Advice

Weight Loss: 10 Tips to Get You Started and Keep It Off

Weight loss can seem impossible at times. It can seem as if you’re doing everything right and still not seeing the results that you desire. The following 10 tips and tricks could be just what you need to start shedding more fat.

Cupcakes are not your friend for weight loss.

Cupcakes are not your friend for weight loss.

Drink more water.

Yes, I know that this is pretty much a standard on weight loss lists but there is scientific evidence that people who drink more water lose more weight. As an added bonus by drinking cold water, you can actually give your metabolism a kick in the butt and burn as much as 50 extra calories a day. The study also found that those who downed some water before meals consumed less calories overall.

Choose high nutrient, low calorie foods.

Foods that pack a nutritional pop and have a low caloric value can help to substantially reduce your total daily calorie intake. It would take a lot of carrots and broccoli to add up to 2000 calories. Most raw vegetables without dips and sauces take more energy to consume and digest than they actually carry; this means they are negative calorie foods and perfect for your weight loss journey. To lose weight you need to create a deficit, so you need to burn more calories than you ingest, these foods can help you reach that goal.

Apples are a nutritious and tasty food choice for weight loss.

Apples are a nutritious and tasty food choice for weight loss.

You need to move it for weight loss.

Realistically, not everyone has the desire or drive to go to the gym. Being more active can be as simple or as difficult as you would like to make it. If you are meeting the girls for coffee, suggest coffee and a walk through the park…oh and skip the sweet snacks that seem to be necessary for these get-togethers. Another idea is to do drills during commercial breaks. Many exercises can be done without equipment. Dancing is great for burning calories as well, as long as it is void of  sweet sugary cocktails or gut bloating brews. Find an activity that you enjoy and can do daily.

You don’t need to clean your plate.

Everyone loves restaurant food but that overly stuffed feeling is not optimal for weight loss. People today are busy and they eat out more often than the citizens of yesteryear did. As the average weight has risen, restaurant portions have grown to accommodate them. Obviously, avoid creamy sauces and fried food ninety-nine percent of the time…hey crispy spring rolls are delicious and no one should be deprived of that– in moderation. A good practice is to ask the restaurant to pack half of your meal into a take-away box before it even arrives at the table. By doing this you will not have the temptation to overeat. Planning what you are going to order beforehand is also a good idea and when you get to the restaurant do not look at the menu because it will sway you when you’re hungry. That overly stuffed feeling is not optimal for weight loss.

Eat foods that send your metabolism into overdrive.

Green tea and spicy peppers are some high profile metabolism boosting foods. A faster metabolism means more calories are incinerated; again, that is the goal. Green tea also contains antioxidants that can protect your body from environmental stress, the kind that causes illness and aging. Be sure to drink your tea clear so that you don’t get the extra calories from milk, cream and sugar.

Spicy peppers like these can boost your calorie burn and aid your weight loss efforts.

Spicy peppers like these can boost your calorie burn and aid your weight loss efforts.

Don’t Stress.

Stressing can lead to many things including weight gain and emotional eating. Try yoga, meditation or just relax with a good book and forget about the world every once in a while. Identifying the things in your life that cause you grief and then evaluating how essential they are can make you a happier person in the long run. This includes people; we all have that one friend who creates more drama than she’s worth. This does not mean you need to ditch her just limit the time you spend with her or declare your meetings a no drama zone.

Eat your breakfast.

Typical weight loss tip yes, but you can’t deny a good tip. When you consume a nutritious breakfast, you lower the likelihood that you will overeat the rest of the day. Try eating oatmeal with fruit, or a smoothie on the go. Oatmeal or bran can be added to a fruit smoothing to increase the amount of time that it keeps you full. Protein powder will make this a complete meal. Some good proteins to try are hemp, rice or pea.

Sleep it off.

We all need it, how much is needed varies by age but as a rough guideline try to get at least eight hours each night. Not only does sleep serve to energize and refresh, it is necessary to balance the levels of hormones in the body. Too much of certain hormones can cause weight gain.

Chew on that.

I mean gum. Chewing gum can help to fight cravings and trick you into not feeling hungry. Check out the displays in stores there are so many flavors available you will definitely be able to find one you love…cherry pie yum!

Liquid diets?

Don’t forego solid food completely, but eating more broth-based soups is a good idea for weight loss. The liquid in most soups is low in calories and can fill you without maxing out your calorie quota. Soups that contain vegetables, rice and beans are delicious and provide high quality nutrients to your fat burning body. These are ideal weight loss foods!

Nothing is working.

If you are truly sticking to your plan and you are not seeing results, it is possible there could be more going on than you know. A number of problems in the body can prevent you from reaching your weight loss goals. It takes an approximate three months to really see results, but if you gave it your all and the scale won’t wiggle, go see your doctor to rule out any health issues.

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