The Proper Lifestyle: Maintaining it Properly
How you live also affects gaining and losing weight. You can’t expect to lose weight no matter how long you exercise daily if you keep on eating chocolates, or you behave like a couch-potato in front of the TV set for almost half a day everyday. If your lifestyle is like this, a change is needed. Let us kick those unhealthy habits and start getting rid of fats.
Below are some tips that help in losing weight and burning calories and fats. These simple things that are usually taken for granted will really help you achieve your goal if given complete attention. Making these a habit and part of your everyday life will surely make you realize that you should have done those things earlier, and you might have not gained those stubborn fats.
Drink at least 8 glasses of water everyday. This way, dehydration, which reduces metabolic rate by 2-3%, is avoided. Water itself helps cut down on water retention because it acts as a diuretic. Before meals water can dull the appetite.
Eat breakfast. Some in-a-hurry-people tend to forget eating early in the morning and just eat more during lunch. Eating breakfast raises metabolic rate by between 10 and 25%.
Avoid crash-dieting. This lowers metabolic rate and deprives you of essential nutrients.
Spread your fat over the course of a day. When you are obese, a lot of fat eaten all at once can sharpen the appetite for further fat.
Stretch your meals to, at least, 20 minutes or longer. Your stomach, mouth and brain are all connected and it takes 20 minutes of chewing before your stomach signals your brain that you are full. To feel full and successfully lose weight on any weight loss program, you need to eat slowly for 20 minutes or longer.
Drink tea and coffee regularly. It increases metabolic rate and fat burning.
Eat those spicy foods you enjoy. They increase your metabolic rate by 25%.
Don’t weigh yourself too often. Use the tape measure and the fit of your clothes to monitor weight loss progress. Your weight fluctuates constantly and you can weigh more at night than you did in the morning.
Eat a light carbohydrate snack 30 minutes before a meal it will fill you up quicker so you eat less.
Keep plenty of crunchy foods like raw vegetables and air-popped fat-free popcorn on hand. They’re high in fibre, satisfying and filling.
Weight loss is easier with a friend. Caring people can help motivate each other succeed.
Avoid finger foods that are easy to eat in large amounts.
Avoid consuming large quantities of fattening liquids, which are so easy to overdo.
Consume nuts only in small portions, as they are composed of up to 50% fat and have a high calorie count
Make the kitchen off-limits at any time other than mealtime.
Always eat at the table, never in front of the TV set or with the radio on. You won’t be able to monitor your eating habit when you’re enjoying something else.
Don’t gulp. Savor each bite and concentrate on chewing every mouthful slowly.
If you’re a late-night eater, eat high fibre carbs such as a slice of brown bread or wholemeal cracker biscuit before bedtime to cut down on cravings.
If tempted by a treat, you could eat half then give the rest away.
Drink hot water with lemon.
Eat hot meals rather than cold. Your metabolism speeds up very slightly when you eat and again, if the food is hot.
Don’t eat anything for the last three or four hours of your day. Once you’ve had dinner, be done for the night.
Don’t eat anything unnecessary. You don’t need “all the fixings”.
Learn to control yourself at social affairs. Don’t use them as an excuse to pig out.
Serve yourself normal portions of food. Three ounces of meat or a half cup of rice are plenty in one meal.
Don’t nibble on things throughout the day. Some tidbits contain hundreds of calories.
* Use a smaller plate than usual for dinner. You’ll feel like you ate more than you actually did.
Don’t work while eating. Separate all of your activities from your meals, so you can concentrate on what and how much you’re eating.
Don’t eat a single bite while preparing meals. Chew gum, if it helps.
Never get seconds. Make a habit of stopping after one plate of food.
Put leftovers away immediately to avoid further grazing.
Read labels carefully. Some low fat items are very high in calories.
To slow yourself down, eat with the opposite hand you usually eat with.
Craving chocolate? Eat a banana. It sometimes satisfies the yearning for chocolate and is much less fattening.
Chew sugarless gum. It speeds up the digestive system, burning more calories, and sometimes kills a craving.
Grab something to drink. Sometimes, cravings for food are really thirst in disguise.
Exercise – even in school! Take advantage of the gym and PE classes in school. Participate in any sports.
Spend at least 10 minutes per day exercising in your room.
If possible, walk places instead of riding a car. You can even enjoy the scenic spots you will see as you walk.
Use stairs instead of elevators if it’s just a matter of 3-4 storeys.
Limit your TV time to 2 hours or less per day.
Eat first before strolling at the mall. This way, calories will start burning and at the same time, you won’t be tempted to order another burger or french fries.
Don’t shop when you’re hungry. You’ll only buy more fattening food.
Substitute activity for eating junk food. When the cravings hit, walk around the block, do some housework, read, or just do anything just that will take your mind off those old habits.
Do at least thirty minutes of cardiovascular exercise, five days a week. This will condition you to burn fat more efficiently.
Wear a pedometer and see that you take 1,000 steps every day.
If you have a sit-down job, get up every hour and walk around for five minutes or so.
Dedicate two hours a week to weight training, concentrating on the larger muscles. Every other day is optimal.
The more positive your self-esteem, the better you feel about yourself, the faster and easier it will be for you to lose weight. When you are self-confident, you are better able to take charge of your life. It also means that after you lose weight, it will be gone permanently.
Negative emotions will also interfere with your weight loss program. It’s difficult to stay motivated to lose weight when you feel bad. Overeating often accompanies negative emotions such as depression, anxiety, fear, guilt and anger.
Thus, if you really want to lose weight and burn all the excess body fats away – to be physically fit and healthy – you have to deal with it properly. Proper plan, attitude, diet, exercise, and lifestyle comprise the proper way to achieve your goals. Success is not attained overnight so you have to really exert not just an effort, but also patience and determination, if you want to get thinner and slimmer.