Anyone can lose weight if they are committed to doing so, but it’s made so much easier if you are aware of effective strategies on losing weight safely and for the long-term. There are many ways to lose weight, but it’s important to do so in a way that is easy for you to stick with. Here are some canny tips that we are sure will be invaluable to you.
A key to losing weight is to cut way down on the amount of fast food you eat. Fast food restaurants serve high calorie foods, which are not only fattening but unhealthy in other ways. Do yourself a favor and try some “fast” ready-to-go foods such as apples and carrot sticks instead.
When trying to lose weight, share. Restaurant meals can contain an enormous amount of calories. If you split your meal with someone you both can consume less calories. You can even put one-half of your dish in a restaurant to-go container as soon as it’s served, or ask your server to do it before it’s even brought out. Either way, you’ll only eat half of what is served.
Make sure you are eating at least 5 servings of fruits and vegetables a day. Fruits and veggies are great for you. They contain vitamins and antioxidants that help your metabolism. They are also very low calorie. They will keep you remain full and be a smart alternative to other snack foods.
Focus on staying healthy and not on losing weight. This may sound like a contradiction, but when you focus on your health positive thoughts will follow. If you obsess over every little pound you need to lose, you can easily find yourself feeling frustrated when you can’t eat certain things. Many diet plans fail because people feel forced to give up too much, all at once. However, making a gradual change to a healthy way of living, will eventually result in losing the excess weight.
One way you can control what you eat is to take control of your environment. Make sure there is minimal contact with food at home, work, and in the car. The more you are around food, the more likely you are to eat something or possibly over eat.
Clean your teeth late at night! It may sound strange, but if you clean your teeth just before you go to bed, that sneaky midnight snack that will pile on the weight may not be as tempting. By cleaning your teeth, subconsciously you are telling your body that you have finished eating for the day.
It is very important for you to get regular physicals, so your doctor can be aware of any changes in your health. If you start gaining weight, you need to make sure that there isn’t a health reason for your weight gain. Your physician can provide you with healthy tools for your weight loss journey and monitor your progress. If you hit a road block, he can help you figure out why. If you are on any medications with dietary restrictions, it’s important that your doctor is involved.
Go nuts! The combination of high protein and fiber found in most nuts make them a great snack for keeping hunger under control. Eat them as part of a healthy diet, and you could see significant slimming, fat reduction, and possibly healthier levels of cholesterol. Remember that nuts do contain fat and calories, though, so keep your portions reasonable.
When eating out on a diet, set a “food budget” for yourself. Decide what and how much you will eat before you get to the restaurant. If possible, review the menu online, before heading out. Doing so will keep you from over indulging, but still allow you to enjoy the evening.
Remember what’s important and keep the goal in sight. If you have a craving for some food, then eat it, but try to eat only enough to satisfy the craving. Is it more important for you to eat an entire chocolate cake or to look good for your sister’s wedding? Think of how great you will look in that fitted dress, and of all the pictures that will be taken that day.
It is important to heed your cravings when trying to shed pounds. When you have a taste for something sweet, do not deny yourself altogether, but simply reach for a piece of fruit instead of a cookie. By paying attention to your body’s cues and making healthy substitutions, you will prevent yourself from feeling deprived and will avoid calorie-packed binges.
Keep track of your weight loss progress, but don’t necessarily obsess about the numbers on the scale. Keeping track of the progress you makes helps you to feel better and more motivated; but sometimes going by what the scale alone tells us leads us to nothing but disappointment. This is because often, if you are losing weight with exercise, you build muscle that can add to weight even as you get thinner. Instead, think about the differences in how your clothes fit and your mood.
Even though you may not want to, take a photo of yourself in your underpants. Not only is comparing your “before” picture to your ultimate “after” incredibly rewarding, having your “before” on file will help you continue to avoid unhealthy temptation in the future.
There is some very useful advice there, and some of it may even be new to you. What’s important however, is to give it time. None of these tips will give you quick results, nor should you want them to. Putting the weight on took a long time, and losing it over a long period is a safer, and more realistic way to go about it. When you don’t see results it can be difficult to keep going on the weight loss journey, but if you have committed yourself to accomplishing your weight loss goal, you are unstoppable.
