Lots of men want to lose weight and get healthier, they just don’t know how. With so much conflicting information out there, it’s hard to know what to do. The obesity epidemic started in the 1970s, when high fructose corn syrup and other additives hit the market. Coincidence? Probably not. In this article, we get back to basics and learn how eating well can help you lose weight without side effects.

Some Weight-Loss Methods are Dangerous
Lot of guys are so eager to lose love handles they’ll turn to just about any method to lose weight. But buyer beware, some weight-loss methods can cause some serious health problems. Here’s a couple you need to avoid:

1. Diet Pills – Diet pills are one of the worst offenders in causing health problems to the unsuspecting consumer. They work one of two ways: 1. By using an extreme amount of stimulants to keep you so nervous and agitated, you can’t stop moving and don’t feel like eating. 2. By blocking the uptake of fat into your system, leaving you feeling starved and lethargic.

2. Pre-Packaged Diet Meals – Pre-packaged diet meals aren’t a healthy way to lose weight either. They work using the calorie deprivation method, which can cause your body to go into starvation movie. Sure, you’ll lose weight, but you’ll also lose muscle mass and feel weak and fatigued. Once you go back to eating a normal amount of calories again, you’ll gain all the weight back and then some.

Now that you know the side effects of some of the more popular weight-loss methods for men, you might want to consider learning how healthy nutrition can help you lose weight the right way.

The Benefits of Whole Food
Whole food is natural food. Food that has come complete from the earth with no preservatives added. Think apples, broccoli, grass-fed beef, wild-caught fish, etc. Diet and nutrition play a crucial role in helping you lose weight and build muscle mass without dangerous side effects.

When you eat well, everything balances out. You don’t have to try to lose weight or gain muscle mass, it will just happen. Naturally, you’ll have to work out. But on a whole food diet, you’ll have plenty of energy and nutrients to do it.

When you think of whole food, you might think you have to spend hours in the kitchen whipping up five-course meals. After all, that’s the appeal of visiting the fast-food counter after work, right? Not having to cook. But just because you want to eat well, doesn’t mean you have to quit your job and become a professional chef.

Some quick snack and meal ideas for healthy living can include:

• Cut Vegetables and Hummus
• Fruit Slices and Nut Butter
• Sliced Cheese
• Fried Fish in Butter (Not Margarine)
• Steamed Vegetables
• Broiled Chicken and Brown Rice
• Grilled Steak and Vegetables

These are just a couple of ideas to get you into the mindset of proper nutrition. Notice there aren’t any bacon-topped cheeseburgers on the list. Still, it doesn’t mean you can’t eat cheeseburgers. Just make them yourself at home! After all, it will give you a chance to show off your grilling prowess.

The Importance of Reading Food Labels
If you want to lose weight, one of the first things you have to do is read labels. Most guys feel hungry and grab whatever is handy. They don’t think to read food labels unless they have a food allergy. This isn’t the healthiest approach. So many seemingly healthy foods contain additives and preservatives that offer no nutritional value and are almost guaranteed to pack on the pounds.

When you read labels, you gain knowledge about real nutrition and can make more informed choices about what you put into your body.

Try this: The next time you’re in the grocery store, shop the perimeter of the grocery store first and pick out organic meat, chicken, fish, vegetables, and fruit.

Then, when you get into the aisles, start reading. You’ll be amazed at how many additives and preservatives are on a box or bag of your favorite food that you can’t even pronounce. Any of those ingredients happen to be high fructose corn syrup? If so, it’s been scientifically-proven to pack on the pounds!

How Can Whole Food Help You Lose Weight
Whole food provides real nutrition. Processed foods may fill you up, but they won’t provide your body with necessary nutrients. This is why you feel hungry all the time and tired with no energy to work out. What’s worse? Eating a steady diet of these types of foods can lead to erectile dysfunction!
Eating whole foods will give your body the fuel it needs so you can get the most from your workouts and stay alert throughout the day. Just try one week without snack cakes or chili cheese fries and you’ll notice a difference.

Forget the diet pills, shakes, and pre-packaged foods. Move into healthy living and set yourself apart from the rest. Once you give your body the healthy whole foods it needs to function at its best, the rest will fall into place. The only thing you have to lose is weight.