Who among us hasn’t struggled with a few unwanted pounds now and then? When your goal is to lose weigh in a healthy manner though, it can sometimes be difficult to know the most effective way to shed those stubborn pounds, as much misinformation exists on weight loss. Read on for proven weight loss tips!
In order to help yourself stay focused on your weight loss goals, try setting weekly and monthly short-term goals as well as your final long term goal. This will keep you from getting frustrated and instead help you focus on the progress that you have been making all along.
A great way to lose weight is to cut down on all the fat-laden condiments you use. Eliminating butter from your diet is a start. Many salad dressings are also very high in fat. It’s always best to opt for low-fat, non-fat or sugar-free condiments.
To enhance your efforts at weight loss, make an effort to sneak vegetables into your “normal” foods. This is easily done by adding grated vegetables such as zucchini, carrots, onions, or peppers into meatloaf, spaghetti sauce, or soups. Don’t have time to grate and chop? Frozen vegetables will be your ally here; they can be easily added to a marinara sauce or pot of chili to amp up the flavor, fiber, and nutrients – and no one need be the wiser.
Lose more weight by drinking your snacks. When you are having a craving, try to have some soup or a natural fruit smoothie. These foods will help you feel less full at meals, and will give you the calories you need to be able to make it through those midday cravings.
When you want to have a snack or are eating a meal, make sure you sit at the table to eat. Sitting down to eat helps you avoid “mindless eating” while losing weight so you can avoid eating more than you planned. Eating at the table also helps you control portions.
A simple way to stay on task when it comes to weight loss is to have someone promise to do these things with you. Having a friend that is also eating healthier and exercising along with you can motivate you to keep going, even if its under the obligation of your promise. Also, this way, not everyone around you is eating the fatty foods you can barely resist.
Make small changes to lose weight faster. Easily replace your usual creamy dips with bean dips. They make a tasty and healthy alternative to high fat and calorie options. Dips made with chickpeas, or garbanzo beans, are called hummus, and are surprisingly creamy as well as tasty. It is best with vegetables and pita breads.
Inform your family and friends that you are on a new exercise plan and diet. Get the on your side right from the beginning. They’ll be much less likely to offer you unwanted snacks and to try to interfere with your exercise time. Who knows? They may get on the band wagon right alongside you!
Sometimes when people have started losing weight, they will seem to hit a plateau. No matter what they do, the weight won’t budge. The best way to overcome this is to increase the amount of time you are exercising by 5 minutes. Do this once a week until you overcome the plateau.
Satisfy your sweet tooth. Sometimes, it is ok to reward yourself for sticking to your diet. Dark chocolate is ideal, as it is full of antioxidants, which increase heart health and reduce high blood pressure. It also contains a lot of fiber, which helps to block fat absorption and gives you a feeling of fullness. While you shouldn’t go overboard, a little dark chocolate now and then is a guilt-free treat.
Choosing to eat foods that are packed with water (watermelon, tomatoes, celery) are very good foods to eat while dieting. They will help fill you up, while keeping your calorie count low. There are many different foods to choose from and that will prevent boredom, while you are on a diet.
Avoid “quick fix” weight loss pills. These pills are not only ineffective, they can also be extremely dangerous. Weight loss pills can ruin your metabolism, have negative effects on various internal organs, and sabotage your weight loss goals. A slower, healthy approach to weight loss is always the way to go.
A tip that you can follow to help your weight loss from a psychological level is to share your goals with friends and family. When other people know what you are striving to achieve, you will have extra motivation and incentive to achieve the goal that you set out for.
If you spend several hours each day working at a computer, take a five minute walking break each hour to help you lose weight. During an eight hour work day, you will have completed 40 minutes of exercise. Not only will you lose weight, you will also alleviate health problems associated with spending too much time seated in one position staring at a computer monitor.
Take a fruit and some vegetables with you to work every day. Many times when you get hungry at work, the food available isn’t healthy or non-fattening. By thinking ahead and bringing healthy things with you so they will be available, you curb cravings for junk food and things that will mess with your weight loss plans.
Hitting a weight loss plateau is part of any weight loss journey. You will inevitably have a point, no matter how well you stick to your diet and exercise, that you just don’t lose any weight. It is important to persevere through this and continue with what you are doing. Eventually, the weight will continue to drop off.
Although many people have misconceptions about how to effectively lose weight, abundant research indicates that weight loss can actually be achieved and maintained, by following a few simple, specific steps that are easily implemented, even if you lead a fast-paced, busy lifestyle. But don’t take our word for it – try it yourself!
