1. Exercise. I cannot stress this enough for anyone at any weight. It keeps your heart healthy, burns calories and is a great stress reliever. You should workout at least three times week for at least 30 minutes. No need to run out and join a gym, but a simple brisk walk will do the trick.
2. Eat your fruits and vegetables. Ideally, you should consume at least five servings of fruit and vegetables each day. See, Mom was right about something. The fresher the fruits and vegetables the better. I will tell you that it’s easier to eat fruit raw than vegetables, so start there. You will also find that the more you consume fresh fruits and veggies the more you will crave them.
3. Control your portion size. This is a case where more is worse. Being a member of the clean plate club is out these days, as restaurants continue to serve up heaping plates of foods. One simple tip: Sub out fries for a salad instead and savor that burger.
4. Avoid sugary beverages. Don’t waste those calories on an unfulfilling drink such as a soda. Or if you have to, treat yourself to just one. This is especially true for the new fad sports drinks. They also can contain mass amounts of sugar.
5. Eat fresh. Avoid processed foods such as macaroni and cheese, meal helpers and artificial sweeteners. These are chemicals that simply weren’t meant to be put into our bodies.
6. Do not skip meals. Depriving yourself of breakfast, lunch or dinner is not a good thing. Your body will think that you are starving yourself and cause you to overeat at the next meal and store those calories instead of burning them.
7. Don’t deprive yourself too much. It’s ok to have the occasional cookie or two. One easy way to keep from over-consuming on your fave indulgences is to buy smaller portion or snack sizes.
8. Keep track of what you eat. This is the easiest way to get started and better understand how much calories and fat you are consuming. Pay attention to serving sizes on labels. For instance, if the calories listed are 110 that is usually PER serving not the whole box. Serving sizes vary and could equal 10 crackers or a tablespoon of rice.
9. Learn how to read food labels. This is key to understanding what you are eating and how much you are eating.
10. Hire a Personal Trainer or Lifestyle Coach. The path to learning more about your body and what you should be eating and how much exercise you need can be tricky. Personal trainers can help get you started on the right track and allow you to commit to a plan. Plus they know more tricks and tips to lose weight just for you!
*As always consult a physician before trying any new diet or exercise plan.
No comments:
Post a Comment