Getting fit and in shape is difficult and can get very complicated at times. Yet for all of its arduousness there are only but two aspects to getting in shape – diet and exercise. It is amazing how something so complex can fall under the umbrella of just two categories. It is because of the complexity and the unknowns of these two categories that being fit is such a complicated matter.
For years debate has roared over the best ways to get in shape. There have been many different theories in exercise habits and what is the best type of exercise in order to get in shape. Even more controversial than the exercise side is the diet side. People all react differently to diet and the types of food they eat so there is no wonder why there is so much debate over what diets will get you in shape most efficiently.
Two diets have shown up strong on the radar as of recent, and they are the Dukan diet and the Mediterranean diet. Though both of them have their merit, each of the diets represent a different wave or trend, one of them a healthy and sustaining option while the other is more along the lines of a fad that will not be able to be sustained in the long run.
The Dukan diet is based off of the Atkins diet but has stages that progress past just protein consumption. In the beginning, however, aside from a couple spoonfuls of oats, all that is consumed is lean protein. You build up to a small amount of fruits and vegetables, but in phase four you allowed to return to your normal diet. The inherent problems with this diet are in the lack of nutrient as well as the lack of lifestyle associated with it. In terms of nutrient, eating solely lean protein is not healthy because it does not contain the vital micronutrients that are rich in vegetables and fruits. In terms of lifestyle, any diet that severely restricts calories or food groups is not a healthy choice and is not sustainable. At phase four when people return to their normal eating patterns they will return to the habits that made them overweight in the first place.
The Mediterranean diet is not even much of a diet so much as a lifestyle. Healthy, tasteful foods consist of the bulk of the diet. Foods such as vegetables, fruits, and healthy fats are the mainstays of the diet, all of which are excellent for health and well being. Also, the diet doesn’t cut out food groups just so people can lose weight faster. It encourages efficient and healthy foods so that over time people create a healthy lifestyle and lose weight and become fit in a natural fashion.
An example of a day in the life of a Dukan dieter is as follows:
Breakfast: Two portions of egg whites
Lunch: A serving of chicken
Dinner: A serving of turkey
Snack: A spoonful of oats
As you can see the first phase of this diet is devoid of needed calories and many nutrients. It is simply a crash course diet that is in no way sustainable.
Here’s an example of a day in the life of a Mediterranean dieter:
Breakfast: Carrots and Broccoli and Olives with organic hummus and a wedge of cantaloupe
Lunch: Spinach salad with cucumbers tomatoes, turkey and olive oil and an apple with organic peanut butter
Dinner: Whole wheat pasta with tomato sauce and onions, red peppers, and garlic
Snack: One portion of cheese with whole grain crackers
As you can see this diet is entirely more filling and fulfills the necessary food groups that are vital to the body. All of the foods on this menu are nutritious and satiating and will keep energy high and level throughout the day without cravings and hunger pangs.
