You’ve probably heard of all sorts of diets that rely on not eating. These diets include intermittent fasting and other fitness trends. These diets are predominantly used by women. According to a recent study, approximately 40 to 50 percent of all women in the United States are trying to shed some pounds using diets.
The problem is that these crash diets and fitness trends don’t say they have negative side effects. For example, diets can lead to reduced intake of essential vitamins and nutrients. This loss can in turn lead to cosmetic problems such as thinning hair and more serious side effects such as lack of muscular strength and dangerously slow heart rate. Although there are plenty of healthy weight-loss programs designed for women, you can lose weight successfully and without risk by simply eating healthier.
Here are six healthy tips for losing weight by just eating right.
1. Don’t Skip Breakfast
Breakfast is often disregarded, especially if you’ve got a busy day ahead of you. But this makes eating it all the more important. Eating a healthy meal at the start of your day is essential in ensuring you don’t binge eat or snack later in the day. A good breakfast should contain carbohydrates for energy and protein. Reduce processed sugary foodstuffs and replace them with fresh fruit for a healthier meal.
2. Watch Your Liquids
Your body is like an engine and you need to be careful about what kind of fluid you put in it. Sugary liquids such as soda and drinks with lots of caffeine can both contain more calories than you can burn without the satiation and nutrients of solid food. If you’re thirsty but don’t want to drink plain water, cut a lemon into slices and put some in your drink for zesty and healthy thirst quencher.
3. Cut Down on Sugar
Medical experts have consistently linked sugar with obesity and other health issues such as heart problems. Although sugars are a natural part of your diet, overconsumption is the real issue. You should take note of what kind of sugary food you consume regularly and cut down on eating them. Sodas are a good example of sugary food with no nutritional value that you can safely remove from your diet. You don’t need to remove sugars entirely, for example you can still eat ice cream and cake although you should turn them into an occasional treat rather than a constant item on your menu.
4. Eat Whole Grain
Processed grain products like those found in cookies, cake flour and white bread have their nutritional value reduced in exchange for better appearance. They also tend to be filled with more sugar to make up for flavor. Instead of eating these calorie-laden products, you should switch to healthier whole grain substitutes for bread and pastas. These products are full of fiber which can help maintain healthy digestion and flush waste products form your body.
5. Seek Fullness with Vegetables
Some food products have higher calories but sate your appetite less. These include junk food, like potato chips and certain desserts. This means you keep eating because you don’t feel full even though you’ve consumed a lot of calories already. When you’re having lunch or dinner, fill your stomach with vegetables in the form of salads or sides. These foods contain fewer calories but fill you up more efficiently.
6. Reduce Portions
Just because you’re trying to lose weight doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy your favorite food. The key to eating what you want without gaining weight is reducing your portions. For example, classic lasagna is full of calories, but you can enjoy a piece so long as you remember not to take too much of it. The key is identifying how much calories your body can burn without putting on the weight. Once you’ve got that information, you can eat what you want so long as you keep an eye on their caloric content.
Weight loss can be difficult, but it doesn’t have to be a punishing or negative experience. So long as you pay attention to medical experts and only heed proven advice, you can safely reduce your weight while still eating the good stuff.
