You may have heard the news that doctors are now recommending that you not only get active, but you need to lose weight as well. This is due to the ever-increasing rates of kids and teens being diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. It is quite the disturbing fact that it has become so common for youngsters to be affected as it is now considered a genetic disease.
Thankfully, there are still some great things you can do to lose weight without going to the gym or eating unhealthy food. In fact, there are certain steps you can take to lose weight that will even help you get healthier! Let’s take a look:
Eat Healthily
This is the most crucial thing you can do if you want to lose weight. If you eat healthy food and stay active, you will be on your way to a healthy weight loss. If you think about it, the whole point of going on a diet is to consume fewer calories than you burn, right? So instead of aiming for that traditional potato-and-chicken dinner every night, try eating more vegetables and fruits to shed off those extra pounds. You should also try to reduce the amount of processed food you eat, as these are usually packed with sugar.
Reduce Food Intake
When you are cutting down on your food intake, you will automatically start losing weight. If you are watching your diet and are aware of the foods you are consuming, you will be better positioned to make healthier choices when hungry strikes. Reducing your food intake will also help you become more active, as your body needs more energy to function properly. This is why people on a diet tend to become more active as they lose weight; their body needs the calories just to function properly. When you are on a diet, it is important to focus on reducing food intake rather than increasing exercise, as the former will help you shed off those extra pounds without causing damage to your body. However, you should still make sure to get some exercise every day, as lack of activity has been linked to increased risks of diabetes and heart disease.
Consume More Water
Drinking lots of water can help you stay hydrated, and consequently, lose weight. The general recommendation is to drink eight glasses of water each day. Due to the extra fluids your body is losing, you will start feeling full quicker, which may lead to less food consumption. When you are regularly consuming more water, you will be better positioned to avoid dehydration, which can cause irritability and fatigue. If you are out and about a lot, make sure you drink plenty of water to avoid any problems. You should also try to drink more purified water rather than distilled or bottled waters, as the latter are often loaded with chemicals that can potentially cause health problems.
Consume More Fiber
Fiber is one of the most important nutrients you need if you want to lose weight. This is because it helps you feel fuller longer, which in turn, curbs your appetite. Consuming more fiber also helps prevent constipation, which can lead to more food consumption and weight gain. To get the most out of your fiber, make sure you eat lots of vegetables and fruit. Some examples of healthy food sources of fiber are:
- Cruciferous vegetables (e.g., broccoli, brussels sprouts, and cabbage)
- Legumes (e.g., beans and lentils)
- Grapefruit
- Apples
- Pears
- Oranges
- Prunes
- Blackberries
- Raspberries
All of these foods are excellent sources of dietary fiber and may help you reach your goal weight. Make sure to include them in your diet plan to see instant results!
Set Realistic Goals
It is always preferable to set measurable goals rather than vague ones if you want to succeed in an endeavor like losing weight. Set a goal on the scale. If you want to see some immediate results, you should aim for at least a one pound loss per week. This may seem like a lot, but it’s not difficult to achieve. If you are finding it more challenging to lose weight, you may want to consider switching to a healthier diet or adopting a different lifestyle.
Reduce Stressful Eating
Many people find it difficult to resist eating the foods they crave while under stress. If you are among these people, you may find it useful to adopt the mindful eating technique. This involves learning to recognize the craving and give it equal importance to the distress the food may cause you. Mindful eating allows you to enjoy your food while also considering the factors that make you want to avoid eating certain foods. For example, if you are stressed, it’s best not to eat foods with a lot of sugar in them. Moreover, you can also opt to chew slowly and pay attention to the flavors of the foods you eat.
Check Yourself Regularly
To achieve your desired weight, it is important to know how much weight you need to lose. If you want to shed off those extra pounds, check your body mass index (BMI) frequently. The BMI is a formula used to determine if you are overweight or obese. Simply measure your standing height without shoes (in inches) divided by your weight (in pounds). The result will be your BMI. To learn more, you can use this calculator to determine your recommended weight loss based on your BMI.
A healthy BMI ranges between 18.5 and 24.9. If your score is 25 or greater, you are considered obese. Knowing your BMI can help you set a realistic weight-loss goal as it gives you an idea of how much weight you need to shed off to be at a healthier weight. Keep in mind that everyone’s weight loss results may vary. However, you should continue to aim for weight loss, as this is the best way to improve your health.
Monitor Food Intake
As we mentioned earlier, cutting down on your food intake can help you lose weight. However, keeping track of what you eat is also important for maintaining a healthy diet. Instead of simply cutting back on the food you love, it’s important to focus on the portions you consume. If you eat an apple every day, for example, but only in the form of a handful of chips, you may be adding insult to injury. Make sure you are aware of how much food you eat in relation to how much you should be eating to maintain a healthy diet. Some people prefer to use a nutritionist app or website to keep track of what they consume, which can help them stay on track and reach their goal weight. Keeping track of food is also important for those who want to gain weight as muscle, as this requires more energy than fat. This is why many bodybuilders use nutrition apps to ensure they get the correct nutrients for the building process.
Eating more fruits and vegetables is the way to go if you want to shed off those extra pounds. Make sure to keep a food diary for a week and work from there. This will help you identify the foods that make you put on weight and allow you to cut back on them. You should also try to avoid foods with added sugar, as these will increase your calorie intake and may lead to weight gain.
Monitor Your Exercise
After you have lost the desired amount of weight, it’s time to start exercising. However, you must ensure you do so within a healthy range. To lose weight, you must burn more calories than you consume. If you do this through physical activity, your body will thank you for it. Make sure to include a variety of exercises in your routine to ensure you maintain good health. If you want to lose a specific amount of weight, follow a meal plan or use a nutrition app to track what you eat so you can monitor your calorie intake. Pay attention to how you feel after you exercise and make necessary changes according to this. For instance, if you feel exhausted, reduce your exercise intensity the next time you exercise.
By taking these tips into consideration, you can easily lose weight without going to the gym or taking supplements. These are all part of becoming healthier. So, if you want to shed off those extra pounds and improve your health, follow these tips! You’ll be on your way to a healthier lifestyle in no time.