Losing weight isn’t about going on a short-term “diet” and then forgetting everything you’ve learned during the process. In order to lose those extra pounds and then keep them off, you need to make some permanent lifestyle changes. This article contains some advice on what changes you should make to help you lose that weight.
Part of a fitness plan for weight loss should be strength training. Strength training will help burn more calories during exercise, as well as build muscle cells. Having a higher proportion of muscle cells in your body will increase your metabolism, as muscle cells burn more calories at rest than do fat cells.
Sometimes peer pressure can be a positive force in losing weight. If you are setting off on a new diet, let your friends know what you are doing. Ask people to check up on you to see how you are doing. Having to be accountable to others can help you avoid those habits you know you should be avoiding.
To stay with your weight loss goal more easily, let others you need their support to keep your goal. Sometimes loved ones can derail your plans without meaning to by offering you fatty foods, if they’re not politely reminded by you. It can be tough to say no when your husband or friend holds up a bowl of ice cream and asks if you want some.
If you are looking to lose weight, you should start serving your meals on smaller plates. While this may seem like a trivial change that does not affect what you are eating, it has been proved that eating off of smaller dishes helps you control your portions more than you would if you were eating off of a larger plate.
Getting enough rest and relaxation is, surprisingly, very helpful when trying to lose weight. A common reaction among people when they are stressed is to eat or drink more–it can give a sense of well-being or a “reward” for accomplishing tasks. Getting enough rest and doing something enjoyable to relax can be substituted as a reward. It is more satisfying in the long run than eating something and it’s fat free!
A good way to help you lose weight, is to reduce the amount of salt you add to your food. Consuming too much sodium can make you bloated and can also, raise your blood pressure. Instead, try to use other alternatives to salt or just keep your salt intake low.
Eating less fat will result in weight loss. On average, Americans consume way to many grams of fat per day. We should only be consuming around 30% of our calories from fat, which is not that much. When eating fats, it is best to make sure they are in a nutritional form, such as an avocado. Don’t eliminate fat completely to lose weight, but do keep how much your are eating to a minimum.
One trick to try while dieting is to leave the food dishes in the kitchen, prepare your plate and then bring your meal to the table. With the food in the kitchen you will be less likely to eat seconds since the extra food is not sitting in front of you while you are eating.
Protein plays a big role in helping curb hunger. You should try to include at least some protein in all your meals – for example, drinking skim or soy milk at breakfast instead of juice with your cereal. Protein snacks, such as a handful of nuts, can also go a long way toward curbing hunger in between meals.
Sometimes it’s easy to lose motivation to exercise. One way to prevent this is to find a friend to workout with. Being on an exercise “buddy system” helps to keep boredom at bay and can give you you a feeling of accountability. If you and your friend don’t currently have a workout routine in common, it may be a great time to try something new, like karate or a zumba class.
Do not always assume that you need food when you feel hungry. Your body may actually be telling you that you are thirsty. Before you reach for something to eat, try drinking a glass of water. Sometimes, drinking a glass of water can help you feel satisfied. If you are still hungry about ten minutes after your glass of water, you should eat a healthy snack.
Kickstart your day with breakfast. After not eating for approximately 8 hours overnight, you need to have a good breakfast. If you are trying to lose weight, keep the carbs to a minimum, eating one slice of wholegrain toast, some fruit and low-fat yogurt. This will get your metabolism going, and lessen the chance of you reaching for snacks mid-morning.
With patience, you will find you can determine the difference between a dietary want, and a dietary need. You might be surprised by how often you turn to food when your body does not actually require it.
Some of the simplest things can help you lose weight, such as using a smaller plate when eating. As simple and silly as this trick may sound, research has shown that it truly works. Since a smaller plate looks full with a smaller portion, a person eats less each meal. Since a person has a tendency to eat everything on their plate, less food is consumed; however, the mind is tricked into relaying a message of satiety to the stomach, since the plate has been cleaned of all food.
As was stated above, weight loss is a matter of making lifestyle changes, not short-term ones. Knowing what changes to make is half the battle; the rest is up to you. Apply some of the tips from this article and you will be on track to a healthier, happier you.