A very common resolution every New Year’s Eve is to drop some pounds in the next year. Many find weight loss to be elusive and do not know how to proceed, and therefore feel overwhelmed and discouraged.
Remember to set realistic weight loss goals for yourself. Despite what infomercials may say, losing 50 pounds in a week isn’t possible. By creating realistic smaller goals, you will stay motivated as you meet each goal. You can also avoid setting yourself up to fail. Set a goal to lose one to two pounds per week.
A good thing to do if you want to stay motivated when losing weight is find a friend that wants to get the same results as you. Someone who cares for you is a great motivational tactic to get your best results. The two of you can help one another, and you will have a sounding board when it comes to your frustrations.
Try drinking coffee. Many people enjoy coffee. If you need a little extra boost of energy before a work out, consider drinking a cup to get you in the mood.
Avoid drinking soda as much as you can. As good as it may taste, the sugar it has will cause weight gain. If you switch to water, you should notice a significant drop in weight, even if you do nothing else differently. If you absolutely must have something sweet to drink, try drinking freshly squeezed fruit juices.
French fries are a very addictive snack to have during the day. Unfortunately, they cause problems for many people who are trying to lose weight. If you want to make healthier fries that are less likely to ruin your diet, consider baking them. Slice your potatoes about a half inch and mix them with oil, put some peooper and salt on them, try a little rosemary and bake them at 400. Loosen with a spatula, turn, and bake another 10 min. or so. These can be eaten with ketchup just like French fries, but you won’t miss the deep-fried calories. This recipe was taken from Laurel’s Kitchen Cookbook.
After you admit to yourself that being overweight is your fault, you can begin to forgive yourself. That is the only time you can start to move on and forget your past. Don’t let your healthier self blame your harmful past. Just pity who you were and let that pity motivate you to keep going.
Eat on a smaller plate. Using smaller settings will make your portions look bigger and keep you feeling satisfied after a smaller meal. This method is an effective way to reduce the amount of calories you are consuming.
Avoid eating before bed to see weight loss results. It is easier said than done, but avoid eating before bedtime. Any food you eat will not be burned off and just stored in your fat cells. Find alternatives to snacking at night by reading or doing another productive, enjoyable activity.
Drink a lot of water when you are exercising to help flush out the free radicals from your body. This is because stretch marks and loose skin tend to become real problems for individuals who are trying to lose weight and these type of things could help you minimize the problems associated to it.
Try to cut soda out of your diet completely They have lots of sugar and carbs, and increase future sugar cravings. Water is the best choice to keep you hydrated and to benefit your lifestyle.
Make sure to keep your stress in check so as to avoid weight gain. When your body is under a lot of stress, it tends to hang onto extra fat as a sort of primitive defense mechanism. Your body takes a huge toll when you are stressed out. Steer clear of stress in order to facilitate weight loss.
Maintain a good posture and flatten your stomach when sitting. You can strengthen your muscles by flattening your abdomen and sitting upright. To do this exercise, suck in your belly button and hold to increase tension.
When pursuing a weight loss goal, you should always weigh yourself on a regular basis. Tracking your progress can be a great motivator. Keep a log in a notebook. When you keep your program organized, you have a better chance to lose weight.
Portion size is one of the most important variables to consider when you are trying to lose weight. A good base is to eat a 3-ounce portion of meat, poultry or fish which is about the size of the palm of your hand. Studies have shown people who use portion control lose more weight.
If you’re goal this year is to shed weight, then you’re off to a great start! You know which strategies are good to try and which are most effective for losing weight. We hope you do well on your journey!