Understand the Glycemic Index
When making the decision to lose weight, be careful of products that claim to be able to offer you “miracles” and “guarantees.” The only guarantee there is when trying to lose weight is the fact that the smarter you work to get the weight off the better off you will be because there is no easy solution.
Discipline yourself while shopping for food. Establish a list of items you need. You should of course base this list on healthy meals and plan ahead what you are going to eat for each day of the week if possible. To avoid temptations, do not let yourself walk through the candy bar or processed meat aisle.
If you want to lose weight, you need to avoid alcohol. Studies show that alcohol reduces the body’s ability to burn fat. Not only that, but drinking can raise insulin levels which encourages fat formation. In addition, drinking adds empty calories to your diet that have no nutritional value.
Make sure your diet includes fruits, vegetables, and lean proteins. This can seem like a no-brainer, but eating does more than nourish you and keep you healthy. There are studies that show how you eat is how you feel. If you want to be at the top of your game, you’ve got to put the right fuel in your body.
When planning to lose weight be sure to do so at a healthy pace. Losing more than 2.5 pounds per week can increase your chances of experiences major health problems up to and including organ failure. Consult your doctor on your specific needs as your current health may impact the appropriate pace for you.
Eat five small meals spread out throughout the day rather than three large meals. When calories are distributed in a more even way, blood sugar levels hold steady. When your body releases less insulin, your body controls your hunger levels. Additionally, this helps curb snacking: why have that candy bar now when you could have a healthy meal in three hours?
When you are trying to lose weight, make sure you get plenty of fresh air. Plenty of oxygen will help boost your metabolism and give you more energy. You may find that after you spend more time outdoors, even just reading on a bench in a park, you have the motivation and energy to exercise more.
Don’t drink your calories. Replace caloric soft drinks and juices with calorie-free drinks. A single serving of regular soda can contain over a hundred calories and many people drink multiple servings per day. Your body doesn’t recognize liquid calories as food, so you still end up eating as much solid food as you would otherwise. Choose water or unsweetened tea to keep your calories and waistline in check.
Limit your sugar intake. Eating more sugar than your body can use at once can cause the excess to be turned into body fat. The excess sugars trigger a surge of insulin that activates the enzymes associated with fat storage. Look at labels as many foods that you would not suspect contain large amounts of sugars.
Only eat when you are hungry. This may seem obvious, but most people snack when they don’t need to. Temptation is all around, and when you are bored, you may eat just for the sake of it. When you watch television, it is very easy to reach for the nearest bag of chips or cookies. It takes time to change this habit, but you need to listen to your body. If you aren’t hungry, you don’t need to eat, period!
Combine exercise and charity work by signing up for charity walks. You will feel great about fighting causes like breast cancer. This will also give you more motivation to do them. Feel even better by inviting your closest friends to pledge with you and set up training sessions so you can go the extra mile.
If you’re trying to lose weight, it’s important to make sure you stay away from sugary-tasting foods and drinks, even those sweetened artificially! The reason for this is that when your body takes in a sweet taste, even if it’s not sugar, it primes your insulin pump for a sweet “hit” to come. Your body produces insulin, preparing for more calories to arrive and you become hungrier, making you eat more. So stay away from the sweet tastes and you will find that your appetite goes down.
Glycemic Index
If you are currently trying to lose weight and plan a new menu to stick to, you would do well to check out the Glycemic Index. This is a long list of foods and their nutritional values, like how many carbohydrates a food item has or how many calories it has. Eat foods that are low on this list and weight-loss is a lot simpler.
You can lose weight in general by reducing your carbohydrates. Carbs can increase your blood glucose and possibly create an insulin imbalance. Carbs are important to have in your diet as they are your basic form of energy, so never remove them completely from your diet. Controlling them can help your diet.
You do not have to lose weight alone. If you do not have a friend or family member that is willing to work with you, there are many online groups and forums that were started so that people can have support. You may even be able to find a weight loss buddy in your area.