It seems like every time you pick up a magazine or read an article online there’s a new “guaranteed” diet or weight loss programs being featured. Instead of falling for the latest fad, a better approach is to listen to your body.
Your body frequently gives you hints about what you need to eat and, more importantly, what not to eat. You can improve your health and weight loss goals by utilizing some easy tips.
Before you begin, it’s essential that you know that no one loses weight in the same way. There’s no one-size-fits-all approach that will work the same for everyone. Two people of the same weight and height will lose weight at a different rate, even if they eat the exact same foods and participate in the same activities.
The time of the day and even the season of the year can lead to difficulties in managing your weight. Eating later in the day can pack on extra pounds. Backyard BBQs and hotel meals when traveling on vacation are detrimental to your weight loss and maintenance objectives, just as being less active during winter months can have an effect.
The following top 12 weight loss tips can help you successfully jump start your weight loss journey.
1. Eat What’s Right for Your Body
To maximize weight loss, use healthy ingredients and choose foods that are rich in antioxidants, vitamins and minerals. A healthy body is one that gets a lot of nutrients from a wide range of foods, so don’t be a picky eater. You might even be surprised how much you enjoy a cup of leek soup or kale salad.
2. Lose Weight by Eating Mindfully
You don’t have to stop eating to lose weight. instead, savor each meal and enjoy the entire dining experience instead of just gulping down your food. Eat slowly, chew abundantly, and remain aware of what you’re eating.
The same principle applies whether you’re consuming solids or liquids. Eating or drinking slowly increases weight loss by making you feel fuller faster and the overall result of mindful eating is increased energy, lower stress and fewer digestive issues.
3. Stay Hydrated
Staying hydrated is an essential element for health, weight loss and weight management. Your body is 80 percent water and fluid is as important for health as food. Water is necessary for a diverse array of functions that includes:
- Regulating your body temperature
- Aiding in digestion
- Helps protect your joints
- Essential for rebuilding blood
- Helps detoxify the body
- Keeps your skin looking youthful
4. Farm to Table
Take advantage of nature’s bounty for health and weight loss. Local seasonal produce is available at a variety of farm markets. Fruits and vegetables from around the world are offered at supermarkets, making it possible to maintain a healthy diet throughout the year even when local produce isn’t available.
5. Eat for Better Health
Eating organic and non-GMO foods minimizes the pesticides and artificial ingredients that can be found even in some fresh fruits and vegetables. It also minimizes the potential for exacerbating allergies, gaining weight, and introducing unwanted elements into the body that can have unpredictable results.
6. Enjoy Life More
Even with a healthy diet, it’s important to get your body moving to maximize your weight loss goals.
Do something enjoyable to get moving like hiking new trails, taking a dance lesson or even go swimming. It will burn calories, keep your body in shape and build muscle. The more muscle you have, the more calories you burn… even while you sleep.
7. Avoid Processed Foods
The sugar, fat and salt in processed foods and beverages are weight loss enemies. They are also addictive, just as nicotine and caffeine. Food companies utilize those elements, along with color, flavor, aroma and texture, to make you eat more.
8. Don’t Eat in Front of the TV or Computer
It’s best not to associate eating with the TV, computer or other distraction to eliminate developing a pattern of eating whenever you’re in front of either device. Eating in suitable surroundings allows you to focus on the meal. And put your phone away while you dine.
9. Prepare Your Own Lunch
Boost your weight loss by not falling into the trap of eating out or ordering fast food while at work. Preparing your own nutritious lunch and taking it to work ensures that you have the right foods and portions that are right for you.
10. Sleep for Weight Loss
Stress is one of the leading causes of weight gain. When you feel nervous, anxious and stressed, your body releases hormones for a fight or flight reaction that leads to an increase in appetite. When you don’t get enough sleep or don’t achieve a restorative slumber, levels of the stress hormone cortisol are elevated and leads to mid-section fat build-up.
11. Keep Weight Loss Goals Realistic
It took time to gain those extra pounds and it will take time to remove them. There are no short-cuts or instant remedies for weight loss that won’t have a detrimental effect on your health and starving yourself will only create a rebound effect in which you overeat.
12. Listen to Your Cravings
Your body will tell you what it needs through cravings. Craving for peanut butter and celery, watermelon or a plain cheese are examples healthy cravings.
Unfortunately, many us sabotage our weight loss goals by craving things like glazed donuts, pizza and sodas. Cravings often indicate there is a nutritional imbalance and finding healthy alternative is imperative to good health.