If only, losing weight were as easy as gaining it, or as fun and delicous! But we all know it is not. Read on for some very valuable information that will help you in reaching your weight loss goals. Make post-it notes for yourself and put them on the fridge or your gym locker. Keep yourself highly motivated and focused and you will achieve your goals!
Don’t take too much time in between meals. Instead, eat more frequently, but don’t eat more than 3/4 full per meal. Doing this can help you to avoid overeating, and control your portions. Also, eating more frequently can lead to healthier eating habits. For example, chewing thoroughly instead of swallowing it down, will help you to actually enjoy your meals.
Part of weight loss is regular elimination. The more rapidly your body can move food and liquid through your system, the less chance it will have to build up and accumulate pounds. Though chemical laxatives are generally a bad idea, a diet very high in fiber (whole-grain products, lots of fruits, vegetables, and of course, plenty of water) will keep one’s digestive tract in good working order, which will assist in your weight loss efforts.
Make realistic goals to avoid setting yourself up for failure. One of the things that can sabotage a diet is the thought that you are going to lose all the weight in a short amount of time. It probably took quite some time to put on the weight, and it’s going to take some time to work it off. When people don’t set a goal, they tend to give up and go back to old ways. By setting a achievable goal, you’ll keep yourself encouraged for the long haul.
When you are trying to lose weight, it helps to be knowledgeable about portion sizes so you are more aware of what you’re eating. For example, a portion of meat is only the size of a deck of cards. Knowing portion sizes can make it easier to balance your diet to ensure optimal nutrition while reducing calories.
Two fantastic words for weight loss: eat salad. Not exciting enough? Research by Joel Fuhrman of “Eat to Live” shows that the most overweight people can lose prodigious amounts of weight eating prodigious amounts of nutrient-rich, low-calorie food. One key is simplicity: try an entire head of romaine, chopped very fine (the water method in the blender is useful), and topped with an entire can of chili beans. It’s a tasty, 300-calorie lunch that is jam-packed with fiber, protein, and vitamins. It will keep you full for hours, not to mention what it will do for your intestinal health.
To help you reach your weight loss goals when starting out, you should make your goals reasonable. One to two pounds a week is what most people should aim to hit. A person should not try to aim for more than that because you want to be sure to take a healthy and safe route. Also aiming for a correct number will help you to succeed, not fail.
To lose weight, you must train yourself to eat less. There are temptations to eat everywhere you look. Billboards, commercials and ads, are all around us. They are designed to make you feel hungry. The key to controlling the temptation is to listen to the cues from your body, telling you when your stomach is full. Only eat when you are truly needing nourishment and only eat enough to satisfy that need.
Make sure to maximize your water intake during the day. Drinking water helps you to eat less, and you will also drink fewer sugary, calorie-filled drinks. In the long run, this will help you stay on track if you have temptations throughout the day.
Being part of a support group can keep you from feeling alone when losing weight. If you have friends or family who are working on weight loss at the same time, talk to them about it for motivation. You can also join an online support group. You can trade stories, gain inspiration, give others inspiration, and learn new things by hearing the successes and failures of others.
When you are watching what you eat, don’t forget to also watch what you drink. Research the calories of your favorite beverages so that you can fit them into your diet comfortably. Also, switch to “light” versions of your drinks of choice to ‘shave excess calories off’ your daily intake.
Many people are trying to lose weight through a “diet”. This approach makes sense: if you want to lose weight you need to cut your calorie intake. But there is a better approach: first look at providing your body with the complete nutrition it needs. Then your system will be able to cope with losing weight while staying healthy.
A proven way to shed some pounds is to start walking daily. Not only will you lose weight, it aids in suppressing hunger by keeping blood flowing away from the digestive tract. Walking for an hour will burn off about 500 calories.
If you are on a diet, keep a journal of what you eat on the weekends. Statistics show you are more likely to fall off the wagon on the weekends. By keeping a physical record of what you are consuming on Saturday and Sunday, you are reminded of the goal you are trying to accomplish.
No matter what, keep up your efforts! Take the advice you have gathered from this article and put it to good use. Hopefully it will help you on the right path to lose weight, look better and feel healthier. Remember the long term objective of weight loss and all that it means to you as an individual. Above all else, believe in yourself and you will get you where you want to be.
