Losing weight is easy once your body begins to let go of those excess pounds. The logic behind losing weight seems simple enough, yet it is one of the hardest feats to accomplish. It’s a logical assumption that to lose weight all you need to do is reduce calories and increase your aerobic activity and miraculously, once your body gets this message, losing weight becomes easier.
Of course, what you eat will determine how much weight you lose. You’ll want to cut back on fat, in particular saturated fat, also cutting back on sugar and salt will help you lose weight and protect your heart. Your heart has to work harder when you eat foods that have too much sugar, salt and fat. Make wise substitutions and develop a diet plan that you can stick to.
Design a diet that includes foods that you love to eat. Explore different ways to prepare your favorites that make them healthier for you. Make sound decisions about abstaining from foods or beverages that are bad for you. A bad food or beverage would be one that offers little in the way of nutrition but are packed with lots of sugar, fat, salt and calories.
Pay attention to the amount that you eat. Portion control is key to losing weight. That doesn’t mean you have to walk away from the table when you are still hungry. It means being conscious of how much you are eating. Use a measuring cup or scale to help you get an idea of how to portion your foods. Once you realize what 6 oz looks like, you can enjoy your meal without eating too much or too little.
Keep a food diary or fitness journal, especially if you are exercising regularly. Write down everything you eat, drink and your daily physical activities. It is a proven fact that keeping track of your what you eat makes it twice as successful to lose weight than if you do not.
To lose weight effectively and live life more fully, you must be active. A sedentary lifestyle leads to weight gain, makes it harder to lose weight and is responsible for a number of health problems. Not having enough time to exercise is one of the biggest excuses for a sedentary lifestyle. The problem with that logic is that you will never find the time; the solution is that you have to make the time. 30 minutes a day, that’s all it takes. Your body will love you for it.