Losing weight is rarely fun when you first begin. Because you are overweight, it can be hard to move and somewhat painful to start a weight loss program, both physically and mentally. One thing that helps is having a plan and sticking to it. Here are a few things to keep in mind as you start to lose weight.
It is important not to skip meals when you are on a diet. When you skip a meal your body notices. You have the risk of eating more at the next meal to compensate. You are also losing out on nutrients when you skip meals. Although skipping meals may create a modest weight loss, it is temporary and unhealthy.
When you are working at weight loss, do not overlook the power of mint. Mint leaves and peppermint, naturally suppress the appetite. Many people report that they can cure a craving by sucking on a menthol-flavored or eucalyptus-flavored cough drop. You can also try popping a hardtack peppermint into your mouth.
You can’t resist french fries, can you? They are the downfall of many a potential weight loser. Baking french fries will make quite a difference when you are aiming to lose weight. Slice your potatoes about a half inch and mix them with oil, put some peooper and salt on them, try a little rosemary and bake them at 400. Turn the fries over with a spatula and continue baking for about 10 minutes. They are great with ketchup and have lower fat content, so you won’t miss the deep-fried ones. This great “French Bakes” recipe is courtesy of Laurel’s Kitchen cookbook.
Take a before photo and an after photo of yourself to document your progress. This can give you a glimpse into your progress or lack thereof during your regimen. It could also be an easy way that you show your friends of how much you’ve progressed.
Many times people will sit in front of the television and just snack without even realizing how much they are actually eating. In order to lose weight, it is important that you do not eat with the TV on. Pay attention to your food, the taste and smells, and you won’t end up eating so many calories during the day.
When trying to lose weight, step on the scale regularly for progress checks. This can help you to monitor your situation to achieve success in your program. Track your progress with a journal or notebook. Those who monitor their progress in this way are more likely to lose weight.
Keep a food diary. Carry a notebook with you and write down everything that you eat and drink, and the time of day. You may begin to notice a pattern. Do you tend to snack during the late morning? This could be because you skipped breakfast. Do you fill up with snacks after dinner? You are probably snacking while watching tv, and aren’t even aware exactly how much you are eating. By focussing on these patterns, you will be able to change your habits accordingly.
One weight loss tip can be observed by looking at a certain group of people: the fidgeters. People who fidget are generally thinner than people who keep still. So if you’re not a naturally fidgety person, try to build some fidgeting into your routine. At work, if your environment permits it, when you take or make a phone call, get up and pace back and forth, jiggle your leg, or develop some other rapidly repeating movements you can do while attending to other tasks. Those micro-calorie burns will add up over time.
A great nutritional tip is to say goodbye to donuts. Donuts are notorious for being very high in fat, and they will sabotage any attempt at trying to lose weight or get fit. Instead, try spreading some natural peanut butter onto a few slices of whole wheat bread.
If you are walking outside with friends to lose weight, use a pedometer. A pedometer allows you to see how many steps you traveled on your walk. Set a goal every single day for how many steps you will want to walk and do not stop until you hit that goal.
You are likely to have greater success in your weight loss efforts if you drink milk more often. Milk is high in calcium and fortified with Vitamin D. Also, the protein, carbs and fat in milk are in the perfect balance. Studies have shown that increased calcium and Vitamin D levels equate to greater weight loss.
Using these tips as a mini-plan that you commit to will make bigger commitments possible. Try these tips and stick with them, and you will be confident enough to try bigger and better things; not only in weight loss but in life as well. And as you start to see results it will indeed become more fun.