Before running off and jumping on the first crash diet available, take a moment to consider a few key questions…
Is this 2-week diet really the answer to the problem?
Is it sustainable?
Will it maintain and promote overall health?
The problem is that these quick diets usually aren’t effective in keeping weight off in the long run and can often result in other ailments due to the impact on the immune system.
What is the best thing to do?
To lose weight and make sure it stays off, get into the habit of following a healthy, balanced eating plan with some tips for weight loss. It might not result in as much initial weight-loss as a crash diet, but in a few months’ time, you will be glad you weren’t short-sighted.
The top 10 tips for weight loss and keeping it off:
1. Eat Pulses
Pulses are things like lentils, peas, and chickpeas. They are excellent for weight loss and are classified as superfoods. They help you to stay fuller after a meal, which means you can cut back on calories by not giving to cravings and snacks between meals.
2. Stress less
This might be easier said than done, but it’s not that hard when you put your mind to it. Start a relaxing hobby, take up a sport or partake in fun activities with friends and family – all are great ways to reduce your stress levels. Just make sure that these activities don’t revolve around food!
3. Weigh the smart way.
The importance of knowing your weight is often underestimated. It’s best to weigh yourself twice a week – once on Monday and then again on Friday. This helps you keep accurate track of what is happening to your weight and also acts as motivation for sticking to your eating plan in the week and over the weekend.
4. Eat more to lose weight
As soon as you start looking at weight loss in terms of what you’re not allowed to eat, you’re setting yourself up to fail. Focus on the things that you’re allowed to eat and that you enjoy. Explore opportunities to include more of these in your eating plan and create a diet that you can enjoy.
5. Choose the right carbs
The basic rule for carb consumption is that you should go for unrefined carbs and cut out refined carbs. This means that about 20% – 30% of your diet will still be carbs but deciding on the right carbs is crucial. You can have rice, but you may have to give up dessert that day. Have a beer, but then have a salad with your meal. It’s all about managing your carbs in a way that suits you and your diet.
6. Be a food snob
Be picky when you eat. If you don’t like something after the first bite, don’t force yourself to finish it.
Don’t waste your calories on something that you are not going to enjoy.
7. Have a Plan B Exercise routine
No, this is not a new workout program. You should always have a backup exercise program that you can do if you were not able to complete your normal routine. It should be something that you can do at home so that bad weather doesn’t become an excuse. Ideally, it should be something that doesn’t need too much equipment and can be easily completed within 30 minutes.
8. Mindfulness matters
Be mindful when you eat. You will enjoy what you eat a lot more and also eat less in the end.
Here are four steps to mindful eating:
- Eat sitting down. You tend to make less healthy choices when you’re standing.
- Eat your food off of a plate, rather than out of a bag or box.
- Eat only when you are truly physically hungry. Not for emotional reasons.
- Eat without distractions such as the TV, a tablet, a smartphone or a computer.
9. Keep an eating journal
It might sound silly but we never truly realize how much we actually eat in a day until we see it written down. It can also help you identify why you haven’t met your weight loss expectations and is a great tool for keeping you mindful of your eating habits.
10. Get Weight Smart
Understanding weight loss, weight gain, healthy living and how best to incorporate positive lifestyle choices into your day-to-day life is crucial.
