Eight Simple Ways to Help You Lose Weight
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Mix It Up a Little
Nothing will kill your good intentions and send you running for the Twinkies faster than boredom. If you try to limit yourself to celery sticks and the odd bowl of fat free cottage cheese, your body will start to crave other things and you’ll get so tired of these foods that you’ll swear off of them forever.
Give yourself a lot of variety. Healthy food isn’t boring unless you make it so. Scan magazines and websites for recipes, or make substitutions in your favorite meals to update them to fit your new lifestyle. Experiment with new foods, and try international flavors like Mexican, Indian, Chinese, and French cuisines. Keep your taste buds happy and they’ll be less likely to stray.
Find a Buddy
Chances are that you know someone else who could use a bit of a lifestyle overhaul when it comes to eating and exercising. Finding a buddy to compare notes and workouts with will not only motivate you to try harder, but will give you some accountability. It doesn’t matter if it’s your spouse, your best friend, a co-worker, or someone you met online, as long as you keep up the communication and continue to encourage each other to eat well and get your exercise in every day.
Rid Yourself of Temptation
If your cupboards are full of potato chips and candy, it’s going to be difficult to resist them in your search for healthier fare. Clean out your kitchen and discard as much of the junk as you can. It sounds painful, but once you’re done you’ll have space for all of the diet-friendly snacks and meal ingredients you’ll need, and those midnight snacking trips to the refrigerator will cause much less damage to the numbers you see on the scale.
Stock up on produce, low fat cheeses, whole grain crackers, and all kinds of good-for-you foods that will satisfy your hunger but not cause cravings for more sweets and goodies. Things like fat-free Popsicles and pudding can be a great way to give in to a sweet craving without blowing your entire calorie allotment for the day, as long as you only enjoy them in moderation.
Plan Ahead
If you know you’ll be going to a function or a dinner party, or anywhere that you’ll be face to face with high calorie foods, plan ahead. Put some sugar-free mints or candies in your pocket, and have a light meal before you go. If you’re not ravenously hungry when you arrive, you’ll have a better chance of not gorging yourself on forbidden foods while you’re there.
Likewise, choose to drink diet soda, bottled water, or wine spritzers. These beverages offer fewer calories than their counterparts, and won’t undo all of your hard work.
Following these suggestions will help to get you on the right track towards your weight loss goals. Always keep in mind that losing weight does not happen over night it takes a lot of determination and hard work, but keep reminding yourself that you can do it! Making small changes in your eating and exercise habits is the best way to make changes that you’ll be able to stick with.