Weight loss is closely related to nutrition. To lose weight you need to not only reduce the amount of calories taken in, but also the type of calories you eat. For instance, you cannot lose weight consuming sugary and/or high fat foods. Even though you may be taking in fewer calories, they are empty calories.
Turn off the TV and put aside the smartphones and focus on the food you are eating. Not only will this allow you to enjoy your food more, but also to slow down and chew thoroughly. You will also be able to watch your portion sizes, and realize when you are actually full and stop eating.
If you want to get a handle on weight loss, it’s important to understand the concept of nutrient density. Traditionally, nutrient density has been spoken of in terms of nutrients per unit of weight or volume, i.e. calories per ounce, etc. Of far more use, however, is to think of the nutrient density in terms of nutrients per CALORIE. Measured by that standard, a head of romaine lettuce, which has about 100 calories, is many times more loaded with nutrients per calorie than almost any other food. It’s just that most of us don’t think of eating an entire head of romaine lettuce. These findings, based on research suggest that focusing on the most nutrient-dense foods (by calorie, not by weight) will help people lose the greatest amount of weight.
In any weight-loss scheme, the canny dieter will learn to do their own cooking. Turning healthy ingredients into healthy meals is a vital skill for losing weight – and for maintaining a healthy lifestyle after the weight is lost. Even pre-packaged foods that claim to be “healthy”, cannot be nearly as healthy as a well-planned meal made from fresh ingredients.
Doing aerobic exercises are a great way to burn calories and lose weight. Not only do aerobic exercises such as cycling, running, and stair stepping help you lose weight while you are performing them, they can help burn calories for hours afterwards. Pick an exercise that you enjoy and get started!
You can incorporate more vitamins and nutrients into your diet, by juicing at home. Purchase a home juicer (it doesn’t have to be expensive) and try making yourself a fresh glass of juice every morning. Experiment with different combinations that you like and you will have more energy and have a stronger immune system to boot.
A great way to help you lose weight is to try trampoline aerobics. Trampoline aerobics are really fun, but at the same time very strenuous. If you find a good instructor who will push you, trampoline yoga can become more effective at burning fat than any other type of cardio.
A great tip for successful weight loss is to choose foods that have healthy fats like polyunsaturated fat and monounsaturated fat. These include walnuts, olives, and salmon. These healthy fats make you full and satisfied for a longer period of time so you will not overeat later in the day.
Stand up while you are on the phone. Every little bit helps. Next time the phone rings, don’t just sit there while you talk. Stand up and pace around. Many people are capable of talking on the phone for long periods of time. If you talk for half an hour, that’s thirty minutes worth of walking you’ve just accomplished.
Say you’re a condiment lover. You love to slather mayonnaise on your sandwiches. One of many small changes that can save you hundreds of calories over time is to simply use mustard instead of mayo on your next sandwich. Depending on how much mayo you used to use, you could save up to 100 calories from that simple swap.
A great tip when you are trying to lose weight is to brush and floss your teeth. The mere act of tooth brushing signals that you are finished eating for now. Also, you are not going to want to mess up your minty fresh mouth by eating something else right away.
Try to always eat meals while sitting at the table. People that eat meals while they are doing other things, tend to eat much more than those that focus on eating their meal while seated at a table. Try to follow this, even if you are eating alone.
Avoid sauce like the plague if you want to lose weight. Sauces tend to be full of fat or sugar, both of which will set you back in your progress if you ingest them. Try to make your own sauces at home with items like mustard and horseradish so you can control what goes into them.
Beware salad dressing which are bearers of a ton of sugar and fat. Make your own dressing out of vinegar and a healthy oil like bran oil, olive oil, or flax seed oil. Olive oil should be used very sparingly as it’s quite high in fat, but the other two make very nutritious options.
Never worry about “making up” for days where you cheat. As long as you’re not cheating more often than once a week, you really don’t need to worry about it. If you have the time or inclination to work out a little longer the next day, you need to think about whether or not you should be working out that extra time EVERY day if it’s possible to do!
If your weight goes up a few pounds, don’t fret. Weight fluctuates up and down over time based on what you might have eaten that day, water retention, muscle gain, and other factors. If you keep gaining weight week after week, then it’s time to re-evaluate your weight loss plan.
Eating a diet high in fiber which would include whole grains, raw or cooked vegetables and fresh fruit creates a sense of fullness and satisfies hunger longer. Nuts can also be helpful in losing weight but you should stay away from high fat nuts like cashews. Hard nuts like almonds take longer to eat and are lower in fat.
