If you are like most people, you've tried dieting before. This newsletter is NOT about dieting, but instead about making long-term changes in the foods you choose and eat, WITHOUT sacrificing good taste.

Let's take a look at protein. Did you know the large majority of your body is protein? That's right. If all the water were removed from your body, 80% of what remained would be comprised of protein. Your hair and nails have protein in them, as do your brain, bones, heart, kidneys, even your skin. You must derive the adequate amount of protein from your diet or you will suffer from lowered energy, weakened immune response, high cholesterol, hair loss at an early age, hormonal imbalances, liver toxicity, premature aging?The list goes on and on.

When there is not enough protein in your diet, your body actually uses protein from its own tissues, breaking down your hard-earned muscles, organs, ligaments, tendons, etc. This is catastrophic to anyone working hard to get more fit because muscle is needed to burn calories, make us strong, shapely and energetic. When you lose muscle, you loose the ability to burn calories, and dramatically slow down your metabolism, wrecking even the best diet efforts!

Now, what about fats? Contrary to belief, fats are not the enemy of dieters. In fact, although fat has twice as many calories as other some other food types, fat does not stimulate significant production of insulin, which is the body's fat-making hormone, which is a major benefit when used in conjunction with a proper diet like that described in the book Maximize Your Metabolism.

Your body needs some fat. Eating fat-free foods is not the answer. Most fat-free food is laden with sugar or harmful chemicals.

Furthermore, unsaturated fats are essential for human survival. Fat helps the nervous system function. Fat holds the organs of the body in correct places. Fat insulates the body. Fat is performs a wide array of vital body functions.

There are many different sources of fat in the diet, making it nearly impossible to avoid fat, as at least a small amount is in nearly all foods. Foods such as oil, nuts, full fat cheeses, avocados, olives, certain cuts of meats, are considered high in fat. Foods such as fruits, vegetables, most grains, potatoes, and others are very low in fat.

There are different types of fats, too. There are good fats and bad fats. Good fats, or unsaturated fats, are beneficial to the body in a number of ways, and should be implemented into your daily diet (but don't go crazy here - I'm talking about only 2 - 3 tablespoons per day). These good fats are found in such foods as olives, avocados, extra-virgin olive oil, safflower oil, flax oil, nuts, etc. Bad fats, or saturated fats, are the kinds of fats that clog the arteries, make cholesterol levels rise, and raise blood pressure. Bad fats are found in meats, cheeses, butter, lard, and cream. Stay away from ALL saturated fats!

Now, for carbohydrates. Carbohydrate balance is critical to achieving weight loss. Carbohydrates should never be called carbohydrates. They are, in fact, SUGAR! No matter how complex, carbohydrates are broken down to their lowest common denominator, which is glucose. Glucose is sugar.

Regardless, carbohydrates are your body's primary fuel source. Your brain requires carbohydrates every second of its life. Carbohydrates, in the form of blood sugar, are pumping through your veins every minute of the day. And while they are essential to your survival, they can be your worst enemy.

Carbohydrates in the diet can be found in many places, including fruit, flour, bread, yams, potatoes, rice, pasta, oatmeal, beans, etc. There are different types of carbohydrates, including simple, medium and complex carbohydrates. Simple carbohydrates are very easy for the body to break down and absorb, because their chemical structure is simple. But that does not make them good for you - in fact the simple carbohydrates are the worst kind to eat. Medium-chain carbohydrates are slightly more detailed in their structure, and will take longer for the body to digest and absorb, leading to a longer-lasting release of energy. Complex carbohydrates take the longest to break down and to be utilized by the body, resulting in a longer-lasting release of energy.

Carbohydrates second only to fat in being the most fattening of all the food types because they have the highest potential to cause imbalances in the body's sugar levels and the body's hormones, stopping fat loss cold in it's tracts! This is why regulation of carbohydrates, and eating the right carbohydrates, is essential to getting healthy, and to losing any unwanted body fat.

Picking protein, fats and carbohydrates for weight-loss. In short, to see the quickest, most dramatic fat-loss results, you will need to add more protein to your diet, eat a few tablespoons of the right fats, and eliminate all of the wrong fats, as well as all white-flour carbohydrates and sugars from your diet. While this sounds like a challenge, you will quickly find it is not. And, by making these easy, highly-beneficial changes, you will see dramatic results quickly, looking and feeling better within the first week.

To help you plan your diet, refer to the lists below:

Protein:

Egg whites/Egg substitute
Chicken breast, turkey breast (without skin)
Beef
Soy Protein
Fish
Veal
Lamb
Pork
Venison
Buffalo
Nonfat cottage cheese
Protein powders, bars

Fat:

Olive oil
Olives
Nuts
Seeds

Carbohydrates:

All vegetables -- If your day is too busy to eat enough raw vegetables each and every day ? then simply find yourself a high quality vegetable drink like those listed here...Click Here for more information.

Beverages:

Water, water, water (this is #1 and really should be the only drink you consume other than some decaf herbal tea's)
Diet sodas (avoid phosphoric acid)
Crystal Light
Diet flavored waters
Herbal teas
Iced tea (sugar free, decaf)

Cut out all fruit juices as they are high in sugar

For a ton of f.ree, valuable tips, tricks, and secrets visit: http://www.MaximizeYourMetabolism.com

? 2002-2005 Wisdom Books, LLC & Christopher Guerriero WANT TO USE THIS ARTICLE IN YOUR E-ZINE OR WEB SITE? You can, as long as you include this blurb with it: Christopher Guerriero, is the founder of the National Metabolic & Longevity Research Center and a best-selling author, speaker, and coach to millions. He is creator of the award-winning 'Maximize Your Metabolism' system. To learn more about this step-by-step program, and to sign up for FR*EE how-to articles and F.REE teleseminars, visit http://www.MaximizeYourMetabolism.com