Having a buddy to work with who is also trying to lose weight is an excellent method for staying motivated. You can motivate and encourage each other if one person gets too lazy, and you can talk to the person if you need support if you’re becoming tempted. You will also find it helpful to know someone who can help you alter your plan if it stops being effective. Finally, it could be very exciting to celebrate with other people when you achieve the progress that you wanted to achieve.
Cut stress down in your life. When you’re too stressed you will be too tempted to consume foods that aren’t good for you. It’s easier to keep your eyes on the future and to stay on the right path when you are emotionally healthy.
Not all low-calorie or reduced fat processed items are good for your diet. Low calories or fat in a product may mean less nutrients and more chemical replacements.
It is important to find out your ideal weight. There are many online calculators you can use to determine your ideal weight. Simply enter the requested information (body type, height, age and so forth) to find your perfect weight. It might be different than you think. You can then set a more reasonable goal when you use this information to guide you.
Don’t replace what you eat, instead replace high fat ingredients in your recipes with those that have lower fat. Take a look at recipes you use often, and see where you can eliminate unwanted fat and calories. In place of butter, try some lower calorie spread. Replace your sour cream with plain yogurt that is fat free. There really is no need to do without your favorite foods because all it takes to make them better is one or two simple changes.
When on a weight loss diet, carefully monitor what you drink. With the exception of water, most drinks contain calories. Calories from all the beverages you consume throughout the day can add up fast. Don’t forget to count your beverages in your caloric tally for the day.
Always use staircases. Taking the stairs rather than the elevator in your daily life can make a huge difference. Instead of walking up the stairs, try jogging to get your blood pumping. Jog safely, to avoid injury and curtail your exercise plans.
While dieting, it is essential that you record everything that goes into your mouth. Studies have shown that those who write down what they eat are more likely to be successful than those who do not. These conscientious dieters tend to lose twice as much as other dieters.
Donate your “fat clothes” to a charity once you lose weight. Getting rid of large clothes will help you stay motivated and will give you no choice but to start dieting again if you put back a few of the pounds you lost. Eliminating your fat clothes will prevent you from attempting to grow back into them. This will force you to wear your new skinny clothes and lose any pounds that try to come back.
Just about everyone loves eating french fries. Unfortunately, eating fries can totally ruin your diet. If you must consume French fries, bake them instead of frying. Create 1/2″ wedges or fries and toss them with a tablespoon of oil, a bit of salt and pepper, and your favorite herbs. Spread them out on a baking sheet, and pop in a 400 degree oven for a half hour. Loosen using a spatula and then bake for about 10 minutes longer. They’re really delicious with ketchup, a lot lower in calories and you’ll never miss the deep frying. This great idea for “French Bakes” came from Laurel’s Kitchen cookbook.
During the day, keep a log of everything that you consume. Studies show that those who track their rating habits and activity levels can lose weight more than those who don’t. People who pay attention to what they eat can lose twice the amount of weight of those who aren’t this conscientious.
Everyone is different when it comes to how well an individual weight loss strategy will work for them. Remember to not measure yourself up against other people and how much they weigh. It can take time, but with some effort, you can reach your goals.