Are you trying to lose weight and get in shape for summer? Looking for a diet that will allow you to look and feel great? If diets have not worked for you in the past, or you have lost and gained weight more than once, do not worry.
The advice this article provides will help you make a natural lifestyle change instead of doing another fad diet.
By taking some advice from the "naturally thin" and those who have successfully lost weight, you too can lose weight and keep it off.
Portion Control Many of you may already eat healthy foods.
However, portion control is a key element in losing weight and maintaining.
Some of the healthy foods such as nuts and olive oil can cause weight gain if eaten to excess.
The key here is moderation.
Remember that a serving of cheese is equivalent to a one-inch cube, like half of a pair of dice! A serving of meat is 3 ounces, like a deck of cards.
A food scale is a helpful tool to have around the house until you get accustomed to the servings sizes.
Go Green The recommended serving size of fruits and vegetables is five to seven servings per day.
People who go heavy on their greens and other produce are more likely to lose and keep those pounds off.
Because fruits and vegetables are low in calories and high in fiber, they are a win-win food! You feel full more quickly while consuming fewer calories than with other food groups.
And, you will benefit from a variety of vitamins and minerals found in your produce! Eat in It can be quite enjoyable to eat at a restaurant, however, having a home-cooked meal can be much more rewarding to your body and your weight-loss efforts.
While restaurant food might seem tasty, they use excessive amounts of butter, oil, and salt, all of which can wreak havoc on your dieting efforts.
When you cook at home, you know exactly how much oil you used.
You have the option of using low-calorie cooking spray instead of oil, or lemon juice instead of salad dressing.
Keep your dining out for special occasions.
Increase your Efforts with Exercise A healthy diet is very important in order to lose weight.
However, the combination of diet and exercise together is much more effective than just eating healthier.
Exercise causes your body to burn more calories and decrease your appetite.
There are several types of exercise programs you can engage in, including interval training, which is an especially effective form of exercise for weight loss.
This type of training can be found in Bootcamp classes, Crossfit Studios, and with select personal trainers.
If You Love your Carbs, Make them Whole Whole grains are much better than refined white flour when it comes to your carbohydrates.
White rice and white bread, for example, are higher in the glycemic index than whole grains such as brown rice and whole wheat bread.
Lower glycemic foods are better for keeping your insulin levels in check, and better for your metabolism.
Whole grains are also higher in fiber, which is better for your digestion! Fight the Fat Fat is essential for a healthy body, but like everything else, it needs to be consumed in moderation.
Fat should be limited to less than 30% of your daily calories.
A couple ways to avoid excess fat is choosing grilled chicken over fried chicken, or ordering your salad sans dressing.
Consider these tips on how to change your habits and think about which one comes most easily.
Implement that first, then try adding the others so that you can feel confident and successful when you master that new way of eating.
It might be a lot to digest - but you have to start somewhere!