There is a lot of advice out there when it comes to shedding a few pounds. Diets run the gamut from eating only grapefruit to eating all the fattening and decadent foods you could want provided they are in the right amounts and eaten at the right time during the day.
Of course, diets are really a sort of temporary solution to losing weight. Without a well-balanced diet, your body will perpetually look for nutrients, even if it means triggering cravings for unhealthy foods. If you deprive yourself of fat, for example, you may crave potato chips or chocolate. Your mind may not step in and direct you to something healthier like salmon, yogurt or a handful of almonds.
This is because “real” dieting usually involves lifestyle changes, and lifestyle changes take a little time and perseverance to implement. Everyone wants a quick fix when it comes to weight loss, but, with a little patience, you could find your way to a lasting, balanced weight that, in the end, won?t be stressful at all to maintain.
How can you do this? Well, here are five simple tips to get you started:
1) Never stop eating. By following crash diets or missing meals, you are only slowing down your metabolism, so the minute you start eating “healthy” again, you will gain all the weight back. Eating something every three hours is a good rule of thumb.
2) Watch your portions. By watching how much you eat, you will be able to still fill those occasional cravings for cheese pizza or French fries. Just remember: eat all foods in moderation.
3) Eat the right kinds of carbohydrates. It has been recommended that a good way to judge your calories is to eat the ones that are colorful. For example, eat bananas and strawberries for breakfast instead of a muffin. Of course you do need the complex carbohydrates found in bread, rice and pasta as well, but opt for the stone-ground, whole grain kinds. Give yourself time to adapt to these foods. If you are used to a morning muffin, remember that your body is partly hooked on the sugar and/or fat in the muffin. When you switch to unsweetened whole grains, you will need to give yourself a chance to acquire a taste for these foods.
4) Reduce your sugar intake. This can be as easy as eating fresh fruit and drinking water instead of drinking sugary juice. Fresh fruit is good for easing sugar cravings and a glass of water or cup of tea can help when you are craving food when you know your stomach is already full.
5) Exercise. This is so important, not just for losing weight, but for staying healthy. Walk, garden, swim, do some housecleaning. Everything counts, as long as you’re moving!
Next Post:
One Type of Warning It’s Best to Ignore Previous Post:
Lead Exposure Can Cause Vision ProblemsTags: diet, Diets, exercise, natural weight loss, quick weight loss
