Losing weight is not easy. The physical stress it puts on your body is one thing, but you are also put under mental stress. Yes, losing weight is as much of a mental battle as it is a physical one. That is why conditioning your mind and body is an important thing to do during the whole process. Allow me to share 10 important things to remember when trying to lose weight.
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There are many reasons you consume food – for comfort, for celebration, for the sheer pleasure of the flavors mingling in your mouth. However, you consume food, first and foremost, for the energy it gives you. It is for this very reason that you should consider food as your friend.
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Eating healthy is the consumption of the right amounts of protein, carbohydrates, fat, vitamins, and minerals to promote good health and well-being. Eating healthy gives you the energy you need without taking in unnecessary calories.
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The first meal of the day is called “breakfast” because you are “breaking the fast.” After not eating or drinking anything for 6-8 hours, you need energy to start your day. Aside from the benefit of getting energy, many studies have also shown that eating breakfast regularly aids in weight control. This is probably because skipping breakfast will make you ravenous by the time 10 a.m. or lunch comes. You would be more likely to pick any food to satisfy your hunger.
Contrary to popular belief, fat is an essential part of our daily diet. Fat gives you the essential fatty acids needed for healthy skin and hair, vitamin absorption, and regulation of metabolism. Fat has many other benefits so it doesn’t do well to eliminate it completely. You can enjoy unsaturated fats such as olive oil, soy oil, canola oil, and flax oil. You can also get good fats from oily fish such as salmon, mackerel, and tuna. The oils from various nuts are also good for you.
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This advice has been said so many times in so many ways that it is no longer new to anyone. Truly, water is the best drink for those who are trying to lose weight. It contains zero calories and it refreshes and hydrates you. Sure, you can’t survive on water alone to give you energy, but that’s what food is for. When you have to choose a beverage to enjoy everyday, water would definitely be a good one.
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Exercise helps burn extra calories and shed unwanted pounds. To lose weight, it is recommended that you exercise 30 minutes to 1 hour, 4-5 times a week. Find an activity that you enjoy so that it will be easier to stick to it. If you want additional help in your weight loss, you can add strength training 2-3 times week. Remember that these are simply recommendations that you don’t have to strictly follow. The important thing is that you get up and move. You can always increase intensity and frequency as you go along.
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It has long been proven that crash and fad diets do not work. They only give you short term weight loss, sometimes at the cost your health. With these diets, you mainly lose water weight and not body fat. Crash and fad diets are temporary solutions.
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As dire as your weight situation may seem to you, it’s not as hopeless as you think. You don’t have to resort to extreme measures just to shave off several inches off your waist. You don’t have to starve yourself. You don’t have to purge by vomiting or by using laxatives. You don’t have to work yourself into exhaustion at the gym. Remember, slow and steady wins the race.
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According to many studies, women who get 7-8 hours of sleep every night have faster metabolisms than women who get fewer hours. Sleep and rest are essential factors in weight loss. When your body is rested, it functions more efficiently. You have more energy. You will be less hungry during the day. You will generally feel more happy and positive about yourself.
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Losing weight, and becoming healthier, requires you to make a decision to commit to a long-term and permanent lifestyle change. You must know that this is not something you do for six months, one year, or five years. It’s something that you have to do for the rest of your life.
In my own experience, weight loss was not easy. It took me six years to find out what works and doesn’t work for me. The ten things I have listed have helped me in my endeavor to be healthier and fitter. Now, I would like to know: what has helped you in the mental and physical struggle of trying to lose weight?
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