Healthy Monday Tip - Count Carbs

  You can improve your diet with one step: count carbs.  Let me explain, because I'm not necessarily endorsing the Atkins Diet, or any of the other popular low-carb weight loss
 programs.  Those diet programs work very well for some people and not very well or others in the long run. The best diet for you depends on a number of different factors, including your health status.  What I am suggesting is that one of the best ways to clean up your diet and lose weight is to monitor your carbohydrate intake.

What's Wrong With Carbs?

The short answer is nothing.  There is nothing wrong with eating carbohydrates.  We all need carbohydrates for energy and if you exercise you need to eat enough carbs to fuel productive workouts.  The problem is that most of our junk food, snack food, and empty calories are starchy high-carbohydrate foods.  If you can decrease your carbohydrate intake, chances are very good that you will not only decrease your overall caloric intake but you'll also make room for healthier food like essential lean protein and healthy fats.  The bottom line is that you end up with a healthier diet.

How Do I Start Counting Carbs?

I recently update the list of Carb Counting Tools and Calculators.  This is your starting point for finding out how many carbs you should eat and how many carbohydrates are in your favorite foods.  As youplan your weekly menu, design each meal around ametabolism-boosting protein, then add healthy carbohydrates such as leafy greens that are packed with healthy nutrients.  After a week or so of counting carbs and making better carbohydrate choices, you'll feel better, have more energy and see results on the scale.