Let’s be realistic. Weight loss is not easy. And it is not fast. But it doesn’t have to be painful. If you want to know how to lose weight there are lots of tried and true diet tips that will help you on your journey towards a healthy body weight. These expert tips are healthy and easy tricks to incorporate into your balanced lifestyle.
Eat More Often
Let go of the “three square meals a day” mentality. One of the keys to healthy weight loss is to eat five or six smaller meals throughout the day. Eating smaller meals throughout the day keeps your energy up, and keeps hunger at bay, making you less likely to binge once you get the chance.
Incorporate snacks that contain protein, rather than just simple carbs. Instead of having just an apple in the afternoon, have a piece of fruit and a piece of low-fat cheese. Or sprinkle some heart-healthy nuts into a serving of low-fat yogurt.
For an added health bonus, choose high-fibre, whole foods as your snacks. You will stay full longer, and won’t be running for the vending machine in between meals. The more processed food is, the faster your body digests it. For example, you will feel hungry much faster after having a serving of apple juice or applesauce, than if you simply ate the apple whole.
Get More Sleep
Here’s a diet tip that we can all learn to love: get more rest. Dr. David Grotto, author of 101 Foods That Could Save Your Life, says that you are more likely to overeat during the day if you didn’t get enough sleep the night before.
And if you are one of the many people who fall victim to the dreaded and diet-ruining late night eating habit, go to bed earlier. All those hours spent sleeping means hours not spent eating. Aim for eight hours a day.
Eat Your Favourite Foods
Depriving yourself of your favourite foods is a sure-fire route to falling off the dieting wagon. What you are trying to achieve is a healthy lifestyle that includes a balanced diet and daily exercise. If your diet plan is to simple deprive yourself of the foods you love, you will inevitably fail.
Every person has a magic number, which is the maximum number of calories they should consume in a day, depending on their weight, age, body type, and activity level. As long as you are not going over your daily caloric intake, you can have that small bowl of ice cream or piece of dark chocolate. Just don’t overindulge, and if you do, make sure to eat extra healthily the next day. Your healthy lifestyle shouldn’t be a painful test of will at all times, otherwise you will be more likely to crack under pressure.
Weigh Yourself Regularly
Sometimes when you’re dieting, the natural response is to avoid the scale at all costs. But what happens when you finally step on the scale and realize you’ve gained weight? It can be shocking, discouraging, and defeating. By weighing yourself regularly you can keep yourself on track with your diet plan. If you see your weight start to creep up, then you know right away that you need to make adjustments to your plan.
Weigh yourself once a week to stay on track. And weigh yourself first thing in the morning when your bladder is full. This tip will keep you motivated to stay on course throughout the day.
Control Your Portion Sizes
Super-sized portions are one of the main causes for weight gain in North America. Our obsession with eating out at restaurants and fast food joints in the “land of plenty” has distorted our perspective of what is a healthy portion size. One plate of pasta that many would consider “normal” is actually equal to two to three portions.
Control your portion sizes by eating at home more often. Use smaller dinner plates so your mind feels satisfied that it’s receiving a full plate. Measure and weigh your food with measuring cups and a food scale so you know exactly how much you’re eating. When you do eat out, make healthy menu choices, cut your meal in half, and take the rest home for tomorrow’s lunch. Resist temptation by boxing up half of your meal before you even start to eat.
By following these simple and healthy diet tips, you will be well on your way to achieving your optimal weight. Keep these tips in mind for pain-free and natural weight loss.