Constantly Healthy

Everyone who has ever tried dieting knows that it is not easy to stick to a weight loss program. The feeling of deprivation is often enough to want you to give up. So instead of drastically changing your diet, it is a good idea to do things gradually. Here is a six-step guide on how to eat less and lose more weight.

1. Small but complete meals. In order for you to be satisfied with what you eat, your meal should have the right amount of fat, proteins, and fiber. Failing to strike a balance may make you feel “un-full” which may cause you to eat even more.
2. Never deprive yourself. In conjunction with step 1, drastically cutting down calories may also lead you to feeling hungrier and thus consuming even more food. Set a realistic target such as reducing the size of your food portions by around 20 or 25% initially.
3. Eat tasty food. In order to remain sane, it is always advisable to permit yourself to an occasional treat or a good hearty meal. Eat delicious food every now and again but be sure to eat smaller portions.
4. Avoid drinking calories. You already eat loads of calories as it is, there’s no need to add to your caloric intake by drinking more calories. Drink water or tea instead of sugary fruit juices or soft drinks that have as much as 150 calories per can.
5. Exercise, exercise, exercise. Perhaps one of the best fat loss tips is to have some sort of exercise regimen. Without regular exercise, your diet will not be as effective as you’d want. It can be as simple as jogging a couple of miles every other day.
6. Easy does it. Remember that your brain will need around 30 minutes to process before it tells your body that it’s full. Because of this you’ll need to eat at a slower pace by chewing slowly and by not stuffing your mouth with the next bite until you’ve swallowed everything. GP

Off the top of my head I can probably give you a dozen fat loss tips right now. However, I’m not going to do that—not exactly at least. There are loads of articles out there that will give you excellent advice on how to lose weight. Instead of doing the same, this list will give you tips on how to motivate yourself to lose weight. Before you can start with a program it is necessary to motivate yourself first. It is also important to remain motivated throughout your weight loss program to ensure that you stick to it. Here’s how.

Picture the new old you

Take out some of your old photographs of the thinner and sexier you and display them in such a way that you get to see them all the time. These pictures will remind you of how you used to look like and should make you want to work hard to bring back the glory days.

Resurrect your favorite jeans

Although it may sound as vain as tip #1, it is also a good idea to bring out that pair of jeans that you used to wear all the time but no longer fits. Hanging them in a place like your bedroom door should keep you reminded of the old you.

Looking forward

An excellent motivator is buying an expensive and stylish piece of clothing that is a size or two smaller. Investing in a pricey pair of trendy slacks should help you work until you cut down enough inches on your waist line to be able to wear them.

Record your mistakes

You may also want to keep a journal to jot down your failures to stick to your program. Write down how frustrated you are at yourself for not being able to go to the gym for a week or why you ate that last piece of pie. Aside from being a good outlet, this method will also help you find concrete solutions should you find yourself in the same situation in the future. GP

Losing weight is no easy task. It involves determination, patience, and consistency, among other things. I have devised a brief list of fat loss tips that should be helpful for those who are looking to get rid of that extra weight.

Consider the health hazards

Aside from compromising your physical attractiveness, being overweight also has a lot of negative effects on one’s health. A good way to motivate yourself to start losing weight is by looking at the potential health hazards of being 30 or so pounds overweight. Heart attack and diabetes are just two of them and surely you wouldn’t want to have either before you start moving.

The man with a plan

Once you’ve set your mind to it, it’s now time to come up with a plan. You may want to start with your ideal weight and how you intend to achieve this (i.e. jogging 5 miles every other day). It is much easier to remain motivated when you know you are targeting something.

Say no to junk

It is needless to say that you need to stay away from junk food. A good way to resist temptation is by not having any. Don’t stock chips or beer in your home so that you’re sure that there’s nothing there to sabotage your diet.

Get a trainer

If you can afford it, it is best to hire a personal trainer. Aside from encouraging you and pushing you to your absolute limit, the cost of acquiring the services of one should be motivation enough to stick to your weight loss program.

Find a gym buddy

A good alternative to a professional trainer is a gym buddy. You can set up a schedule with your friend and knowing that someone’s counting on you to hit the gym should also serve as good motivation. Moreover, you can even spot each other once you’re there. GP

You desperately want to shed off those extra pounds but you’re afraid your buddies might notice and assume that you’re being too health conscious. Even worse, you fear that your date might think that you’re pickier than her when it comes to food when you request for the low-carb menu. Fear no more as here before you are some fat loss tips that are not only simple, but hardly noticeable as well.

• You are what you eat

First thing to remember is that it is important to watch what you put inside your body. Start monitoring your calorie intake. A good way to do this is by avoiding fast food. Try to eat more home-cooked meals for a change.

• Do away with bread

When the waiter brings in the bread basket to your table, don’t bother. A lot of people eat half the bread basket even before dinner arrives. Bread has a lot of carbs and as little as 3 slices can have as much as 200 calories in them.

• If you must, go whole wheat

If you really love bread and can’t live without it I suggest you opt for the whole wheat variety. This type has more fiber in it which will help you feel fuller than regular white bread. Hopefully this will cause you to eat less bread than you normally would.

• Watch that sandwich

For sandwich enthusiasts, it’s a good idea to cut down on the mayonnaise and cheese. These two products have a lot of calories in them and it is actually advisable to cut them out entirely. However, to avoid complaints from your taste buds it is an option to reduce the amount you spread on your lunch sandwich.

• Pulp up

Although it is advisable to drink water throughout the day, some of us get bored with its flavor (or lack thereof) and crave for the sweet taste of juices and soft drinks. If you really can’t avoid it then choose juices that have pulp bits. Pulp has a lot of fiber that will not only fill you up but also provide loads of health benefits.    GP