Losing weight is a challenge for many people, and if we’re being honest, it takes a lot of willpower and grit to accomplish.
With all of the lose-weight-fast gimmicks out there, it’s easy for anyone to take their eye off the ball, but the best way to improve your chances of shedding those extra pounds is actually very simple.
Maybe that’s not what you wanted to hear, but it’s the truth, and it’s here to set you free!
- Clean Up Your Diet
One of the leading causes of obesity in the United States is poor diet. We eat too many refined carbohydrates, too much salt, and way too much fat.
While buttery biscuits, bacon, and sodas are delicious, there are plenty of healthier options available to you, and knowing them is half the battle.
Make sure you include varied, colorful, and nutritionally dense foods like avocado, spinach, broccoli, kale, brussel sprouts, carrots, beans, legumes, nuts, berries, and countless other fruits and vegetables.
Increase your protein intake everyday by ensuring you’re getting a full serving of protein for every meal and snack. Eating more protein will help satisfy your appetite, build lean muscle, and burn more calories throughout your day.
You can do everything else on this list exactly right, but until your diet is cleaned up, you’ll never reach your weight loss potential!
- Exercise Regularly
Exercise should just be another part of any normal day. We know how hard it is to get out of bed some mornings just to put your gym shoes on and hit the gym.
That’s even harder to do when you don’t have a plan.
Do your future self a massive favor by creating a workout plan. Download one online, hire a personal trainer, or get creative and tailor one to suit your own goals. Just make sure your exercise plan strikes a balance between aerobic and anaerobic exercise, and hits each of your major muscle groups throughout the course of a week!
Once you’re in the heat of your workout schedule, you’ll need to make sure you’re optimizing your recovery time by stretching, getting enough sleep, drinking plenty of water, and staying active.
Surprisingly, there are other things you can do to reduce your recovery time and maximize your workouts, which you can check out on Veriheal’s website.
- Eat Mindfully
It can be tempting to order takeout when you’re on your lunch break, but it’s almost always difficult to tell exactly how nutritionally valuable that food is.
Avoid this altogether by planning your meals out, and measuring your portions beforehand. There’s no need to go crazy with meal prepping, but simply knowing you’re going to eat something healthy before the time comes will take a load off of your mind -and your gut!
When you eat, eliminate distractions. That means no scrolling or Netflix while you eat. It’s easy to overeat when you’re not even thinking about eating, so pay attention.
Focus on the smell and taste of each bite. Be mindful of every sensation you experience as you fill your stomach with a nutritious meal.
This one simple habit change will help you enjoy your meals more, and keep your portions under control.
- Drink More Water
Since the human body is roughly 60% water, drinking enough throughout the day should be a priority.
Aside from the countless other health benefits, drinking water can help to stimulate your metabolism, it helps your body remove waste, and can curb hunger which means you aren’t tempted to eat unhealthy foods!
- Keep a Journal and A Positive Attitude
Track how much you eat everyday by keeping a journal. Make notes about how you feel throughout the day to remind your future self that eating right can feel great, and not eating right doesn’t.
On top of that, there’s nothing more powerful than a positive attitude. Instead of looking at everything standing in your way as an obstacle, look at them as opportunities for you to learn, and even succeed!
Conclusion
Whether you’re looking to shed a few pounds, or make a complete lifestyle change, we think you’ll be setting yourself up for weight-loss success by following these simple (but challenging) guidelines!
