When you are trying to lose weight, it can be daunting. However, dieting doesn’t have to be a disaster. Read our dieting tips to make losing weight less overwhelming. If you adopt these simple tips, you may find that it makes a big difference in your weight loss success.
Cut out soda
If you are a regular soda drinker, you would likely be shocked by the amount of weight you can lose simply by cutting soda out of your diet. Soda adds substantial calories, and increases your risk of being overweight significantly. Even if you opt for diet soda, the artificial sweeteners actually stimulate your appetite, which causes overeating. If you need a flavored beverage, opt for tea or lemon water instead.
Eat on a schedule
It is more difficult to lose weight if you eat sporadically because your metabolism slows. Research shows that people who eat small meals at regular intervals throughout the day have an easier time shedding pounds. Schedule your meals so that you are not going more than four hours without eating.
Eat more protein
Studies show that adding more protein to your diet may be crucial to aiding your weight loss. Protein works to make you feel fuller for longer because it enhances your sensitivity to leptin, the hormone in your brain that tells you that you are full. Eat more protein by ensuring that one snack is a lean source of protein, and a third of every meal contains protein.
Make fruit and veggies convenient
One of the biggest challenges people face when trying to lose weight is the convenience factor. A bag of potato chips is much easier to grab and go with than a head of lettuce, after all. Therefore, you should make eating healthily as easy as possible. Put fruit in a bowl on the table so you see it, and either buy pre-cut and pre-washed veggies, or take the time to cut them up when you first get them. The more convenient your health food is, the harder it will be to come up with excuses not to eat it.
Get enough sleep
One of the main ways people sabotage their weight loss is by not prioritizing sleep. When you don’t get enough sleep, it stimulates the release of stress hormones in your body, which in turn causes you to overeat. People who get at least eight hours of sleep a night are, on average, slimmer than those who only get six hours.
Keep it simple
It may seem counterintuitive, but people who eat a more varied diet, even if it is healthy, tend to struggle with weight loss. This is because the wider selection causes them to eat more. The most successful dieters seem to stick to certain healthy staples that work for them. Find a few simple meals that work for you, and rotate them throughout the week for more successful weight loss.
Distract yourself
When you find yourself fantasizing about food, do not feed those thoughts. The more you imagine eating a food, the more likely you are to give into temptation. When you find yourself craving a food, distract yourself with something that will engage you and take your focus away from food, like doing a crossword.
Weight loss can be difficult, but it is not impossible. Come into our health club at Spunk Fitness today and we can help you with your fitness goals!