While losing weight is one of the most rewarding goals you can reach for, a goal that will not only lead to a healthier you, but also make you feel good about yourself, it doesn’t come about by itself. And it isn’t done by just dieting alone, at least not in the long-term. In contrast, it often requires a change in the way you eat, what you eat, and how you burn the calories. Of course, you don’t have to make a whole bunch of major changes all at once. Outlined in this article are a few modifications to your lifestyle you can make with relative ease.
Enlist a friend to be your weight-loss workout buddy. Not only will having a friend hold you accountable so you won’t bypass your workout for a night on the couch, but it will also inspire you to work harder. The friendly competition will spur you to push yourself a little more during each workout.
When you are trying to lose weight, it is really helpful to have a weight loss buddy. Having someone you know and trust, to share your successes and challenges with, makes the path to getting fit much easier. Find someone who shares the same goal of getting healthy and touch base with him or her regularly. so that you both can compare notes and encourage each other.
A vital step in weight loss success is understanding portion sizes. Get in the habit of reading the nutrition label before you eat or drink anything. Although the carbs and calories may look fine at first glance, you will often be surprised to find that there are two, three or more servings in that one bag or bottle.
A helpful tip to help you lose weight is to let other people know you’re trying to lose weight. It can be really hard when you eat out with your friends, especially when they’re eating unhealthy. Who needs that kind of pressure? Let people know your goals so they can support you.
It is possible to stay within the limits of your diet even when attending a family or work party. You should eat fruits and vegetables first while at a party, even if there are cakes and cookies you want to try. You can enjoy the event without feeling guilty about ruining your weight loss plan. Instead of making a big to-do about the restrictions of your weight loss program, simply look for ways to accommodate it.
Juice: who doesn’t like it? It’s the sugary, delicious sweet part of the fruit. However, people interested in losing weight might want to cut out the juice. Although derived from natural fruits, most juices have no fiber and little to offer nutritionally in the way of vitamins, with the exception of the high levels of vitamin C found in orange juice. Tomato and V-8 juice fare somewhat better, and are very low-calorie to boot, but both are loaded with salt. So if you want to lose weight, either skip your morning juice in favor of morning tea or coffee, or choose one of the reduced-calorie “healthy choices” juices now on the market. You’ll still get that sweet-tart taste without all the calories.
A good way to help you lose weight is to brush your teeth whenever you’re feeling hungry. Brushing your teeth makes it so that you’re a lot less inclined to eat anything. It also leaves you with a minty fresh mouth so you end up getting the best of both worlds.
A great way to help you lose weight is to invest in a heart rate monitor. Getting your heart rate in the right zone is an important way of getting the most out of the cardio that you do. By using a heart rate monitor, you’ll know exactly how you’re doing.
Try new foods. Dieting to lose weight can be more fun if your switch things up a little. There are hundreds of thousands of delicious food combinations out there. A lot of them are surprisingly healthy for you. Try some out while you are dieting to avoid getting bored.
Ask your doctor if you need to lose weight. A lot of people want to lose weight before actually checking to see if they need to. Your doctor can tell you whether you fall into the normal weight range for your height, whether you have any diet restrictions or exercise restrictions and may even suggest some things to try.
A lot of new diet plans require you to completely avoid eating carbohydrates. This is a dreadful idea, nutritionally speaking. Everyone needs healthy carbohydrates in order for their bodies to function according to plan. Carbs are what give you a lot of energy to do well in physical activities, so if you’re someone that’s active physically you shouldn’t cut down.
Alcohol is one of the worst things to consume when trying to lose weight. Not only is each drink loaded with calories, when people get a little intoxicated they tend to eat more. Don’t allow yourself to go out drinking often, and when you do, it is important not to overdo the drinking so that you don’t loose sight of your weight loss goal.
Purchasing a pedometer can help you lose weight. A pedometer measures how many steps you take a day, allowing you to calculate the distance traveled. Wearing a pedometer can serve as a reminder to walk and exercise more too.
Even if you’re in a fast-food restaurant, and are stuck with choices like greasy burgers, you can still take small steps to ensure you are taking in fewer calories. Order a large cheeseburger, take off the bun and cheese, and eat the patty. Dropping the cheese and bun will take a couple hundred calories off the 513-calorie total, and since the beef patty is all protein and fat (no carbs), you’ll be no less full than if you had eaten the bun.
So it’s really a matter of baby steps. Anything extra that you do to promote weight loss is a step in the right direction. Keep adding steps and soon it will become a way of life. And before you know it, you’ll reach your goal of a healthier, happier, and more self-confident you.