In
this era of diet trends and fads, it seems there are so many ways to lose
weight. Most of them work, but typically are short term solutions. What about
maintaining that weight loss for the years to come? Here are 10 things no one
has told you that are vital to not only losing weight, but keeping it off.
You must eat fat to defeat fat.
This
may sound counterintuitive. After all, fat is what we’re trying to get rid of
so why would we eat it, right? Many weight loss plans involve removing as much
fat as possible to our diets. Well, think about this: not all fat is bad fat. Our bodies actually need
certain fats to function optimally.
Fats
found in olive oil and avocados have been proven to help reduce belly fat.
Fish oils and the fats found in nuts boost metabolism. Fats help you to feel
full as well. Feeling that satisfaction of a full tummy on a smaller amount of
food will help you to lose weight and maintain that desired weight.
So,
yes, including the right fats, in the right portion sizes, can help you defeat
that fat you’re trying to lose.
Exercise paired with a good diet.
There
are some who believe that exercise or diet alone will help them achieve their
weight loss goals. Again, this may work in short term. However, in order to
maintain that momentum, you must find the right combination of diet, like hcg AND exercise.
Find
exercise you enjoy doing. No one is going to stick to a strict exercise regime
that they don’t enjoy for long. Be willing to try new things. Boredom is one of
the main reasons people stop exercising. Keep it interesting.
The
same can be side about diets. Find a diet that is healthy and full of variety.
Try new recipes. Maybe incorporate some new-to-you, healthy, exotic foods in
your diet. Have fun and be adventurous with those taste buds to keep you going.
Laugh.
“What?
Did I just read that right? Maybe this was a typo?” No, I assure you, laughing is one good way to manage your weight.
You may have heard the saying, “Laughter is the best medicine.” Well, this is
true with weight management as well. Studies have shown that intense laughing
for one hour can burn up to 120 calories! So, laugh it up! Just make sure
you’re not laughing while eating tons of diet sabotaging foods and high calorie
alcoholic beverages or soda.
Avoid sitting for long periods of time.
Sitting
for hours on end in front of the TV or computer can be detrimental to managing
weight. If you must sit for long periods, get up every 20 minutes or so and
stretch, go for a short walk. Fidgeting is also a way to burn calories if
you’re stuck at a desk all day. Keep some things in your drawer to use to help
you burn some calories.
Snack.
Many
studies have proven that eating six small meals per day versus three big meals
is more effective in losing and maintaining weight. Keep healthy snack options
in your desk drawer or handy in your kitchen and in your car so you can snack
on the go. Choose snack items that fit into your personal diet plan. Consider
high fiber, high protein, and calcium filled snacks instead of a bag of potato
chips or candy bar.
Drink a glass of wine!
Consuming
alcohol in large amounts is detrimental to weight loss efforts. However, studies have shown that having a
glass of red wine daily may actually help boost weight loss efforts.
Chocolate
Now,
I’m not saying that eating a big old’ sugar-laden milk chocolate bar is going
to be beneficial. However, eating dark chocolate, in small amounts can satisfy
your sweet tooth as well as provide antioxidants. If you love chocolate, this
is great news! Just don’t overindulge and keep the sugar content to a minimum.
Add dairy products to your diet.
Low-fat foods and products such
as cheese, yogurt and milk are an excellent source of calcium. Calcium is
essential to providing more control over appetite and increasing fat loss. This
is not to say that dairy should be consumed in high amounts. Rather, a small
amount of dairy added to the daily diet is the most productive way to reap the
benefits.
Look for ways to add steps to your day.
We’ve
all heard this one before. “Try to park further away from the store entrance.
Take the stairs instead of the elevator whenever possible.” These are actually
good pieces of advice. Look for ways to integrate extra steps into your life,
which helps burn more calories. Yes, it may only take one or two more minutes
to walk in to the store from the furthest spot in the parking lot. But, you
probably would’ve spent those extra minutes circling the parking lot to find
the closest spot anyway. It may be quicker to take the elevator than the
stairs, but think of it like this: most people opt for the elevator. Walking up
the stairs may give you a few minutes of peace and quiet in addition to
providing those extra calorie burning steps. Plus, you can avoid that crowded
elevator ride.
Any extra moving you can do throughout the day
helps. Consider doing squats while washing dishes. What about performing
calf-raises while brushing your teeth? Be creative when thinking of ways you
can build more exercise into your daily routine.
Don’t forget the importance of water.
Drinking
water keeps you hydrated, which helps your body perform at an optimal level. It
staves off hunger by helping you to feel fuller. Water is truly your best
friend when it comes to weight loss and weight management.
Replace
high calorie, sugar filled drinks like soft drinks and artificial juices with
water. For added flavor, drop a slice of lemon, lime, strawberry or other fruit
into your water. Cucumbers and mint add a nice flavor combination to water as
well. Reaching for an ice cold drink on a hot summer day is so refreshing and
can truly help you in reaching and maintaining your weight oriented goals.
There
you have it, 10 weight management secrets no one has told you about. I would
also add that knowing yourself is important in managing your weight. If you are
not a morning person, committing to getting up at 5:00 a.m. every day to
participate in a rigorous exercise routine may not be the best choice. Fit your
exercise and diet strategies into your lifestyle in a way that will magnify
your efforts. Are you a night owl? Plan your exercise in the late night. Do you
love to cook? Look for recipes that fit into your diet plan. Likewise, if you
hate to cook, opt for foods that you can grab and eat like fresh fruits and vegetables
that you can cut up and keep handy for convenience.
If you know you get bored with the same routines day in and day out, plan to try new activities once a month or so. Look for dance or martial arts classes in your area. Maybe there is a zip-line adventure in your future. Invest in a mini-trampoline to jump on. There are so many ways to incorporate things into your life that will help you reach your goals. Reach for the stars! I know you can do it!
About the Author:
Aarti Singh is from Kerala, India. She is a dedicated nutritionist who is
dedicated to helping people reach healthy and nutritious goals. Currently she
is blogging at Besthcgdropswebsite.com. As a nutritionist, she has a vast experience
in handling cases such as obesity, hypo-thyroid, diabetes, hyper-tension,
anaemia for women and children. She is very passionate about her work. You can contact her if you are having any questions on this guest post.