Losing weight is a very personal battle. Even if you choose to do it with other people, you are in essence, battling your own body to see who will win. This article has some strategies that you can try in your goal to lose the weight once and for all.
To curb your calorie intake, use a smaller plate at your meals. Instead of grabbing a large dinner plate, use a smaller salad plate for each meal. It will help you keep portion sizes in check and trick your mind into thinking you are eating much more than you actually are.
To help keep yourself motivated and to find like-minded friends, look for an online support group. There are many online communities focused on weight loss, healthy living, and friendship. You can share your success, fears, laughter, as well as find answers to questions you may have. Join one just to find a great friend to help you with your weight loss!
One weight-loss or weight-maintenance tip people have adopted is to change the size of their dishes and cutlery. We switched from the regular dinner plates to luncheon plates, and similarly, downsized our flatware to salad forks and teaspoons. As a result, our portions have become automatically smaller, and we eat less, but the plate still looks full. People who want more food, and who don’t need to lose weight, can take second helpings. But we’ve found that, psychologically, it is much more satisfying to be able to take a full plate of food, and have the freedom to eat it all, than to try to content ourselves with lonely little islands of food on large plates.
If you love mashed potatoes, you might try substituting mashed cauliflower, instead. The recipe is quite simple. All you need to do is cook cauliflower florets with a bit of chopped onion and water in a pot that is covered until tender. Once it is tender, puree the florets with veggies or with some chicken bouillon and seasoning to taste. This gives you a great-tasting side dish without the added carbohydrate and calorie load of a potato.
Use a pedometer to lose weight. When you wear a pedometer, it will measure every step you take in a day. The recommended amount of steps is 10,000 or more. If you aren’t doing at least 10,000 a day, you are not moving enough. Use it as a step game, if you meet your goal, increase it.
Doubting yourself can be harmful if you are trying to lose weight. It is essential to believe it yourself and trust that you can stick to the goals that you have set for yourself. Keeping a positive mind set and believing in yourself will help you achieve your goals and maintain happiness.
When losing weight using diet and exercise, try to consume some protein with every meal. Protein can make you feel fuller for longer meaning that you are less likely to eat junk food and snacks between meals. Protein also repairs your muscles after a strenuous gym workout. Good sources of protein include lean meat, beans and nuts.
A key tip for anyone embarking on a weight loss program is to shift focus away from the number on the scale. Weighing oneself on a daily basis can seriously undermine weight loss efforts, because the normal fluctuations that will surely register on the scale can have a devastating impact on motivation and morale. A better strategy is concentrate on positive changes in body shape and muscle tone, rather than on actual weight in pounds.
Eat frequently during the day but consume smaller amounts of healthier food. Eating healthy foods frequently, can keep you feeling full and satisfied. This will help you to resist the, sometimes, overwhelming temptation to grab that cupcake at the office snack bar. Just make sure your choices are always healthy ones.
Start snacking. Snacking has a bad reputation but the truth is, snacking can prevent you from overeating when you have a meal because you won’t be so hungry. The key is to eat healthy snacks such as yogurt, cheese, and fruit. Snacks can give you a little boost and tide you over until you sit down for something more substantial.
Many people go to fast food restaurants because they are very convenient, but you should avoid them as much as possible. If you must go to a fast food place, them be careful about what you order. Having a salad with grilled chicken is one of the better fast food options. However, go easy with the dressing, because that can add up too.
Breathe deeply if you’re trying to lose weight. Breathing deeply encourages a relaxed feeling. Shallow breathing can have a negative effect on your fat burning processes, since your body interprets shallow breathing as a sign of stress and shuts down the fat burning mechanisms in your body. Learning good breathing techniques can help you reach your weight loss goals.
Try replacing carbonated drinks such as beer and soda with water as you attempt to lose weight. The health benefits of drinking water instead of other beverages will be immediately noticeable. By drinking water, you boost your muscle’s recovery time and resilience. Water is also necessary to cushion your organs, muscles and joints as you perform high-impact exercises.
If you take the time, do the work and have the information you need, you can accomplish anything, including losing the pounds that you so desperately want to lose. There is a skinny person in there, that is just waiting to come out. As we have shown you here, there are a lot of practical things you can do, starting now, to make that happen.
