In a world of ever increasing weight gain, the way to lose weight can seem a far off destination that many people struggle to reach. It seems as if more research is looking at what causes someone to be overweight, aside from simply too much of the wrong foods. In essence though, the answer is to eat healthily and exercise. But even then you need to be wary that you are not making the biggest weight loss mistakes!
You have the motivation, support and expert advice to help you lose weight, and yet without following some sensible tips you might find that success eludes you. To give yourself a good chance of changing your weight story, you need to really stick to some diet guidelines:
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TV dinners – It’s better to focus on eating your meal and letting your food digest rather than eating in a mindless way when your attention is diverted. Eating slowly and chewing your food is best.
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Depriving yourself – The worst way to diet is to go without food for too long. Your body goes into starvation mode and then starts to store fat more easily when you do decide to start eating. You’re more likely to get so hungry that you end up eating unhealthy foods that you suddenly crave too.
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Skipping breakfast – A good breakfast sets you up for the day and it is better to make this your main meal of the day if you want to lose weight, with a smaller lunch and healthy dinner. If you’re too tired to eat first thing then try getting up earlier or taking a pre-prepared breakfast with you if you’re out and about in the morning.
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Exercise – Diet and exercise go hand-in-hand. If you’re not burning calories with some good quality cardio then you’re not going to see the fat melt away either.
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HFCS – High fructose corn syrup is not just a no-no if you want to lose weight but a substance that should be on the banned list of anyone who wants to lead a healthier life. Found in lots of breads and pastries, as well as artificial sweeteners, HFCS increases food cravings and can play havoc with your digestive process.
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Cooking – If cooking isn’t your forte, there’s no reason to despair. Get hold of some easy to prepare low fat and nutritious recipes for some inspiration. Stick to simple foods such as grilled fish and a salad. You can add flavor with a homemade dressing that isn’t calorie rich and a salsa full of fresh ingredients. By cooking your own food you have greater control over what you eat.
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Late night dining – It’s understandable that busy days lead to eating at strange times and often the last meal of the day can be later than expected. Wherever possible try and stick to a schedule that has you sat down and enjoying your evening meal at a reasonable time, so that you have time to digest this before you bed down for the night.
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Temptation – Diet is about re-education and not about willpower per-se but putting yourself in the path of tempting goodies is sensible. This might be as simple of not buying certain foods for a while at least, and even adjusting your social life.
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Weigh-ins – There are plenty of people who are not overweight but are unhealthy, while you might want to lose actual weight, focusing purely on what the scale says can lead to an unbalanced approach to getting in shape. You want to tone your body and look great by losing weight in a sensible way. Drastic weight loss can be aging and leave you looking drained.
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Sleep – Enjoy it! Your body needs it and this can also help your body recover from the demands of the day. Lack of sleep can cause the body to release a hormone which stimulates your appetite, so next time you have a lie-in remind yourself that you are only enjoying the extra sleep for the sake of your weight loss plan!
Next month we’ll share with you 10 more tips to avoid making the biggest weight loss mistakes! If you can’t wait that long and want to know more then let us help you create a healthy strategy.