Losing weight is the probably the biggest problem many of us face on a daily basis. It is possibly the favourite New Year's Resolution along with giving up smoking. It is one of the hardest things to achieve and stay positive at the same time. Losing weight naturally is better for you than any fad or crash dieting programs. Fads and crash diets make you lose fluid and muscle tone first, that is why it is so hard to keep the weight off. By changing your eating habits and doing more exercise the weight will gradually disappear. You don't have to do everything at once either. Cut some things back first; limit your chocolate bars to one or two a week instead of one or two every day. Little goals are easier to reach than that huge goal of twenty or thirty kilograms. Be nice to yourself and have a treat outside of the home instead of keeping tempting ice cream in the freezer.
Keep a food diary
When you want to lose weight one of the easiest to track when and where you are eating is to keep a food diary. If you write down everything you eat and drink every day, when you come to a plateau and can't seem to lose any more weight or inches, see if you are overeating at times of the day, or if there is some way to change your eating habits. Some people find in better to have the main meal at lunchtime and have a smaller meal at night. The afternoon gives you more time to use the energy from the food you have eaten.
Include more exercise
Exercise is the best way apart from eating less to lose weight naturally. There are many easy and quick ways to include more exercise into your day.
Walk to work-if possible or walk to the next bus stop or hop off one stop sooner
Use the stairs-even if you work on the 10th floor, you can walk up a couple of floors each day
When you are going to park your car, make sure you are parking it on a long distance from a shopping spot that can also help you to lose your weight and make you healthy.
Join a walking club-many towns have walking clubs that walk over the city or drive to a central place and walk from there
Join a gym-some people thrive on going to the gym, others don't. If it suits your life style this can be a great starting point for more exercise Get an exercise partner-it is always easier to exercise with another person.
You can keep each other motivated on those days you really don't feel like
Play with the kids-kick a ball around with the kids in the park, shoot some hoops, it all adds up and you will be surprised how much exercise you can get in half an hour of kicking a soccer ball
Walk the dog-always a great treat for them. Get in the habit of a daily walk or ball game in the park
Shop better
Forget about packaged foods and go for fresh fruit and vegetables and unprocessed foods. If it has more than 5 ingredients or an ingredient you can't pronounce, put it back on the shelf.
Eliminate all packaged bakery products-cakes, biscuits, cookies
Buy fresh fruit and vegetables to snack on instead of cakes and cookies
Shop on a full stomach
Make a shopping list and stick to it
Beware of low fat alternatives-a lot of low fat food products contain higher amounts of sugar and sodium. Many low fat dairy products are full of sugar to give you the same taste as full fat products. It is often better to eat less of the full fat product and skip the low fat alternative.
Change eating habits
Eat breakfast
One of the lost important ways to lose weight is to start eating breakfast every day. Skipping meals is not the way to lose weight. By all means eat less but eat regularly.
Eat slower
By eating slower it gives your brain time to recognise that you getting full. You will find that you eat less and will still feel full.
Eat more fresh fruit and vegetables
The more colourful fruit and vegetables you eat the more vitamins and minerals you are getting. Fruit contains antioxidants that are good for us and it is found in colourful fruit like blueberries.
Eliminate processed foods
The processed foods we eat are full of fast acting carbohydrates that contain loads of sugar, sodium and sometimes fat. A lot of baked goods contain Trans fat that is not a good fat. Olive oil and the natural fats from lean meat are good for us. They keep our joints in good condition and we need a certain amount each day.
Eat more fish
Oily fish contains good omega fats that are important for our good health and they help to lower cholesterol.
Eat more fibre
Fibre is the stuff that makes you feel fuller longer and gives you a healthy bowel. It helps remove any excess fat from your system and is a vital part of a good healthy diet. If you don't think you are getting enough fibre add oats to your breakfast, sprinkle bran on cereal and add dried peas and lentils to soups and vegetable dishes.
Add vegetarian meals
Have a couple of vegetarian meals each week. You will be surprised at the variety of meals that you can make for the whole family. Avoid meat substitutes but have eggs instead of meat, include dried pulses or nuts for protein. Replace a meat meal with a hard cheese and fresh salad full of greens, fresh herbs, tomatoes, cucumber, celery and olives.
Eat less meat
Reduce the portion size of lean meat. Your plate should be 2/3 to % vegetables and the rest lean protein, Meat is still important for iron and other minerals but you will notice that you will feel less bloated by eating less red meat. Try to eat red meat medium to rare as it is easier to digest.
Eat less saturated fats
Saturated fats are found in processed and packaged foods and stay as fat in our body. These are the fats that make the bad cholesterol and contribute to heart disease.
Reduce fast acting carbohydrates
By removing these from your diet you will feel fuller longer and have a lower chance. of becoming a diabetic. These carbohydrates cause insulin levels to spike and raise your blood sugar.
Replace rice and pasta in soups with barley and dried pulses like lentils, split peas, kidney beans, borlotti beans, haricot beans, lima beans or cannellini beans
Choose grain bread products with higher fibre content.
Make a barley risotto, a lovely nutty flavour and add your favourite veggies like mushrooms and asparagus, some lean cooked chicken or prawns
Eat food with a lower Gl
Food that has a lower Gi will keep you satisfied longer as it takes your body longer to break it down. Most calorie counters have a Gi list included and lots of supermarket products like yoghurt have a Gl listed on the packaging.
Use less salt and more herbs and spices
Using less salt will lower your blood pressure and stop you from reaching for unsuitable fizzy drinks, sodas and cordials. Add flavour to food by using herbs and spices to make your taste buds zing. If you add chilli to meals it can increase your metabolism that aids in weight loss.
Healthy drinks
Choose healthy drinks in your eating plan. Water is great and sometimes if you feel hungry you are actually thirsty. So have a glass of water and see if you still feel hungry. If you can't come at drinking 2 litres of water every day you can drink other things.
Iced tea-make a litre of black tea, add lemon juice or mint leaves and ice cubes for a refreshing drink
Green tea is a great drink as it contains lots of antioxidants
Clear broth made from meat and vegetables-this is like making stock and it car be flavoured with your favourite herbs and spices
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