Many people out there are trying to stick to a diet to no avail. Try as they might, they just do not have the will power to go through the motions of changing their lifestyle. Some of this is because they may be a little too set in their ways, but a lot of it has to do with the fact that they’re not experiencing results.
A good way to lose weight is simply to eat healthier. Eating more vegetables, quality carbohydrates, healthy fats, and lean meats will get you well on your way to being more lean and healthy. Avoid red meat and various junk foods such as chips, cookies, cake, and candy.
When you feel stressed, engage in an activity instead of relying on food as a source of comfort. Comfort food cannot take away your stress, but it can work against you later when you feel guilty about overeating and gaining those pounds. If you go out for a walk instead, it will curb your desire to seek comfort food, and you will work off calories at the same time.
You should avoid eating muffins for breakfast. Muffins are usually high in fat and sugar content. They are made from processed white flour which is devoid of nutrients. When the sugar is burned off in the morning, you will feel very tired and low in energy. A muffin does not provide you with the essential nutrients that you need for a good start in the morning.
Stay positive and stay focused. Yes, you will have bad days. Yes, you will have people trying to tempt you. Yes, you will “stray” from your weight loss journey. However, if you keep in mind your goal; all of the bad days and temptations will start disappearing.
Take notes while dieting. From foods eaten to exercises performed, more and more research is showing that people who keep records of their weight loss journey are more successful and can even lose much more weight than those who do not. Writing everything down forces you to hold yourself accountable and take responsibility.
You should try to avoid skipping any meals. It is better for your body to eat smaller meals throughout the day than to fast all day and consume a huge amount of calories all at once. Snack throughout the day with foods like nuts, fruits and veggies and you will feel great.
To keep an eye on your weight while dining out, always order the salad instead of other appetizers, which will almost invariably be high in fat. If the salad contains high-fat items, such as bacon and cheese, ask for those to be omitted. Ask for the dressing to be served on the side, if they have no fat-free options. Dressing on the side is usually a good idea in any event, since you can dip your salad in the dressing and control how much of it you eat.
Even if you’re in a fast-food restaurant, and are stuck with choices like greasy burgers, you can still take small steps to ensure you are taking in fewer calories. Order a large cheeseburger, take off the bun and cheese, and eat the patty. Dropping the cheese and bun will take a couple hundred calories off the 513-calorie total, and since the beef patty is all protein and fat (no carbs), you’ll be no less full than if you had eaten the bun.
Bagel lovers already have an uphill climb in the battle against weight, since a bagel and cream cheese is sort of a dieter’s nightmare. They can cut out 300 calories by substituting one of the reduced-fat spreadable soft cheeses and indulge guiltlessly.
Consuming no more than 20 grams of sugars immediately after a workout may actually have favorable effects on the body. This small dose of sugar gives your body the means to provide energy to all the muscles you used.
Limit your sugar intake. Eating more sugar than your body can use at once can cause the excess to be turned into body fat. The excess sugars trigger a surge of insulin that activates the enzymes associated with fat storage. Look at labels as many foods that you would not suspect contain large amounts of sugars.
Taking breaks during meals is an excellent way to evaluate if you are still hungry. Stop about half-way through your dinner and sit for about 30 seconds before continuing to eat. You may find that you are done eating and you don’t need to continue. That will have saved you a lot of calories that you really didn’t need.
Don’t be disappointed by setbacks. Everyone has highs and lows. Sometimes weight loss will slow down or speed up. Pay attention to your activities and diet, but under no circumstances give up on your goals. Human beings are not machines and certain events can slow down or increase weight loss.
Try topping salads with a squeeze of lemon or lime. These citrus alternatives flavor your salad without packing on fat and calories. High-fat dressings are one of the top soures of fat, and by eliminating salad dressing that has creams and fats, you can have a salad without worrying about the effect it will have on your waistline or cholesterol levels.
Make sure that you do not consume too much salt in your diet. Sodium is essential to your body, but only in small amounts. When you eat foods that are high in sodium, the excess accumulates in your body and causes you to retain water. It also adds volume to your blood, leading to high blood pressure. So make sure that you limit your salt intake.
Remember, the key to staying motivated and on track with any weight-loss program is to see and feel the results. Once you realize you can lose the weight, you will lose the weight. Where there’s a will, there’s a way, and when you can produce some results, you will develop a stronger will to achieve.
