Can't Lose Weight?

Posts Tagged ‘Easy’

Do you ever find when you go on a diet that you feel hungry all the time? Somehow you feel deprived. Well, here are some of my favourite tips to help you lose weight without following a diet or having to buy special foods. Best of all I’m not going to mention carrots as a snack. Eat them if you want but it’s not my idea of a snack.

Here goes – 10 useful tips to help you shed the pounds and lose weight without any real effort.

1. Always eat breakfast. This will kick-start your metabolism for the day. It’s been slow all night so you want to give it a boost. If you don’t have time in the mornings then something as simple as a banana and yoghurt will do the trick. A firm banana will provide a slow release of energy throughout the morning so you shouldn’t feel the need for a mid-morning snack.

2. Use a smaller plate than normal. When the plate is full you are still eating less food than you normally would. This will fool your brain into thinking you are eating a massive amount of food.

3. Eat a slighter smaller portion of meat or other protein and eat a lot more vegetables and salad.

4. Drink plenty of water throughout the day. Try and drink a tumbler of water shortly before meals. This will make you feel fuller when you do eat.

5. Cut down as much as possible on all processed foods. They contain hidden sugars and high quantities of salt. Salt increases the amount of fluid retention. We want to get rid of that fluid.

6. Use fruits as snacks. A mixture of fresh fruit and dried fruit will give you different textures, still provide a sweet taste and are a lot healthier for you.

7. Get more active. The more you move the more calories you burn. Even if you have a problem with mobility and cannot walk you can still get more active. We all know that a brisk walk is good for us. Not everyone can do that though. Instead, when you are sitting down, tap your feet or march on the spot. Twist your upper body from side to side. Stretch your arms in the air, out in front of you or to the sides. Any movement at all is burning calories.

8. Eat smaller amounts little and often during the day. This will help your metabolism keep working. However, don’t eat ALL day long.

9. Have your last meal at least one hour before going to bed. Your organs slow down while you sleep; they need to rest as well. You want your food to have digested before bed time and not be sitting in your stomach all night.

10. Don’t weigh yourself every day and don’t get obsessed about food. All the above are simple tips that are easy to follow and don’t need any real effort. Isn’t that what we all want? – An easy way to lose weight and shed unwanted pounds.

Somebody wrote to me recently and asked for my help. They said that they have recently started a new job with unsocial hours and can’t help eating junk food all the time. They also said that they find it hard to get motivated.

You’ll be pleased to know that there is something that can be done about this, so I’m going to tell you 8 easy to follow steps to take that will help you overcome this problem.

1. Stop buying it:

If you don’t buy junk food you can’t eat it! Look for healthier options and read of the rest of the steps.

2. Eat breakfast:

How many times have you heard that Breakfast is the most important meal of the day. I can still hear my mother’s voice! Well, it’s true! A bowl of porridge or cereal will fill you up for the morning. If you don’t have time in the morning then eat a banana and a pot of low-fat yoghurt. Oatmeal bars are also a great snack, full of fibre and healthy for you.

3. Keep healthy snacks at work:

Keep a supply of apples in your desk – they keep a long time. Bananas are a great snack as well as they are ready-wrapped and release energy slowly so you don’t feel hungry quickly after eating one.

4. Eat healthy alternatives:

Instead of a lunchtime burger or high-calorie, high-fat sandwich or roll try making a healthy lunch at home. Buy some brown, oatmeal burger buns and fill with freshly chopped lettuce, low-fat grated cheese, tomato, cucumber etc. Alternatively choose a baked potato with a healthy topping or filling.

5. Keep healthy food in the house:

If you don’t have any junk food in the house, you can only eat good stuff, right?

6. Plan your meals for the week:

Once you have planned your meals you can make a shopping list. Buy only the items on the list and don’t shop when you’re hungry. Cook enough for a few meals and freeze the rest for later in the work when you come home from work tired.

7. Keep active:

Deliberately make your body work harder to do simple, everyday things.  Use the stairs instead of the elevator. While sitting at work or home move your legs up and down as if walking or marching on the spot. Do sit ups, fidget or walk places quickly,

Walk to work and walk home from work. If it’s not feasible to do that then park the car further away from work, or get off the bus a stop earlier and walk the rest. Try going out for walks when you don’t work.

8. Drink plenty of water:

You can lose at least 7-10 extra pounds just by drinking enough water. It also boosts your metabolic rate. When your metabolic rate is raised you will burn fat and lose weight. Water detoxifies your body by flushing out all the toxins. As a result you will feel better and have healthier, clearer skin as an added bonus.

If you really want to lose weight then it is simply a matter of getting into the right frame of mind and deciding that it is something you will do. Don’t think – I will TRY to lose weight but decide I WILL lose weight!

You can if you want to!