Losing weight can seem like an impossible mountain to climb. It doesn’t matter if you have 5 pounds that are hanging on for dear life or 150 pounds that seems like it will take a lifetime to get rid of, we all need a little bit of advice and motivation. This article has some great ideas for how you can finally lose the weight you want to.
If you want to get a handle on weight loss, it’s important to understand the concept of nutrient density. Traditionally, nutrient density has been spoken of in terms of nutrients per unit of weight or volume, i.e. calories per ounce, etc. Of far more use, however, is to think of the nutrient density in terms of nutrients per CALORIE. Measured by that standard, a head of romaine lettuce, which has about 100 calories, is many times more loaded with nutrients per calorie than almost any other food. It’s just that most of us don’t think of eating an entire head of romaine lettuce. These findings, based on research suggest that focusing on the most nutrient-dense foods (by calorie, not by weight) will help people lose the greatest amount of weight.
An accountability partner can help in your weight loss journey. Having someone to share your mess-ups and successes with help keep you on track. No one wants to tell someone that they’ve done something wrong, so do the right thing, stay on track, and you can share your successes with your partner.
A good way to lose weight is to do all of your grocery shopping at a health food store. Health food stores may be a little more expensive, but they have all of the healthy food that you want and it’s all available in one place. You can’t go wrong with that.
Splitting your restaurant meal in half, reserving a portion to eat and a portion to take home with you, can help you stay on track with your weight loss plan. Remove all temptation to overeat by requesting that the waiter put half of your meal in a to-go container before he even serves you the meal.
One way you can control what you eat is to take control of your environment. Make sure there is minimal contact with food at home, work, and in the car. The more you are around food, the more likely you are to eat something or possibly over eat.
There is a lot of truth in the saying that breakfast is more important than any other meal. It gets your metabolism going, which enables you to burn calories more quickly throughout the day. You also avoid the mid-morning hunger pangs that have you running for a sugary snack. Stick to wholegrain toast, fruit, oatmeal or low-fat yogurt, and tea or low-fat milk. This way, you will be set for the day without the worry that you will be tempted in a few hours.
Knowing exactly what is in your food is the first step you need to take before you can lose weight. You might think that you know exactly what’s in your food, but you’d be surprised. Do some research and make sure that anything you eat on a daily basis is as healthy or unhealthy as you think it is.
Buying smaller plates and bowls can be great for weight loss. Let your eyes trick you. If you have a plate that is large, you are more likely to put more food on the plate. When using a smaller plate, you will also use smaller portion sizes. This can be a great way to cut back on the amount of food that you take in, which can result in weight loss.
Instead of having beef and fried foods all the time, choose chicken as a hearty alternative. You can prepare chicken in a variety of ways as it is very good with different kinds of vegetables, which are great for weight loss. Select chicken as the main component of your dinner to reduce your weight.
Understand the effect of prescription medication on your body and metabolism. Many adults take one or more maintenance medications for a variety of health needs. Some of these medications have weight gain as a side effect or, at the least, may hinder efforts to lose weight. Talk to your doctor about alternatives if one of your medications is causing you to struggle with weight loss.
If you feel like having a hamburger, do it! Just make it yourself using a lower fat meat alternative. We like to have lean ground turkey and add sage, savory, rosemary, and thyme with a little bit of Worcestershire sauce and Dijon mustard. Grill it to remove even more fat and enjoy on a whole wheat bun!
Be positive about losing weight. The one thing that will affect whether or not you lose weight is your attitude about it. If you believe you can lose weight, you will. You can do anything you put your mind to and losing weight is something you CAN change. Think about the positive impact weight loss will have on your life.
The more healthy protein you consume, the easier it will be to lose that excess weight. Healthy proteins include fish, poultry such as chicken or turkey, beans, lean beef and dairy products such as cheese or milk. Combining healthy protein consumption with a steady cardiovascular diet is a sure way to lose weight safely.
As was stated in the beginning, losing weight is difficult. For some people they have so much to lose that it can seem like a losing battle. For others, there are only a few pounds left that they have been battling for a long time. Regardless of your situation, this article should have given you some new ideas and tips to try in your own weight loss goals.
