Posts Tagged ‘Food’
Weight Loss – Don’t Quit Now!
You can ask anyone who has ever tried losing weight and they will all tell you the same thing, weight loss isn’t easy. In fact, losing weight is one of the most difficult things to do in life. One of the ultimate keys to success though is to not quit. Here are 3 quick tips to help you along the way.
Not giving up on a weight loss program or new diet plan is a lot easier said than done. I know that all too well myself from the years of struggling to find a diet I could actually stick with.
But, you can lose the weight you want to lose if you will follow a few simple guidelines and believe in yourself. I know it works because I’ve done it. After years of trying, I finally managed to find the right diet plan and the faith in myself to make it work. It’s helped me lose 38 pounds and be able to keep it off.
1. Relax – Losing weight with any weight loss plan is going to take time. If you see a diet that tells you that you will lose 25 pounds in your first week, run from it. Crash diets will not do it for you. Instead, be willing to give things time. Don’t let yourself get caught up in the hype. If you lose 5 pounds in your first 2 weeks on a new weight loss program then that is great! Just stick with it.
2. Make a commitment to yourself that you are not going to quit. Write it out and post it on your refrigerator or bathroom mirror. It may sound funny, but it helps. It will be a constant reminder to you of why you are wanting to change your life.
3. Get some exercise – No matter what anyone tries to say differently, you have to get some exercise every week in any weight loss program. It can be as simple as walking for 30-45 minutes 4-5 times a week.
Walking will not only help you lose weight, but it also puts you in a healthy mindset. You begin feeling better about yourself and about losing weight. You’ll begin to see things in a more positive light. It’s really amazing at the many benefits something as simple as walking can do.
If you can bring these 3 tips with in starting a weight loss or diet program, your chances of success are almost guaranteed. Don’t quit! You really can lose weight and feel better.
Choosing a Weight Loss Program
When you want to lose weight, you need to scrutinize each weight loss program available to find one that is right for you.
Although every weight loss program has the goal of helping you lose the extra pounds and helping you keep them off, not all weight loss programs are the same. What works for one person may not work for another because of individual differences in taste in food and in the lifestyle a person leads.
A person who travels a lot, for example, and eats a lot of meals in restaurants will find it harder to stick to a program that involves eating specific foods and in specific portions. This is what is involved in the Nutrisystem, LA Weight Loss, San Diego medical weight loss (http://www.vfhcinc.com/events.html), and Jenny Craig weight loss programs. A person who does eat breakfast and dinner at home and takes a lunch to work will be able to do well on one of these systems.
Weight Watchers is a weight loss program that allows you to eat whatever foods you wish, but you do have to be cognizant of the amounts of food you eat. Depending on your beginning weight, you have a specific number of points that you can use each day. You can lot out the food that you eat each day and there are lists of fast foods and restaurant meals included in the literature for you to consult when you do eat out.
No matter what medical weight loss program you decide to use, you do have to cut out eating junk food. These foods are very high in calories and will not only decrease your chances of losing weight, but you will be hungry a lot sooner after you eat. Another thing that all the programs for losing weight have in common is that you have to exercise to tone up your muscles, help lose the fat from your muscles and help you lose inches.
Adding fruits and vegetables to your diet will also help you lose weight. This is because most of these foods are negative calorie foods, which means your body has to burn calories in order to digest these foods. Thus you burn more calories than you consume and you feel full for longer periods of time.
When deciding which weight loss program is best for you, you have to look at the number of calories you should consume each day. Women need to have at least 1200 calories a day and men need at least 1500 calories a day. A healthy weight loss is 2 pounds a week and your daily diet should contain foods from the four food groups.
In order to lose weight sensibly and keep it off, you do have to make a change in your eating habits and your lifestyle. This means eating smaller portions and making sure that you exercise at least 20 minutes three times a week. When you watch what you eat and include healthy snacks in your diet, you will notice weight loss.
There will be times when you hit a plateau and not lose any weight for a few days or a week, but you shouldn’t let this discourage you. Along with weighing yourself, you should also take your measurements because as you tone up your muscles, you may actually gain pounds but lose inches.
Weight Loss Tips: 25 Weight Loss Tips for Healthy Weight Loss
People who lose weight and keep it off succeed by adapting a healthy lifestyle, not by dieting. You must enforce healthy eating habits that will continue to be part of your life forever. Weight loss isn’t something you can do for a few weeks or month. It’s a life-long commitment.
Here are twenty-five tips that will help you adapt a slow and steady weight loss plan that you keep help you lose weight and stay healthy.
1. Start with achievable goals
2. Don’t expect to drop excess weight quickly. Research shows that people who lose weight slowly are more successful than others who experience quick weight loss.
3. A realistic weight loss goal is two pounds a week.
4. Don’t look for miraculous weight loss. If you lose weight quickly your will probably gain it back.
5. Slowly change your eating habits and lifestyle.
6. Weigh yourself once a week maximum. Hoping on the scales everyday will drive you to distraction and will become obsessive. It actually takes as much as two weeks for any weight loss to occur.
7. Eat smaller portions and replace three meals a day with five smaller ones. This helps to control blood sugar and it’s easier to burn calories from small, light meals.
8. Mix carbohydrates, protein and fruit for a healthy meal.
9. When enjoying your favorite snack, read the nutrition chart and measure the recommended amount into a bowl. Never eat snacks such as chips, out of a bag. This leads to over-eating.
10. Prepare measured snacks ahead of time. That way you can just go to the cupboard and get a small bag. Never go back for seconds.
11. Drink flavored no-calorie water instead of soda, or add lemon juice or avocado juice to water for a refreshing, thirst quenching drink.
12. Don’t use food for comfort or de-stressing.
13. Leave the table immediately after you’ve finished eating. Avoid desserts or have a cup of low fat yogurt.
14. When you are home and craving an extra rich treat, tie on your walking shoes and go for a walk. By the time you get home the craving most probably will have passed.
15. Walk for at least 30 minutes a day. This can be broken into two, five minute increments, if desired.
16. Park your car at the outside edge of the parking lot, where it’s much easier to get a parking space, and then walk to the store. This will help you get in your minimum daily requirement of walking.
17. Wear a pedometer and walk between 5,000 and 10,000 steps per day. This will help you lose weight more quickly while doing so in a healthy manner.
18. Eat a bowl of broth based soup, such as minestrone or vegetable, before eating your meal. This will take the edge off your hunger and you will eat less. Do not eat cream soups, as they are much higher in calories.
19. Reward yourself once a week with a small treat. This helps you to avoid binging and brings weight loss success.
20. Learn to love yourself as you are. Beauty is in the heart and soul. Remind yourself that you are beautiful.
21. Never eat anything after 8 pm.
22. Write down everything you eat. This helps you keep tabs on your food intake. You’ll be surprised at how quickly it adds up.
23. Keep food off the table. Place single servings on plates and put them at the place settings. You’re more apt to take seconds if the food is within easy reach.
24. Eat vegetables first. Vegetables have lots of fiber, which helps make you feel full before you get to the carbohydrates and fat.
25. Put your fork down between mouthfuls of food. Chew thoroughly and swallow before picking up your fork for the next bite. This allows you to savor your food and it helps you to eat slower, which improves digestion.