Reducing Weight the Healthy Way

Almost 108 million Americans were overweight or obese in 1999. So far, being overweight is still a severe issue and is predicted to reach epidemic levels by the year 2020. One way to prevent this scenario is to make people conscious of the potential risks of being overweight or obese.

Here are some diseases that you’re placing yourself in risk of if you are carrying a lot of extra pounds: heart disease, stroke, diabetes, cancer, arthritis and hypertension. Shedding Pounds helps you to prevent and control these diseases.

The quick weight loss methods which have spread like fire these days do not provide lasting results. More often than not, dieting methods which involve dietary drinks, foods and supplement or pills do not work. If they do, the results are just temporary.

It’s better to rely on a healthy weight-loss option which will give lifetime results. You have to set realistic goals and not expect to lose a lot of pounds in a short span of time. Here are some tips on how you can lose those undesired pounds the healthy approach:

1. Don’t starve yourself. The important thing to a healthier way of losing weight is: Don’t diet.

You may seem happy and feel that you are shedding the unwanted flab on your belly and thighs by skipping meals. But bear in mind that this would not last long. Your body cannot tolerate having insufficient food to fuel the energy that you use up every single day.

If you get used to skipping one or two meals a day, your stored calories will be used up rather than the energy that should have been provided by your meals. So, if you just eat one big sandwich all day, it will end up right to your problem area (i.e. thighs, buttocks, hips).

2. Start your day right. Mothers often say that breakfast is the most vital meal of the day. Have a healthy meal in the morning to jump-start your metabolism. Your food intake when you wake up will be used to burn fat all day long.

3. Eat small, healthy meals frequently. 5 small-serving snacks each day is better than 3 hearty meals. Eating more often and in small servings can prevent over-eating. This can also increase your metabolism and make calories burn quicker.

4. Decide on how much weight you want to lose. Keep your goals realistic. In the long run, it is virtually impossible for you to lose 40 pounds in 2 weeks. Have a mindset that you want to eat healthy to stay healthy for the rest of your life. Once you have decided on a weight loss plan or program, stick to it and make sure that you follow your own set of dieting rules.

5. Drink lots of water. Your body needs sufficient water to burn fat and keep your cells hydrated and healthy.

6. Avoid too much sugar. Plan your meals around lots of fruits and vegetables, some bread, rice or pasta for that carb fix that you need, plus lean meat and protein rich-foods. Sweets, sodas and pastries should be once-in-a-while indulgences only.

7. Watch your fat intake. Fat is not the culprit to weight problems. You need this to keep your weight at the proper level. There’s such a thing as healthy fats. Olive, peanuts and canola oil have them. Tuna, salmon and mackerel have omega-3 fats which can be good for one’s heart.

8. Exercise. Leave your car if you’re only going a few blocks from home and take the stairs rather than the elevator, jog, cycle or skate. Use these activities and other home chores if you are too lazy to go to the gym and take exercise classes. Make certain you do this regularly and you’ll not really notice that you are already shedding weight with these mundane activities.

It does not matter how much weight you plan or need to lose. What is important is that you set realistic goals for yourself. Go slow. If you have already lost 5 or 6 pounds, give yourself a break then try to lose the next 5 pounds.

Eat healthy, drink lots of water, have adequate sleep and exercise. This can give you a greater chance of reducing weight and improving your health, which will lead to a new, healthier you.

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