Weight loss is about more than enhancing your appearance. Losing weight can also give you more energy and improve your quality of life. Weight loss methods abound, so the following are some tips to help you reach your goals, whether you want to lose 5 pounds or 100.
If your weight loss has stalled, start a food diary. The journal will help you eat less and choose your foods more wisely. You need to exercise, but the foundation of an effective weight loss program is to eat a healthier diet.
Skipping Meals
Try self hypnosis as a wieght loss method alone or with other techniques. Although nontraditional, hypnosis may help you to change certain bad habits and improve your lifestyle.
Try and avoid skipping meals when you’re on a weight loss program. Skipping meals causes the body to crave even more food, tempting you to overindulge or make unwise choices when you finally do sit down to your next meal. While skipping a meal may seem simple mentally, it is not a healthy way to live.
Take a hike. Hiking allows you to enjoy the beauty of nature while burning calories. The tougher your hike, the greater number of calories you can burn.
If you love mashed potatoes but can’t have them on your diet, try this great mashed cauliflower recipe instead. Steam cauliflower and chopped onions until they are quite tender. Then while they are still hot, puree the mixture with chicken or vegetable stock and add a dash of pepper to taste. You can enjoy a delicious and satisfying side dish without the carbohydrate overload.
A good way to maintain weight loss is to stop eating several hours prior to bed. When you eat food at night, it will sit in your stomach and turn into fat. During the evening, try to do something productive such as exercising or reading.
You can cut out calories and lose weight by eating only the whites of eggs rather than the whole egg. Although the yolk does have it’s benefits, it is high in cholesterol and fat, and this could be detrimental to your weight loss goals. If you eat egg whites you can get a lot of protein.
French Fries
Although it seems everyone loves french fries, it can wreck havoc on your diet. They are a great temptation to anyone trying to lose weight. However, it is possible to create “fries” that are good for you and won’t create havoc on your scales. Cut your potatoes about a 1/2″ thick, put them into a bowl with a tbsp. of oil, then lightly add a pinch of rosemary (optional), salt, and pepper; bake one layer for 30 minutes at 400 degrees. Use a spatula to loosen any caked-on fries, turn them over, then bake them for another half hour. These can be eaten with ketchup just like French fries, but you won’t miss the deep-fried calories. This “French bake” recipe comes from Laurel’s Kitchen cookbook.
Rewarding yourself for good behavior on a diet is an essential part of a diet being successful. Go out to see a movie, buy a small gift, or buy some new clothing. Buying new clothes that actually fit will help you feel better about what you are doing, and will reward all of the hard work you have done.
The tips contained in this article, if you are willing to apply them to your life, will help you achieve your weight loss goals. There is not one simple solution to losing weight, rather there are many little ways one can go about shedding unwanted pounds. Try out a few of these tips and enjoy the beginning of your journey towards a slimmer, healthier you.