If you're reading this, you're probably considering losing weight to become healthier and possibly happier. It's not an easy process, but plenty of people have tried and succeeded at it. Here are some ways you can lose weight both happily and healthily.
1 Understand why you're doing this.
Are you trying to lose weight to feel healthier? To make the softball team? To get into the wedding dress of your dreams or a bikini for summer? Understanding your motives for wanting to lose weight will give you a better chance at achieving your goals.
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- Get rid of unhealthy foods.
Things that tempt you like sugary cereals will no longer tempt you if
they're in the trash. If you live with roommates or relatives and simply
discarding unhealthy food isn't an option, ask them to hide it or put
it in a less tempting location.
- 3Write out a plan. Whether it's an exercise plan or your meal plan for the week to avoid eating unhealthy foods, writing things out is a great way to commit yourself to achieving your weight loss goals.
Food And Drink
- 1Don't starve yourself. Always eat three meals a day and a couple of snacks in between. If you skip breakfast, it makes you put on weight because then your body then goes into starvation mode and actually stores fat!
- 2Stock up on healthy foods. On your next trip to the grocery store, pick things like fruits, vegetables, chicken, turkey, fish and whole wheat bread. Low-fat dairy, like yogurt and milk, is another good option as well.
- 3Order something healthy when eating out. For example, grilled chicken with a side of vegetables is a lot healthier than a burger and fries.
- 4Drink more water. You should be drinking about eight glasses per day. In addition, choosing water over high calorie drinks like soda can save you several hundred calories per day. It will also help you digest your food better and keep you hydrated. The more water you drink, the less your body stores.
- 5Chew slowly. When you're eating food, chew slowly and make sure all of your food is finely "mushed." Not only does this help your digestive system, but it makes you feel full. The reason for this is that if the food is un-chewed, it stays chunky through your digestion and builds up in the stomach area.
- 6Eat slowly. If you actually eat slower, you feel fuller! This is because your brain takes up to 20 minutes to tell your body you ate. So if you try and eat slow, by the time you finish, the message is sent, and you're not eating unnecessary extra servings.
- 7Cook food at home. If you're cooking your own food, you have total control over what you're putting into your body. You can find healthy recipes for any meal of the day on lots of different websites.
Exercise
- 1Set up a healthy exercise routine. You will want to set aside a certain amount of time to exercise like 30 minutes a day, 6 days a week.
- 2Mix up your exercises. Find ways to make it fun. Pop into your roller blades, jump rope, do an exercise video or wake up early and take a jog. You could also take up sport lessons or a team sport.
- 3Stick to your plan. If you take days off from your exercise routine, it will take that much longer to get back into shape and meet your weight loss goals. Make sure to find the time to exercise.
Mental Outlook
- 1Don't go by what the scale says. You will lose more weight some weeks than others. If you don't lose any weight one week, it does not mean you failed. Look at the overall process rather than a number on a scale. Do you feel healthier? Are you in better shape? Do your clothes feel looser? Stick to your plan and you will eventually achieve your desired results.
- 2Do it with a friend. If you and a friend are losing weight together, it'll be easier. As a plus, you can talk to them about your experience and eat out at healthy places together.
- 3Make a reward for meeting a mini-goal. The reward should not be pigging out at a diner or eating chocolate cake! Make it something like going shopping to get new clothes in your new, smaller size. That way, you are motivated to meet your goals.
- 4Don't give up! If you didn't meet or exceed your goal, that's okay! You are working towards it. Some people meet their goals faster than others and it's perfectly normal.
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