There’s more than one way to lose weight. Some people prefer to go on a diet, while others would rather exercise than eat less food. Now, it’s not recommended you try to lose weight by doing both at the same time, because while you’re probably going to lose some weight, you may not be able to maintain it long term. That’s why most people try to focus on either one or the other – exercise or diet – to see the best results.
However, you can really benefit from both exercise and dieting, and here’s why: Most people underestimate the power of both aerobic exercise and strength training (weight lifting). Not only does it make it easier to maintain your weight loss, but you can also expect to see more results from your overall diet and exercise program. There are a lot of things that work best to lose weight, but these eight habits will help get you there faster than you know it.
Find An Activity That Makes You Happy
If you’re not naturally happy when you exercise, then it’s going to be hard to convince yourself to do it regularly. If you need an activity to make you happy, then look for something that makes you smile the moment you start doing it. For instance, if running makes you happy, then by all means, run away!
Even if you don’t feel like you connect with an activity right away, there are still things you can do to make it easier. For example, if swimming doesn’t sound like it energizes you, then consider taking a yoga class or an art class. The point is to find something that you enjoy doing and is going to engage you mentally and physically. Don’t worry about whether or not the activity is going to help you lose weight – it’s not about that. It’s about finding something that makes you happy and helps you relax.
Eat Healthily
When you eat healthy foods, your body will thank you for it. Not only will you shed off the extra pounds, but you’ll also feel better overall. Make sure to eat a variety of vegetables and fruits to receive the best results. You should also aim to eat fewer carbohydrates since they’re easy to convert into energy, which then gets stored as fat. As a general rule, the fewer the carbs, the faster you’ll lose weight.
There are hundreds of ways to eat healthily. You can make eating healthy meals a priority, prepare them yourself, or get them pre-made. Just make sure that you consult with a nutritionist or dietician to learn the best way to eat for your body type and how to incorporate more vegetables into your diet.
Take Breaks During Exercise
While continuous exercises are good for overall health and fitness, you won’t see massive results if you don’t take breaks during exercise. After about 30 minutes of continuous exercise, your body starts needing some recovery time. Taking a break allows your body to repair itself and get back at it later. Sometimes it’s better to do some light stretches or take a walk around the block than to keep going without a break.
Reduce Stress
A lot of people lose weight because they want to feel better about themselves. However, if you’re always stressed about your weight, then it’s going to be hard to make any progress. Not only is stress a major factor in gaining weight, but there’s also strong evidence to prove that it’s also one of the main reasons why you’re struggling with weight gain. If you want to lose weight, reduce your stress levels as much as possible.
If you’re regularly stressing about your weight, then consider addressing any underlying issues – maybe you’re anxious about becoming a parent or you have a lot of insecurities about your body. Whatever the case may be, find the root of the problem and then work on fixing it. Once you do, you’ll be able to shed those extra pounds.
Consult With A Physician
If you’re already seeing results from using the tips above, then consider talking with your physician about making some dietary changes and getting more exercise. There’s absolutely no shame in seeking medical help if you’re not seeing the results you want. After all, it’s a question of degrees. If using the above strategies doesn’t seem to be helping you, then there may still be something missing from your routine. Ask your doctor about what else you can try.
Don’t Be Fooled By Abs
Everyone wants to have nice, firm abs, right? Well, it’s true, but not all exercises that work for building abs will make you thinner. The reason is that not all fat is created equal. While your abs might be killing it on the muscle front, your fat might still be packing on the pounds. To lose weight, you need to get rid of the fat, and the only way to do that is through dieting. However, you should still do the abs exercises; they’ll help you build up your muscle mass and become more defined.
Try Something New
As we mentioned above, not all exercises that work for building abs will make you thinner. The same goes for diets. If you want to see the best results from your weight loss efforts, then it’s important to try new things at least once a month. Sometimes, a simple change of diet is all it takes for you to lose a few pounds. For example, if you decide to cut out bread and eat more vegetables, then within a few days, you’ll start seeing results. Plus, when you try new things, it makes it more likely that you’ll continue to see results in the long term. If a year from now you’re still doing the same things you were doing in the first month, then it might be time to consider adapting your routine.
Don’t Be Fooled By Size
Just because a food is high in calories doesn’t mean that it’s automatically going to make you fat. A lot of the foods that are popularly believed to be fat-promoting are usually high in carbohydrates, which then gets converted into sugar. When you have too much sugar in your blood, it triggers an increase in appetite. So, even though a food may look like it could technically feed you for a long time, it may not be the best choice if you’re trying to lose weight. Look for healthy options that are low in carbs and high in fiber. For example, berries, pears, and cucumbers are all low carb but high fiber foods. While they may not seem like they could make you thin, they’ll all have zero carbohydrates and only a few calories. So, by depriving your body of sugar, you may actually end up losing weight even if the food you’re eating doesn’t seem to be working for you.
Avoid The Junk Food
If you really want to lose weight, then it’s important to avoid junk food. These are foods that are highly processed and filled with fat and sugar. You may have heard of these kinds of foods if you’ve ever been to a circus – they’re called “big animals” and typically filled with hay and popcorn. When we eat these foods, our bodies don’t register them the same way as real food – it doesn’t register that it’s getting nutrition and energy. So, while you might be tempted to eat a bag of popcorn because it’s filling and easy to transport, make sure that you understand the long-term effects that it’s going to have on your body. As we’ve already established, it’s important to eat healthy foods and make sure to get a workout every day – it’s not necessarily about what you’re eating. If you want to lose weight, avoid junk food and focus on making healthy meals a priority instead.
Take Advantage Of The Seasons
Certain seasons may be better than others if you want to lose weight. For example, winter is generally a great time to shed off some pounds, especially since there’s not a lot of activity outside. Walking is easier in the colder months and takes less energy, so you may lose weight without even realizing it. The same goes for fresh air – being outside helps improve both your mood and health, so you may find that the extra weight begins melting away even if you don’t consciously do anything different. If possible, make sure to take advantage of the seasons and plan outdoor activities so you can shed off those extra pounds.