If you're like many dieters, you know the basic principles behind weight loss. Mainly, eat less than you burn and you'll lose weight. But actually putting that into practice isn't all it's cracked up to be. Sometimes you fall off the wagon, and it can be difficult to get back on and continue your weight-loss journey. A few simple weight-loss secrets can help kick-start your journey to shedding pounds and give you a smile next time you step on the scale.
Skip the Fad Diet
There seems to be a new fad diet that is all the rage every month in the weight-loss world. From the grapefruit diet to the cabbage diet, someone is always promising the next great way to lose weight. But, according to the National Institutes of Health, not only are fad diets ineffective for long-term weight loss, they may be bad for your health. The main problem with fad diets is they lead to mainly water weight, not actual fat loss. Once the fad diet is over, you end up gaining the water weight back. Stick with the tried-and-true method of counting calories and incorporating exercise for the best long-term results.
Beware of Low- and Non-Fat Foods
Sure, you want to stick with foods that are lower in fat in order to lose weight. Low- and non-fat foods may sometimes be lower in calories, but that doesn't mean they're calorie-free. But sometimes the words "low-fat" or "non-fat" can trigger your appetite and cause you to eat more than you should. Food companies often compensate for the lack of fat in a food by adding extra ingredients, such as sugar, to make up for the taste. That's why it's always essential to check the overall calorie content of the food you eat rather than just trusting the claims on the front of the label.
You Can Eat Fast Food
If you're a busy person with little time on your hands to fix dinner on a regular basis, you may feel at a loss for how to eat healthfully if you're used to running through the drive-through on the way home from work. But most major fast-food chains now provide nutritional information for their menu items and offer salads and other low-calorie options. For example, Taco Bell offers a "Drive-Thru Diet" menu with options for substituting fresh salsa in the place of cheese to lower the calorie counts on certain items. Ask the store manager at your favorite fast-food joints for a copy of their nutritional information and make informed decisions when you eat out.
Hit the Weights
Many people trying to lose weight shy away from the weight-training section of the gym, thinking they'll gain weight rather than lose if they hit the weights. But lifting weights can jump-start your weight loss, according to the National Institutes of Health. That's because muscle burns more calories than body fat by volume. So, the more muscle you have, the faster you'll burn fat when you exercise. Doing a simple weight-lifting routine two or three times a week won't make you look like you're busting out of your shirt, either.
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