Natural Weight Loss and Inactivity
We are constantly telling our readers that natural weight loss comes form healthy eating choices and physical activity. We have been urging readers to exercise because being more physically active helps your body burn more calories, so you can lose weight faster. Some new research from Tel Aviv University shows that inactivity by itself can increase your fat cells.
The research was discussed in an article on the website Medical News Today:
“Conventional wisdom says that exercise is a key to weight loss – a no-brainer. But now, Tel Aviv University researchers are revealing that life as a couch potato, stretched out in front of the TV, can actually be ‘active inactivity’ – and cause you to pack on the pounds.
Such inactivity actually encourages the body to create new fat in fat cells, says Prof. Amit Gefen of TAU’s Department of Biomedical Engineering. Along with his Ph.D. student Naama Shoham, Prof. Gefen has shown that preadipocyte cells – the precursors to fat cells – turn into fat cells faster and produce even more fat when subject to prolonged periods of ‘mechanical stretching loads’ – the kind of weight we put on our body tissues when we sit or lie down. ”
Read the full article here: Relaxing Can Make You Fatter
If you spend any significant amount of time seated behind a desk, or worse, in front of a television, you may want to get up and move around frequently. It may make a significant difference in your natural weight loss efforts. Use any excuse to stand up and walk around. It’s easy if you are home watching television, just get up and move every commercial break. It may be harder to do at work, but look for ways to get out from behind your desk. Stand up when you are on the telephone, walk to a co-workers office instead of sending an email. Anything that gets you moving.
Get up and get moving, inactivity is an enemy of natural weight loss.
Natural Weight Loss and Comfort Foods
We love sharing useful information with our readers here at Simple Natural Weight Loss. We were very excited to find an article on Prevention magazine’s website offering some advice to turn comfort foods like mashed potatoes and macaroni and cheese into lower calorie version that still taste good and offer the same type of satisfaction as their full calorie versions.
Changing a few ingredients can make comfort foods help natural weight loss.
“Enjoy your favorite comfort foods, without the guilt!”
“Calorie-conscious eating doesn’t mean boring eating. And it definitely doesn’t mean forgoing foods you love. In fact, with simple ‘food flips,’ everything you already eat can have a place in a healthy lifestyle.
So don’t ditch your favorite fare. Simply replace high-calorie and unhealthy ingredients with good-for-you items that taste just as delicious. Here’s how to turn some of fall’s most popular dishes into healthy recipes. You’ll be amazed how easy it is to lose weight without giving up taste or satisfaction–ever.”
Read the full article here: Food Flips to Cut Calories
The food substitutions they suggest are simple, and do not involve any fake foods or trans fats. They even include a couple recipes to reduce the calories in some cocktails, and even a suggestion about having ice cream for dessert.
You can also up the fiber content of the mashed potato recipe by including some parsnips with the potatoes, since parsnips have about 3 times the fiber as potatoes, and their flavor blends well with potatoes. Just cook the parsnips until tender, and mash them along with the potatoes.
Finding healthier ways to get the satisfaction from comfort foods, such as those suggested in the Prevention article, is a great natural weight loss strategy. You can lose weight naturally, and never feel like you are depriving yourself in any way.
If you have any favorite ways to make comfort foods lower in fat or calories, please share them.
