Many of the fad diets advertised today aren't the healthiest methods to lose weight and can leave the body feeling sapped of energy. This is not how weight loss should be. The best way to lose weight and keep it off is through healthy lifestyle changes that are practiced even after the "dieting" ends. This leaves the body healthy and energized to meet the demands of daily living.
Step 1
Improve poor eating habits. Eliminate foods that are high in sugar, salt and fat, as well as fried and highly processed foods. Choose plenty of fruits and vegetables that are fresh and raw, as opposed to juiced, canned, cooked or processed. For optimal carbohydrate intake, eat whole grains. Avoid continual snacking throughout the day, as well as overeating during mealtimes. These habits can give you too many calories and contribute to cravings and binge eating. If you eat meats, choose meats that are lean, especially poultry.
Step 2
Participate in healthy physical exercise, which speeds up weight loss and helps you feel energized and healthy. Choose activities that are enjoyable to you, such as jogging, yoga, swimming or boxing. Don't overwork yourself, but engage in moderate exercise so you don't injure yourself or wear yourself out unnecessarily. Pick an exercise buddy for extra motivation. It's OK to start slow, maybe 15 minutes twice a week, then build on that to more days and longer periods of time.
Step 3
Drink plenty of water, which is essential in maintaining a healthy body. It flushes out unhealthy and unwanted toxins from the body. Water also keeps you feeling fuller so that you don't overeat. Water has no calories, sugars or caffeine, unlike soda, juice, tea, coffee or alcohol. Start your morning with a glass of water, then drink one glass before each meal and another one during the meal.
Step 4
Get enough sleep. The average person needs between seven and nine hours per night. The hormones ghrelin and leptin are regulated in the body through sleep. Ghrelin is responsible for telling your body when it's hungry, and leptin signals you to stop eating when you're full. Poor sleep habits lead to overeating and unhealthy cravings, which contribute to long-term weight gain.
Tips and Warnings
- Drastic lifestyle changes overnight are difficult to maintain. It is a good idea to pick a couple things to improve on, then choose a couple more the next week. Recommended safe weight loss is 1 1/2 to 2 pounds per week.
Member Comments