Posts Tagged ‘Natural weight loss tips’

Diet Tips That Never Disappoint!

Wednesday, September 3rd, 2008

Here is an article that makes some of the same points I have suggested before, including using a food journal, being aware of portion sizes, and exercising to burn more calories than you consume. Remember, small changes can lead to big weight loss.

Diet Tips That Never Disappoint!
By Gail M. Davis
If you’ve been thinking that it might be time to take off a few pounds, let these easy diet tips help you. They won’t let you down! These are simple suggestions that lead to big losses on the scale. Follow these rules and you will notice big changes in as little as two weeks.

Planning is the key to the first easy diet tip. When we eat randomly, we often end up consuming too many calories. You need to plan your three small, healthy meals and two small, healthy snacks for each day. Keep your meals below 400 calories each and have low-calorie snacks, such as baby carrots, on hand when you simply must pop something in your mouth!

Use a food journal of some type to record your food intake. Research shows that people who use a food journal can lose up to twice as much weight as those who do not. Journals are made for this purpose, but there are printable ones available online, or a spiral notebook from the drugstore can suffice as well.

Be very aware of proper portion sizes! You might be surprised to realize that a typical frozen dinner is an accurate size. Be especially diligent when eating in a restaurant. Always have a plan first. You will have some idea of what they serve, even if you’ve never eaten there before. Create a plan beneficial to your weight loss and stick to it. If possible, share meals or bring home at least half for another time.

Many people feel deprived when dieting. If you savor each bite, chew really well, and eat slowly, you’ll begin to enjoy the taste of the food and feel more satisfied. Always eat with intention. Don’t be distracted into overindulging. Make your dining out experiences more about your companions instead of the food.

Don’t entertain yourself by eating! If you’re reaching for food, then you need to be hungry. Pay attention to your hunger level and determine what you need to satisfy yourself. Have a list of alternative behaviors that you can substitute in place of eating. Call some friends, take your dog for a walk, get some exercise, or lose yourself in a good book!

Don’t severely restrict those food items that offer the most benefit. Heart-healthy oils, such as Omega-3s are believed by many health professionals to assist fat burning. In addition, fats are needed for healthy hair and skin, hormonal balance, and joint lubrication. Protein and fiber are two more items needed in a healthy diet. Both are responsible for keeping you full and satisfied.

Make sure that your diet includes plenty of calcium, as it is believed to encourage weight loss. Skim milk and fat-free yogurt are excellent additions to any diet. Sodas and sweet drinks should be eliminated or severely restricted and substituted with water. Water may not have the healthy benefits that we once thought, but it does keep you full.

It’s imperative for weight loss and weight maintenance to burn excess fuel each day. If you can change your mindset and begin to think of exercise as “play”, you may actually begin to look forward to it. If not, learn to appreciate it for the benefits that it provides. Try new activities such as swimming laps or inline skating. You may be surprised to find something that you really enjoy. When you move regularly, you help ensure long-term fitness.

If you follow these simple diet tips, you will not be disappointed in your results. You will notice pretty quickly that you feel better and thinner. That powerful feeling will jump-start your motivation and you will feel compelled to continue your weight loss journey, confident that this time, you will succeed!

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Simple Natural Weight Loss Tips

Monday, August 4th, 2008

Here are seven easy and natural tips to help you lose weight.

1. Never wait until you are ravishingly hungry to eat. You will be much more likely to over eat, if you feel either physically or psychologically, like you are starving.

2. Eat frequent, small meals. There is a book called The 3 Hour Diet which talks about how eating small meals every three hours can help boost your weight loss.

3. Before you eat, take the time to gauge how hungry you really are. Are you really hungry, or just bored, or eating out of habit. You can save quite a few calories daily, if you eliminate mindless eating.

4. Eat slowly, and savor every mouthful. This will both increase your enjoyment of the food you eat, and give your body time to realize when to stop eating.

5. Put down your fork between each bite. This will also help you slow down.

6. Stop eating before you feel full. Remember, you don’t have to eat everything on your plate.

7. If you feel a craving for any particular food, wait several minutes before indulging; most of the time, the craving will pass, and you will find you don’t need to eat anything. If waiting does not diminish the craving, try to analyze the craving. Ask yourself what you are looking for that this food could give you. Sometimes, you will find that you are looking for comfort, or release from stress or boredom. If you can meet that need another way, (talk to a close friend, or take a walk, or do some deep breathing, for example) you may find you don’t need to indulge your craving, and again save yourself some calories.

Try these tips, and if you have any that work for you, please share them.

And remember, the best way to lose weight is not by making yourself feel deprived, but by making healthier choices. Small changes lead to big improvements. Don’t try to do it all in one day.

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