Whether you are trying to impress somebody or boost your own self confidence, losing weight can be a good choice if you're carrying a few extra pounds. However, where do you start? Weight loss is a very personal process, so you may have to try a few things to see what sticks. This article will outline a few steps that you can take on your path to weight loss.
An important part of proper weight loss is to eat at least three times per day. Skipping meals only lowers your metabolism and therefore causes you to gain weight, or lose it more slowly. Make sure that you eat a healthy breakfast within 30 minutes of getting up in the morning and then another meal every 3-4 hours after that.
A key element of weight loss is portion control. Modern portion sizes, especially when eating out, are nearly double the size they used to be. Choosing healthy food is a great start, but if you do not control how big your portions are, that healthy dish could have twice the calories that you would expect it to.
One thing people should do when trying to lose weight is to banish the word "diet" from their vocabulary. "Diet" implies a temporary way of eating, a quick fix that, once your weight-loss goals are reached, can be abandoned. It's much more helpful to think of weight loss as a different "way of eating." If you make more conscious choices about your food and choose to view these foods as part of a new way of eating rather than a temporary fix, you will find yourself adapting to them better and ultimately making them part of your new weight-losing routine.
When you feel hungry, consider drinking a small portion of a protein shake. These protein drinks give you the necessary energy without a lot of calories.
Breaking up large weight loss goals into smaller increments can be a great motivator. If you want to lose 50 pounds then you could break that into easier but smaller goals of a few pounds each. This makes it easy to see the progress you have made. Don't forget to celebrate your mini-goals as you attain them.
Keeping hydrated is one of the tricks when loosing weight. Many times people think they are hungry, though really they are slightly dehydrated. Once you start drinking water throughout the entire day, you will see that you end up eating less, and will lose weight. You will also be constantly flushing out all the toxins in your body.
Rewarding yourself when you meet goals will help you to stay motivated when trying to lose weight. If you endure 60 minutes on the treadmill or exercise bike, treat yourself to something nice afterwards. Perhaps buy yourself some new clothes, take a trip to the movie theater or have a night out with friends.
One great weight loss tip is to avoid condiments that are high in fat, such as ranch dressing or bleu cheese. These can add hundreds of calories to your diet on a daily basis. Instead, try to use a vegetarian bean dip, such as hummus, that is much lower in calories and is actually good for you.
When you are eating your meals, do not let yourself eat so much that you actually feel stuffed. Listen to your body because it will tell you when it is full and that you should stop eating. By doing this you will decrease how many calories you eat per day.
As you can see, weight loss doesn't need to be a drastic, grueling, and miserable process. With small, measured steps and lifestyle changes, you can make serious progress gradually. Building a knowledge of your body and healthy ways to combat excess pounds is your first step to making a better life!
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