a great choice. Like vegetable and fruit produce, supporting local grass farmers is a good way to support your local economy. Besides, it's healthier for you to eat meats that are farm-raised near you for the following reasons:

1. More Nutritious. Meat from grass-fed beef, bison, goats, and lamb are leaner and contain less calories. They also have more beta-carotene, vitamin C, vitamin E, Omega-3 fatty acids, and conjugated linoleic acid (CLA).
2. More Tender. Because grass farmers provide their animals with a high quality pasture grown from rich healthy soil, meats are more succulent and tender.

By supporting local grass farmers, you are helping to improve animal welfare,keeping the environment from degradation, promoting your local economy, and providing the healthiest food for your family. You may find your local grass farmers by going to www.EatWild.com.

1. Multi-vitamin with minerals.Unless you are very conscientious about your diet, take one every day. You may want to take one that is geared toward your gender and activity level for best results.
2. Greens and berries powder. This is great to take, especially on days where you are running low on your vegetable and fruit intake. Make sure the ORAC value is high. An ORAC value of 5,000 provides phytonutrients equivalent to about 10 vegetables and fruits.
3. Fish oil. Coldwater fish like salmon, mackerel, halibut, sardines, tuna, and herring are best sources. Make sure it has an Omega-3 content with at least 30 percent EPA and DHA. Recommended dosage is 2-3 grams per day for health benefits.

Even with eating natural foods, it is nearly impossible to have all the nutrients your body requires for optimal health. Using natural supplements is insurance for your body. Even with supplements, there are so many representative companies. Where do you even begin to choose? Finding high quality and natural supplements are like needles in a haystack. Fortunately, the work has already been done for you here.

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Abby Campbell, BSc, SFN, SSN, CPT, is a leading professional fitness and nutrition expert, researcher, and published author. For the past 10 years, she has coached thousands of women locally and online to lose body fat and lead healthy lifestyles. Her clients have lost thousands of pounds, reclaimed health, and call her “Coach No Gimmick.” She is from Northern Virginia but now resides near Charlotte, North Carolina. Abby has been married for 20 years and has three grown daughters, one of which is autistic. She is a 19 year cancer survivor.