Long-term weight loss tips
Long-term weight loss tips for beginners
Whenever someone decides that they want to start a weight loss regimen, they are often drawn to the latest fad or gimmick. It’s a shame because I’ve noticed from my experience as a fitness instructor that the good intentions are there, but when these fads work, they aren’t long-term weight loss results.
Shortly after the results are achieved, the weight that was lost is now back! This is always a difficult pill to swallow and the dieter will have to start all over again.
Because results were achieved before with this fad or truculent diet, this person will continue on this quick fix journey, going from a crash diet to a crash diet, but will never get long-term results.
I hate to see this happen!
If someone has the energy and patience to continue on this “yo-yo” diet path, why not put that energy into actually working toward long-term success? It just takes a change of mind.
I have put together some long-term weight loss tips that you can use if you want to seek a more sustainable approach to weight loss.
Long-term weight loss tips # 1: Don’t go on a diet, learn about the foods you eat …
My definition of “diet” is:
“The food you eat every day. Everyone is on a diet of some kind.”
If you eat a lot of fast food, you are on a fast food diet, if you only eat sugary snacks, you are on a sugary diet, if you eat vegetables, you are on a vegetarian diet. The list goes on.
My point is that if you want a healthy diet to help you lose the weight you never want to see again; you have to eat the right things to help you. This may sound dazzlingly obvious, but you’ll be surprised how often this factor is overlooked.
I would always recommend that you find the right balance of nutrition and calories. Start with the basics and then hone your skills; after all, you have the rest of your life to work on this. Just keep putting the new knowledge you acquire into practice. Participate in the long term!
Long-term weight loss tips # 2: You don’t have to cut out your favorite foods!
When considering long-term weight loss, you may think that if you embark on this for the rest of your life, you will never be able to eat your favorite foods again! This is a horrible thought!
It is not true either! From experience, the best way to do this is to have a “cheat day.” A cheat day will allow you to eat a meal that you really enjoy once a month or once a week. In fact, I do this myself.
I used to be a fan of a good English fish and chip shop! This is probably one of the highest calorie foods you can eat, so not ideal for a dieter. I cut this for a long time and now I will have a hard time eating a full size serving even on a cheat day.
So if you organize a “cheat day” you will wait for it the first few times and your favorite food will taste so much better, but over time, you can even get rid of this bad food entirely! Either way, you are a winner.
Long-term weight loss tips # 3: eat at least 4 times a day
Yes! Eat more food to burn more fat! Here’s the theory; Eating regularly will prevent your body from going into “fat storage mode.” If you do not eat for long periods of time, your body will decide that you are not going to eat and will try to conserve the calories that you have given it.
I always relate this to the way laptops react when not connected to the power grid when working on them; go into “power saving mode”, the screen dims to save battery power and last a little longer. The laptop does not work with all cylinders, similar to the human body.
Eating regularly does not mean snacking on donuts and cakes. You can snack between meals carrot sticks, almonds, unflavored popcorn, salads, beef jerky, fresh fruit.
Long-Term Weight Loss Tips # 4 Healthy Substitutes for Your Favorite Food
Does everyone have a favorite food that is probably not good for them? Finding healthy alternatives to these foods is a great idea.
Let’s look at pizza as an example. Pizza can be very “caloric” and unhealthy. A good idea is to make your own, you will have control of what happens in this, you can, you can:
- limit the amount of cheese you put on and use a “low-fat” alternative
- Add extra veggies to topping
- Use a fine whole food base or even make your own if you are particularly skilled in this area
- You can even use a flattened chicken breast as the base of the pizza, this can make it super healthy! As long as you have some oregano and tomato puree, you will have a good pizza flavor.
If you take note of “Tips # 1 for Long-Term Weight Loss and learn to be creative in the kitchen, you will find it enjoyable and great for your health and weight loss plans!”
Long-Term Weight Loss Tips # 5: Prepare Your Meal for the Day
This is one of the most inconvenient parts of the entire fitness and weight loss game. Yes, it will take a bit longer, but the longer you stick to it, the easier and faster it becomes.
Remember, you are looking for long-term weight loss tips. If you trust canteen food and fast food outlets, it may take off. That is why it is best to bring your own lunch pack to work or school, this way you will have full control over your food intake.
If you have a reliable healthy dining option to visit at work, great! You can use this, but if it is unpredictable, you’d better fix it yourself.
Get into a routine, prepare your food before going to bed, ready for the next day, you will be surprised how quickly you will get used to this if you only perceive it.
Long-term weight loss tips # 6: don’t overcomplicate things at first
When it comes to diet, eating, exercise and fitness, there is a wealth of information available. It’s very easy to get fooled by a different approach, especially if you are new to this game.
The best advice I think a weight loss newbie should follow:
“Keep it simple, practice the basics, and be aware. Be in it for the long haul.”
If you hadn’t guessed it yet, I’m a huge fan of long-term sustainable weight loss. If you are serious about your health and weight loss goals, I think this is the only approach you should take.