Weight loss is one of those subjects that it seems everyone is always talking about. It seems you can’t go anywhere without seeing or hearing some type of weight loss message. Stories of the dangers of not losing weight appear regularly on the nightly news. Retail outlets and the Internet both are full of weight loss books and products. Turn on late night TV and you’re sure to find several infomercials claiming they’ve found the miracle cure for weight loss. Weight loss is discussed in medical centers and at schools and even in the work place. If you’re trying to lose weight, here are a few sensible and easty tips to get you going.
Tip #1 – Stop Talking About Weight Loss!
All that talk about how much you want to lose weight isn’t going to make the weight come off. You’ve got to take action, starting right now. So take this simple advice: Stop moving your mouth and start moving your body! It won’t take long to begin seeing the results. You don’t need to start with anything hard. Walking has been shown to be one of the best exercises to do when trying to lose weight. If you still need extra motivation to walk, go get yourself a dog, they’ll be happy to drag you out for a walk everyday. (For more exercise tips, click here)
Tip #2 – Slow and Steady is Best
Slow and steady weight loss is better (and safer) than riding the dieting roller coaster. If you’re looking for long-lasting weight loss results, aim to lose an average of about two pounds each week. In order to lose weight you’ve got to consume fewer calories than you burn. As a bonus, when you combine dieting with exercise, you’ll be reducing your caloric intake and increasing your caloric burn rate at the same time.
Tip #3 – Save Your Money
Don’t spend your hard-earned money on the latest weight loss gimmicks. Pills, fad diets, hypnosis, and extreme surgical procedures are not the answer! These gimmicks won’t slim you down, but they will fatten the bank accounts of those who promote them! Eating a nutritionally-balanced diet of fruits, vegetables, good fats and lean proteins will encourage weight loss faster than any miracle cure you can buy. The only place where you should consider spending a little extra money is on organic food. You’re far better off spending your money on organic food than on diet pills.
Tip #4 – Weight Loss is a Way of Life
Unfortunately, the issue of weight is something that most people will struggle with throughout life. Excess processed foods and a sedentary lifestyle are the two biggest contributors to this constant struggle. If you want to lose weight and keep it off, you’ve got to change the way you think about food. It should be thought of as a source of fuel, not a passion. Successful weight loss really is about making lifestyle changes, including making the right food choices, and then sticking with those choices throughout life.
Tip #5 – Weight Loss is More Than a Number
When you’re dieting, don’t become a victim of the dreaded scale. When the numbers go down, happiness goes up. But when the numbers stay the same or go up, it is easy to give up and give in. Remember that even if your weight isn’t changing as you would like, your body is. You’ll be taking better care of your heart. You’ll be lowering your cholesterol levels. You’ll be sporting a leaner body and your clothes will begin fitting more comfortably. When you learn to find joy in these other benefits, you’ll want to keep on being a loser!
Tip #6 – Stop Drinking Diet Soda
There have been no studies that show that drinking diet soda helps a person lose weight. Any product containing aspartame should be avoided, especially when trying to lose weight. Your best choice would be to drink water, and a lot of it. However, if you need something bubbly and fizzy, go for the regular sugar containing soda.
Tip #7 – Get rid of the MSG
MSG, monosodium glutamate, is the same substance that researchers use to induce obesity in lab rats. Do you really want that in your body when you’re trying to lose weight, I don’t.
Tip #8 – Trans Fats Gotta Go Too
If you don’t care about any of the other dangers associated with Trans fats, then you should at least know that there is evidence that Trans fats contribute to increasing the size of that spare tire of yours more than anything part of your food. If you haven’t done so already, please read my trans fat article to learn more.
Tip #9 – Eat Slowly
Chew your food. It’s not a race to see who can eat the fastest. When you’re eating, do so slowly, being sure you fully chew everything in your mouth before adding anything else, and you’ll find you end up eating less.
Tip #10 – Mom was Wrong – You Don’t Need to Eat Everything On Your Plate
Sure, when you were a kid, Mom was probably right about cleaning your plate. You probably didn’t want to eat your vegetables or something a growing body needed to be healthy. However, now that your older, when you’re full, stop eating. If there’s still food on your plate, that’s okay, you don’t need to finish it.
Tip #11 – Raw Fruits and Vegetables are Your Friend
Raw fruits and vegetables are very easy for your body to digest. Many vegetables, such as carrots and cauliflower, are filling without adding a lot of calories. Start every meal with a salad (or any raw vegetable combination you like), or better yet, enjoy just the salad.
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