As the saying goes: "you are what you EAT!" Losing weight and maintaining a healthy weight can be tough, especially if you do not watch what you eat. If you eat more calories than you burn, you gain weight. And if you eat fewer calories than you burn, you lose weight.
More often than not, we make losing weight much more difficult than it needs to be with extreme unhealthy lifestyle choices that undermine our dieting efforts, and emotional eating habits that discourages us even before we get started.
But there's a better way! You can lose weight without feeling miserable. By making smart choices every day, you can develop new eating habits and preferences that will leave you feeling satisfied and reducing your weight.
7 easy things you can do to help you lose weight.
1. Eliminate junk foods in your diet
Avoid or minimize your intake of sugars and starches, and replace them with foods rich in protein and healthy fats. Examples of junk foods are burgers, fries, cookies, doughnuts, pizza, and so on.
2. Avoid sodas
Sodas should be avoided as much as possible. As an alternative, drink flavoured water or unsweetened ice tea.
3. Focus on fresh fruits and veggies
The high water and fiber content in most fresh fruits and vegetables makes them hard to overeat. You'll feel full long before you've overdone it on the calories. For example, you can eat a bowl of mixed vegetables with a low or no-calorie salad dressing.
4. Drink more water
Rule of the thumb, drink at least eight glasses of clean drinking water per day. A glass of water a few minutes before your meals makes you feel fuller quicker and will help you eat less.
5. Recognize your emotional eating patterns, and keeping check on them can help you lose weight easily:
• If you eat when you're stressed, find healthier ways to calm yourself. Try exercise, yoga, meditation, or soaking in a hot bath. Physical activity has been proven to be the best in dealing with stress and weight loss. Establishing an exercise plan can be highly beneficial when trying to lose weight.
• If you eat when you're feeling low on energy, Try walking around the block, listening to energizing music, or taking a short nap.
• If you eat when you're lonely or bored, reach out to others instead of reaching for the refrigerator. It is best to seek the company of people who make you feel good. Or go out in public (to the library, mall, or park-anywhere there are people).
6. Spread out your meals
Eat more small chunks of meals, rather than 3 big meals. Generally, it is recommended that you have your 3 big meals and 2 snacks in between your meals (mid-morning and mid-afternoon).
7. Exercise
To many, this could be the most difficult step to follow. It is advisable that you at least start slowly, then increase your pace with time. Depending on your preference, you may find walking much easier, whilst someone may find it easier to join the gym. Whichever method suites you, the most important thing is to get started and get your heart rate up.
Losing weight is beneficial for overall health and wellbeing. Achieving your ideal weight not only makes you look good, losing excess pounds provide relief for the body's joints and increases energy.
Follow these tips, and you will be amazed at what you are able to achieve. Make your weight loss journey a healthier and happy one.
article By Metse Mphelo
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