If you’re like most people, you feel that you could benefit from losing a little weight, but just aren’t sure where to begin or you don’t have the time. If this describes you, read on to find out how you can make a simple plan to lose weight, without disrupting your busy life.
For some people, at some times, a low-carb diet may really be the answer, at least in the beginning. The reason low-carb diets work is that your body normally uses carbs as a first fuel. When you give your body no carbs (the “induction” phase of most low-carb diets), your body needs to use something for fuel, and so turns to burning your own fat. These diets have proven very successful for many people, but should be undertaken with care as people do need some carbs in their diet. Most low-carb diets nowadays move from an induction phase into a much healthier maintenance phase, where “smart carbs” (high-fiber, lower-calorie choices) are reintroduced.
If you have a dog, and you’re trying to take off a few pounds, walk your dog regularly, at least four times a day. Even a quick walk around the block is 3/8 of a mile in our neighborhood; four times makes 1.5 miles, which is a very respectable amount and enough to keep the weight from creeping back up. Don’t walk your dog? Time to start. Don’t have a dog? Get one and take him or her for a nice long walk, every day. You and your dog will be glad you did, and you’ll both be healthier for it.
Weight loss is sped by movement. Take every opportunity you can to move. Studies have shown people who fidget are less likely to be overweight than people who don’t. When you are stuck in a waiting room or a desk, shake your legs and move your arms around. This keeps your metabolism running.
Simply turning down the temperature on your thermostat can have a big impact on your overall weight loss. Studies have shown that people who go to sleep in a cooler environment (not exceeding 70 degrees) burn an extra 100 to 200 calories per day. This is due to a process called non-shivering thermogenesis.
It’s hard to lose weight if you don’t allow yourself any treats. One good way to have your treat and eat it to is to buy one bag or container of something you love to eat per week and no more. Allow yourself a little of your treat per day and you won’t feel as deprived and overeat something else.
Find a friend with whom you can exercise. When you do this, exercise becomes fun than a chance to socialize! Additionally, you can provide encouragement to one another to stay as motivated as possible. You may find that you actually start to enjoy your workouts which will only increase the amount of weight you are able to lose.
To encourage good eating habits and health, you should eat smaller meals throughout the day. On the whole, five smaller meals spaced out evenly are better for you than three big meals. This will increase your body’s metabolism throughout the day.
Splurge once a week. That’s right, order that pizza and eat that ice cream at least one time a week. Why? For two reasons: first, your body’s metabolism will kick into high gear when it realizes that there will be fluctuations in what you’re eating; and secondly, you’ll discover that it doesn’t taste as good to you as it once did, and you can’t eat as much as you used to. You’ll see how far you’ve come.
Stress should be avoided in your life. During times of stress, it can be tempting to eat poorly. Sticking with your overall goal of permanent weight loss is much more effective if you are calm and in control of your life.
Take control of your eating behaviors to help avoid over eating. You should plan your eating so you can avoid impulse eating. When you are eating, focus on your food, not on the tv, the phone, or anything else. Don’t clean your plate. You should only eat until you feel slightly full.
The more healthy foods you eat, the less your body craves unhealthy foods that you ate before. Eating organic foods, grass-fed meat and cooking with healthy oils, will help you start to get the toxins out of your body, as well as, lose taste for cheap, fast food alternatives, that can be bad for you.
Those who are focused on achieving weight loss goals should take the time to plan meals and menus in advance whenever possible. This facilitates easier tracking of calories, and helps prevent impulse eating or unexpected splurges. Having an eating strategy in place for each day’s meals provides the stability and routine that many dieters find to be the keys to success.
Take a couple hours to cook enough food to last a while. A freezer loaded with good food will help you avoid eating unhealthy take out. As an added benefit, cooking in bulk saves you money. Also, this keeps helps keep your food fresh and nutritious.
For some people, focusing on the weight part of weight loss is discouraging. But you don’t have to go about it that way. If you want to lose weight without looking at a scale, select a particular size of clothing to measure your progress. Saying that you “want to be a size x or xx again” will give you motivation. Also, looking at clothes in those sizes and visualizing yourself wearing them – will help you toward your goal.
As you can see, weight loss is just as simple as knowing what to do and following through. With these tips, you know everything you need to know about how to make a weight loss plan and stick to it, no matter what. Soon, you’ll be looking great and buying a smaller size of clothes.
