So you’re ready to lose weight. Congrats! You’re one of the many millions of people around the world who wants to rid themselves of that extra padding – be it around the middle, on the hips, or wherever else that extra weight has decided to settle. Maybe you’ve been trying to lose weight for a while, but without much success. You try to eat healthier, you try to run every day, and you even consider going on a diet (of sorts). But it never seems to work out – you always seem to regain the weight you’ve lost. Why is that? More importantly, is there a way for you to actually succeed in losing weight and keeping it off? I think there is and I think I have the perfect guide for you.
Change Your Approach
The reason why you haven’t been able to lose weight in the past is probably because you’ve tried to do it using conventional methods. That is, you’ve either cut out food sources that you feel your body doesn’t need (such as gluten and dairy) or you’ve tried to restrict yourself to a certain number of calories. Both of these methods can work – but they’re not ideal. At the end of the day, you’re just trading one set of restrictions for another.
The truth is that your body doesn’t need food sources that it doesn’t already have. Like most foods, carbohydrates are needed to function normally (hence the recommended five to ten servings per day). However, too many carbs can cause weight gain (especially if they’re in the form of processed foods or drinks). Similarly, eating too few calories will make you lose weight, but you won’t be able to sustain that loss. That’s because the body requires more calories than what it consumes just to stay active – hence the recommendation for a moderate daily calorie intake.
Take It Easy
The key to successfully losing weight is by doing it in a healthy manner. That means no binge eating or calorie restriction (you’ll eventually hit a point where you can’t lose weight without risking health problems). Instead, it’s about finding what works best for you. So, if you’ve tried dieting and failed, the answer might not be entirely within your reach – but it’s also not necessarily beyond it. What you need to do is take a step back and reassess your approach. Maybe you’ll need to try a different method, such as the ketogenic diet, which I already discussed in detail in my last blog post. But, for the time being, take it easy by avoiding strenuous activity and instead opting for some easy daily walks or yoga sessions. Your body will thank you for it and you’ll start to see the results of your hard work soon enough.
Prioritise Health
If you want to succeed in losing weight, you must put your health first. That doesn’t mean you need to eliminate food sources that you enjoy or follow a restrictive diet, but it does mean you need to prioritise health problems (such as high blood pressure or diabetes) over aesthetics (such as wanting to lose a few pounds). Simply put, if you’re not healthy enough to eat what you want, you’re not going to be able to fulfill your aesthetic goals (such as wanting to lose a few pounds).
If you want to lose weight and you don’t want to do it in a damaging manner (i.e., cutting out food sources or following a calorie-restricted diet), what you need to do is make healthier choices. That means opting for food that is high in fibre and nutrient density, or making healthier choices when ordering from restaurants. Some examples of poor choices are deep fried foods or foods containing refined sugar. There are plenty of options out there that are both tasty and healthy – you just need to know where to look. Opting for healthier options not only allows you to eat what you want, but it can also help reduce the chances of you suffering from health problems down the line. So, by making healthier choices and being more selective about the food you eat, you might be able to successfully reach your goal weight – and keep it off for good.
Develop Some Healthy Habits
Another necessary step to losing weight is establishing healthy eating and activity habits. You see, just because you’ve decided to change your approach to food and fitness doesn’t mean that you’ll be able to immediately see the results you’re looking for. That’s because, at the end of the day, the body needs time to adapt to its new lifestyle demands. That means that, in order for you to see the full effect of your new approach, you’ll have to continue implementing it for a while (i.e., continue avoiding foods with refined sugar and gluten, or start exercising regularly).
When it comes to establishing healthy eating habits, you have two options: either follow a particular diet or simply try to cut out foods that you know aren’t good for you. Regardless of which option you choose, what you need to do is make gradual changes. Start by cutting out one or two foods you know you shouldn’t eat (such as sugar or gluten). After you’ve accomplished that, try eating healthier by cutting out other food sources you know have bad fats or carbs. Once you’ve done that, you can start incorporating more fruits and vegetables into your diet. As I mentioned before, too many carbs in the form of processed foods or drinks can cause weight gain – so try to avoid them as much as possible (especially during the first few months of implementing a new diet).
When it comes to activity, you need to make sure that you’re using the right kind of exercises to tone up your body and boost your health. That means avoiding things such as weight training and jumping jacks, and incorporating activities like swimming, biking, or hiking into your routine. Find what works best for you and stick with it. If you want to lose weight, there are plenty of simple (and not-so-simple) tips and tricks to help you get started. The key is to take it easy by making gradual changes and being consistent with your new routine (most importantly, the food and activity portions). With a little bit of patience and some willpower, you’ll be able to successfully reach your goal weight and keep it off for good – no matter what your starting point is today.