Eating for weight loss can seem like a daunting task. You may be used to eating the foods you crave, when you crave them, but now you have to do so while trying to lose weight.
If this sounds like you, don’t worry. It’s not as hard as it seems. There are some simple guidelines you can follow that will enable you to eat the foods you love while losing weight, and maintain a healthy body weight.
To start with, here are some basic principles that will help you make the right choices around food and how to eat them:
Eat When You’re Hungry
If you’re always thinking about your next meal or planning your next snack attack, you’re never going to make the right choices around food. It’s important to focus on what you need, not what you want. When you’re hungry, you’re more likely to make the right decision around food. In addition, if you eat when you’re hungry, your body will thank you for the nutritious food and you will experience a boost of energy.
Choose Foods That Are High In Fiber
Fiber is a substance found in plant foods that can’t be broken down by the human body. It’s considered to be one of the most vital substances in terms of keeping the human body healthy. As it is impossible to obtain from meat or dairy products, it’s crucial that we get our fiber from the food we eat. The general rule is that the more fiber you eat, the faster you will lose weight. There are different types of fiber, and they all serve different purposes. Some fibers, for example, have the ability to bind to cholesterol and fatty acids, preventing them from being absorbed by the body. That means they’ll help keep your arteries free from damage and clog with plaque. When you eat foods rich in fiber, you’ll achieve two things: a healthy heart and a slimmer physique.
Reduce The Amount Of Food You Eat
When you reduce the amount of food you eat, you’re not only giving your body the nutrition it needs to function properly, but you’re also allowing it to detoxify. If your body gets consumed by food, it won’t have the time or the resources to devote to removing toxins from the system. Eating too much food, especially the wrong kind of food, can cause an overload of toxins that will sabotage your weight loss efforts. The solution is to eat less, and the right kind of food, to achieve optimal results.
Avoid Foods With Added Sugar
When you begin your quest for weight loss, you’ll notice that almost all the foods you crave are rich in sugar. The thing is, adding sugar to food, even the healthy kind, isn’t good for you. The body will not be able to tell the difference and the results, in terms of your waistline, will be the same as if you’d eaten sugar straight from the sugar bowl.
As a general rule, avoid foods with added sugar. If you want to eat a candy bar, have a small one-bite piece. Otherwise, satisfy your sweet tooth with fruit or a salad.
Try To Eat More Vegetables And Fruit
There are many reasons why eating more vegetables and fruit is the right choice, but let’s just focus on the weight loss aspect for now. The fiber found in vegetables and fruit provide your body with nutrients and vitamins that are crucial for maintaining a healthy body weight. In addition, the antioxidants found in these foods fight free radicals (highly unstable molecules that can lead to cell damage) that are produced as a result of toxins in the air and water. Free radicals are known to cause cancer and other serious diseases.
If you want to eat for weight loss, you’ll have to learn how to incorporate more vegetables and fruit into your diet. Consider it a challenge worth striving for, as you’ll feel all the benefits in terms of both physical and mental health.
Choose Whole Foods Over Processed
Whole foods, also known as organic foods, are foods that have not been altered by man. When you eat something that is whole, you’re consuming something that is alive and, therefore, nutritious. There are many advantages to eating organic foods, one of which is that you’re not contributing to the toxins that are already present in the planet. The primary reason to choose organic foods is that they’ve been shown to increase your body’s ability to absorb nutrients. In the event of a food-related illnesses, such as the ones caused by E. coli and salmonella, you’ll be glad you made the switch to organic foods.
Eat More Mindfully
You can’t concentrate on chewing properly if you’re distracted by your cell phone, tablet or other gadgets. Make sure you put them down before you eat, so you can focus on what you’re doing. This will help you enjoy your food without any distractions. In addition, you can increase your awareness of what you’re putting into your body by choosing healthier options, when you can. If necessary, you can make slight adjustments to suit your needs and lifestyle, but the key is to find what works best for you.
Don’t Feel Bad If You Go Off Track
It’s normal to want to indulge in foods you love when you’re hitting your lowest weight. However, you have to remember that food is fuel, and it is not a place to hide when you want to shed those extra pounds. When you start to feel unsatisfied with how you’re performing, it can be a sign that you’re overeating. Simply reduce the amount of food you’re taking, or eliminate those foods you struggle with the most, and then, when you see progress, gradually reintroduce the ones that helped you the most. In addition, make sure you consult a dietician or professional nutritionist who can help you find the right foods for your body and goals.
As you can see, there are several ways to eat for weight loss. You don’t have to starve yourself or obsess over every bite. Instead, you can focus on eating the right foods and incorporating more vegetables and fruit, as these will help you achieve your goals.