How to select your diet plan
There are many, many success stories for diets with an underactive
thyroid or metabolism.
The secret to their success has been that they followed a
diet plan specifically designed to boost metabolism.
If you have a slow metabolism, or Thyroid, then most diet plans
won't work for you. Many of the major weight loss plans work by
achieving weight loss by reducing the daily calorie intake.
Yes sometimes they can achieve fast results, but in most cases the
weight bounces back just as quickly as it went.
So,
How do you select a plan that will work for you ?
1. Fewer Calories
There is more to losing weight than cutting calories. The key to
the diet plan that will work for you is to find one which will help
you eat just the right amount of calories to lose weight.
For example in most cases that starting point is to reduce your daily
calories intake by 500
calories. However you should never go below 1000 calories per day (or
skip meals) as your body will think you are starving and slow down
your metabolism even more.
2. The right protein levels
When you eat the right amount of protein for your body this
will increases lean body mass. (i.e. helps your muscles work at their best). The more lean body mass you have,
the
higher your metabolic rate and the more calories you'll burn.
Getting the right level of protein will help boost your metabolic rate
(naturally) and increase the speed at which you lose weight.
3. The right foods to boost metabolism
Yes easy steps like drinking enough water, having regular (smaller)
meals, etc will all help boost your metabolism. However the type
of diet you follow - the foods you select - will have a major impact
on your metabolism and weight loss. In addition if you get this
right you will also see a boost in your energy levels.
So what is the best diet for underactive thyroid ?
The choice of thyroid diet plans is enormous. From cutting back on calories,
avoiding food groups, protein based, having to go and be weighed, etc.
Bear in mind the most important fact - if you have a slow metabolism or
thyroid then you will need to select a plan specifically designed for weight
loss and boosting metabolism.
Consider two key issues:
-
Diet
Plan
You face the same issues as anyone wanting to lose weight. Quite
simply it is designing a diet which reduces calories without loss of
energy, prevent hunger as well as providing essential vitamins and
minerals.
Metabolism
But in particular you need to focus on your metabolism. When the
thyroid is underactive (hypothyroidism), it produces too little
thyroxine, producing symptoms such as extreme tiredness, an
intolerance to cold, mental drowsiness, weight gain (even with a
poor appetite), constipation, etc.
