subject: Weight loss tips that you can use when trying to reduce your weight [print this page] Weight loss tips that you can use when trying to reduce your weight
You shouldn't make losing weight too complicated by using diet plans that's too hard to follow. Simply burn more calories than you consume. And use weight loss goals that are easily reachable or you might get discouraged and give up before reaching your desired weight. To get rid of the weight you will have to create a calorie deficit of about 3500 calories.
Trying to cause a calorie deficit of more than 500 calories per day is difficult at best. As you can tell trying to take off more than a pound per week would be quite difficult to keep up for any amount of time and since many people tend to cut back on nutrition while reducing calories many times the diet plan may become nutritionally unsound and cause health problems afterwards. By reducing your weight gradually you'll give your body and mind time for you to slowly adapt and become much more likely for the weight reduction to be permanent.
If you need extra motivation try taking a photo of yourself before going on a weight loss program or diet and tape it right next to the handle of your refrigerator and right next to it tape a picture of attractive people at the beach in their swimsuits. And do the same for the cabinets and shelves where you store your food. And then that way you have to think twice when you're reaching for the food.
Instead of going on a diet try first changing your eating habits
The theory behind dieting is to decrease your calorie intake by eating less food, however that has a tendency to slow your metabolism at the same time so when you go back to normal eating again your system will also have adjusted to the decrease in calories and your normal eating habits will seem like you're over eating once more. Instead of the typical three large meals a day try splitting it up into five or six smaller meals and healthy snacks. Your blood sugar levels and your metabolism will be more consistent and your body's natural fat burning mechanism will run more efficiently and burn off the excess weight better.
Start reading the labels on the food items that you buy
Try to avoid refined and preprocessed foods and instead substitute whole grains and natural foods. The ingredients will be listed in descending order and those items that are used the most are listed first. If you're not sure whether the ingredients are good for you or not a good rule of thumb is that if you can't pronounce it then it's probably not good for you. Avoid foods with saturated fat and trans fatty acids and instead try and substitute them with mono saturated fats which is better for your health.
Add a little more physical activity into your lifestyle
Exercise and dieting make a very powerful and effective combination for weight loss. By dieting or at least altering your eating habits and adding a little bit more physical activity like exercise into your day you'll be able to take off the excess weight quickly. Just about any physical activity that raises your heart rate will help to burn calories more effectively. It doesn't have to be a really drastic change, it can be something as simple as parking your car across the parking lot so that you need to walk a bit farther and going up a couple flights of stairs instead of using the elevator on your way to work. Give your body and mind time for it to slowly adjust and adapt to your lifestyle changes. Exercise and physical activity helps as well to reduce food cravings.
Drink enough water to stay hydrated
Be sure that you stay hydrated and drink enough water as it's important when it comes to losing weight. If you get dehydrated your body's natural fat burning abilities will be reduced. And water also acts as a natural appetite suppressant while not adding calories. Health professionals usually recommend drinking eight glasses of water daily, however if you sweat a lot or it's especially humid drink more to make sure that you are adequately hydrated. Try to drink water which has no calories or natural fruit juices and not sugared sodas or sugared fruit drinks.
Get enough dietary fiber in your diet
A lot of people don't eat the recommended amount of dietary fiber everyday (around 25 grams). Fiber doesn't and any calories and since the body can't absorb it just moves through your system while helping to remove excess fat, toxins, and potentially dangerous substances from your body while doing all kinds of wonderful things for your health.
Have realistic goals
By trying to get rid of the weight too fast you're only setting yourself up to get discouraged and end up giving up before you weight loss goals are reached. It's easy to stick to the diet and exercise plan when you step on the bathroom scale and see yourself losing weight, but those low-fat diets that promise quick weight reduction tends to slow down after a while and the weight won't come off so quickly, that's where lots of people get frustrated and go back to their normal eating habits and lifestyle. This is where many people encounter the rebound effect of putting the weight back plus a few extra pounds. If you give yourself smaller simple to reach weight loss goals you'll be more likely to stick with the diet and exercise plan and be successful in keeping the bodyweight off once and for all.
