What is the best tips for weight loss?

Weight loss can be a touchy subject, but if you are determined to lose weight, there are several things you can do. Here are some great ideas on how to get started to losing those unwanted pounds.

1) Create a list of reasons why you want to lose weight.

When you have a list of reasons why you want to lose weight, it will help you not give up when the going gets tough. Create a list with emotional and physical reasons. For example:

Physical reasons – I want to have more energy to keep up with my kids at their different activities without being exhausted. I would also like to be able to walk for long periods of time without getting tired. I also want to be able to wear clothes that are smaller in size.

Emotional reasons – I would love to have more confidence when it comes to doing things around the house, with my family and for myself. When I am at work, I do not always feel that I fit in because of how heavy I am.

2) Get a notebook and create a weight loss chart.

You will want to put in the date, your current weight and how much you lost or gained that week. You can also add what foods you ate each day and if you worked out during the week. This is a great way for you to see your progress. If you want to lose a certain amount of weight over a set time period, you will be able to look back and see how much more weight you have left. It is also a huge motivation if you see that the scale has gone down each week.

3) Have a healthy breakfast every day.

If you make sure that you eat breakfast each day, you will be less likely to overeat the rest of the day. Eating a healthy breakfast will give you energy and leave you feeling satisfied until lunchtime.

4) Eat your fruits and veggies every day.

If you make sure that you eat plenty of fruit and vegetables, it will help fill you up and keep cravings at bay.

5) Make sure that you are eating enough protein daily.

Protein will help balance your blood sugar levels, which are important when it comes to losing weight. Eating good sources of protein with each meal will also ensure that you feel satisfied until your next meal.

6) Avoid fatty foods and fried food items

Instead of eating a fatty food item, eat a healthier alternative. If you want a burger, make it a veggie burger or a turkey burger instead of beef. You can also have it on wholewheat bread rather than the traditional bun. For fries with your burger, try to have sweet potato fries instead. They are not fried and they taste great!

7) Exercise at least 3 times per week

This will help burn calories and get your heart rate pumping. It is better to exercise a few days of the week at a moderate pace than to try and do too much on only one day. You want to make sure that you give yourself time for your body to recover after each hard workout you have.

8) Drink more water

Water is extremely important when it comes to weight loss, because you want to make sure that you are getting enough liquids every day. Drinking plenty of water will also help control hunger pangs and keep your energy levels high.

9) Eat slowly and chew thoroughly

When you eat slowly, your body has a chance to realize when you are full. Eating slowly will also give your digestion a chance to kick in and break down your food.

10) Cut out liquid calories

Drinking sugary drinks will add extra calories that you do not need each day. If you want something sweet, try adding a slice of lemon or lime to your glass of water. This will add flavour and won’t add extra sugar to your beverage.

11) Do not skip meals

If you make sure that you eat every day when it comes to breakfast, lunch and dinner then you shouldn’t be hungry in between meals. You should also try to avoid grazing when it comes to food such as eating only fruit throughout the day. This will keep your blood sugar levels normal and ensure that you do not overeat at dinner time or when it comes to snacking.

12) Keep a food journal

This is important because it will show you exactly what you are eating each day. It will also help prevent mindless eating, where you are just mindlessly nibbling without realizing that you are doing it. Keep track of everything that goes into your mouth and be honest with yourself.

13) Seek out alternatives to things that you crave

If you have a craving for something, whether it is salty or sweet, there is always an alternative. You can try having just a small portion of what you want or choosing a healthier alternative. If you really want a candy bar, try choosing a granola bar instead. It may not be what you expected but it will help satisfy the craving without adding too many extra calories to your daily intake.

14) Try to exercise regularly

If you make sure that you exercise at least three times per week, this will give you more energy throughout the day. You will have more patience and you won’t be as stressed out. This is very important when it comes to weight loss, because a healthy lifestyle includes a healthy mind too.

15) Be wary of liquid calories

Many people do not realize that liquid calories add up quickly over time. For example, if you drink two glasses of juice every day then you are drinking 240 calories. If you don’t burn this amount of calories each day, then these extra calories will most likely be stored as fat.

16) Keep unhealthy temptations out of the house

This is important because it will keep your diet on track. If you know that there is junk food in the house, you will be tempted to eat it. You also won’t have any healthy snacks or meals handy when hunger pangs strike.

17) Exercise regularly and make sure that you don’t overdo it

When you exercise consistently and at a moderate pace, your body will start to burn fat and tone up muscles. It is important that you don’t overdo it, because that can actually lead to muscle loss instead of fat burning.

18) Limit your alcohol intake

Alcohol contains a high number of calories, so if you want to lose weight then you should limit how much you drink. You’ll also have a lot more energy and better focus throughout the day when you do not drink alcohol.

19) Make sure that you get rid of any distractions in the kitchen when it is meal time

This means turning off the TV, putting away your phone, closing your laptop and anything else that will distract you. If you do this, then your chances of overeating are much higher because you can’t stop and think about what you are eating.

20) Keep healthy snacks handy

This will ensure that you eat something before you get too hungry. If you haven’t eaten anything in three hours or so, then your body is already starting to enter the starvation mode, where it begins to store fat instead of burning it. Having healthy snacks on hand for between meals is very important.

21) You should eat lean meats

Lean meats are high in protein, which will help you to have more energy throughout the day. If you are craving red meat then it is okay to have it, but you should make sure that it is lean and not fatty.

22) Eat at least one complex carbohydrate per day

Complex carbohydrates will help you to stay energized throughout the day. You can either choose whole grain bread or brown rice or any other complex carbohydrate.

23) Go with your cravings every once in a while

It is important that you give into your cravings at least once per week, but make sure it isn’t more than twice. If you give into your cravings every day then it will be very hard for you to lose weight.

24) Try to eat slowly

When you eat quickly, this means that your brain doesn’t have time to let the message of fullness reach your stomach before you are already eating again. By eating more slowly, this will give your body time to send the message of fullness, so you will eat less food.

25) Make sure that you are eating enough calories

It’s important that you know how many calories you need every day to maintain your weight. If this number is more than what you are eating then it can cause your body to hold on to fat instead of burning it. You need to eat more calories than you burn every day, so that your body will start burning the excess fat for energy.

26) Use olive oil when cooking

Olive oil is healthy; however, if you are trying to lose weight then you should use it sparingly because of its high fat content. It’s much better to use cooking spray instead, which will help you to cut down on fat without affecting the flavor of your food.