When people want to lose weight, the first thing that comes to their mind is to go on a diet. Because many are put off by the idea of having to exercise, dieting is the weight loss method that most people prefer. So dieting it is, but before you get started you need to understand that permanent weight loss can never be achieved by depriving yourself of food. The key to quality and sustainable weight loss is a change in lifestyle and this means eating smart. Below are a few tips to guide you.
1. Include protein with every meal but don’t eat too much of it. It keeps you filled for a long time and makes your body utilize fat for energy.
2. Increase your fiber intake by eating more whole grains, vegetables and fruits daily. Fiber creates a feeling of fullness that lasts for a long time which keeps you from snacking and overeating on your next meal. In addition, digesting fiber-rich foods burns up a lot of calories.
3. Drink a lot of water. The body needs eight glasses of it every day. In a study led by Michael Boschmann of the German Institute for Human Nutrition, it was discovered that the body’s metabolic rate increases by 30 percent after drinking approximately half a liter of water. It also works as a natural appetite suppressant. Many times, we mistake thirst signals for hunger so we eat instead of drink. A glass of water can easily take away hunger. Also, water is good for the liver which, when in good working condition, will be able to break down fat more efficiently.
4. Say no to processed meals. These foods are loaded with poisonous stuff such as hidden sugar and salt, chemical additives and preservatives. In addition, they are high in calories and have practically zero nutrients.
5. Include good fats in your diet. Omega 3 and 6 essential oils are the good fats. Excellent sources of these good fats include oily fish, sunflower seeds, nuts, and leafy vegetables. Stay away from saturated fats which can clog up the arteries and cause weight gain. These bad fats are found in hard cheese, butter, margarine, full fat dairy products, and red meat.
6. Eat non-wheat alternatives. Wheat has gluten which is a sticky substance that can result in digestive problems in particular, bloating. Instead of wheat, go for quinoa, millet and buckwheat which do not contain gluten.
7. Control your alcohol intake. It stimulates your appetite and causes your liver (which neutralizes toxin and burns fat) to work overtime. Sweet wines contain sugar so if you are craving for it, go for a glass of crisp, dry white wine. However, if you are serious about losing weight, stop drinking alcohol altogether.
8. Exercise regularly. Not only will you be burning calories as you work out, regular exercise boosts your overall metabolic rate enabling you to use up calories even at rest. At the same time, lifting weights builds up muscles which uses calories in order to maintain themselves. If you are a fist timer to exercise, start with walking. It is the most convenient but effective way of burning fat.
Charles Volcolatte is a health and weight loss researcher for http://www.skinnyasap.com/. He writes and researches actively on Weight Loss Program and shares his knowledge at http://www.skinnyasap.com/ where he works as a staff writer.