Losing weight is rarely fun when you first begin. Because you are overweight, it can be hard to move and somewhat painful to start a weight loss program, both physically and mentally. One thing that helps is having a plan and sticking to it. Here are a few things to keep in mind as you start to lose weight.
Reading food labels diligently, will get you on your way to food loss. Make a habit of reading the labels before you eat or purchase a product, paying special attention to the serving sizes. You’ll be surprised to realize just how many calories you are consuming in some of your favorite snacks. It’s a lot easier to say no to a treat when you know just how bad it is for you.
To help you lose weight be sure to always pay attention to not only what you are eating, but how much of it you are eating. The main culprit of this type of eating is doing so while watching television or reading. It is possible to lose track of how much you are eating and fill yourself up past what you would have normally eaten. Either decide your portion ahead of time, or do not let yourself get distracted while snacking.
A good way to lose weight is to create reasonable goals that are within your reach. Goals give you something to focus on, and when you achieve them your self-confidence gets a boost. Making weight loss goals can be a very effective way to keep yourself motivated at all times.
A great weight loss tip is to get rid of your television. You don’t have to actually get rid of it, but if you reduce the amount of time you spend watching television, you’re more likely to be more active. Staying active is important if you’re trying to lose weight.
One of the handiest tips gained from many decades of dieting is to drink an entire glass of tomato or V-8 juice with 2 heaping tablespoons of bran stirred into it. You can also use psyllium seed husks. The reason for this is to give your stomach something to satisfy the need for bulk right away in the morning, and because it’s low-calorie and high fiber, that breakfast drink will get things moving later in the day without adding much to your daily caloric intake.
Allowing yourself to buy clothes in smaller sizes as your weight decreases can also be a great motivator to continue eating right and exercising. Wearing loose fitting clothing may help overweight people forget about their weight problem. If you wear clothes that are not as tight you might want to lose more weight.
When you need motivation with weight loss, think about your end goal often. Life in general can distract you and move to the forefront if you don’t take the time to make a habit of thinking about it often. When you wake up, ask yourself “What is my weight goal today?” Before you sit down for a three hour TV marathon or too much junk food, ask yourself “Is this part of my goal?”
Avoid eating when you are bored when trying to lose weight. When you eat to relieve boredom, you are more likely to eat high fat or sugary snack foods like chips or candy instead of healthy foods. You are also more likely to eat more food than if you plan your snacks.
Ask for a to-go box when you eat out at a restaurant. Restaurants serve huge, high-calorie portions. Don’t force yourself to eat all of that in one sitting. Ask your server for a to-go box. You can easily make that one meal into two or three delicious meals for later.
Do not try diet fads, like weight-loss pills or extreme diet plans. Many of these methods might be harmful to your overall health in the long run. In addition, the pounds lost tend to be temporary. Most people cannot stick to a rigid diet and will, most likely, gain back more than the weight they lost.
To stay away from fast food, you need to find an alternative. Fast food attracts you because it tastes good and is easily available. Make sure your fridge stays filled with healthy food to discourage you from going out to eat. Try cooking burgers yourself without adding any extra cheese.
Before sitting down to a meal, have a glass or two of water. This creates a feeling of being a little full, and you won’t eat as much. Water is a good way to make sure you don’t gorge yourself, and it’s also a good way to clean your system.
Setting realistic goals is very important before starting a weight loss program. If your goal isn’t reasonable, you probably aren’t going to get where you want to go. For instance, if you want to lose 20 pounds, giving yourself a month to reach your goal simply sets you up to fail. Instead, set an attainable goal for each week. Try to not look at the overall picture, but instead focus on your weekly goals. Instead, you should be concerned with how much you lose every week.
Get rid of clothes that do not fit you anymore. Motivate yourself to keep the weight off by only buying clothes that fit your body now. Remove any clothes that are now too large for you from your wardrobe. You can donate them to charity or sell them for a tidy sum.
Enlist your family and friends for help when you are trying to lose weight. Research has shown that dieters that have support, do better than those that do not. Explain that you don’t want them to police your eating, but that you need encouragement and sensitivity while you are trying to change your eating habits.
Using these tips as a mini-plan that you commit to will make bigger commitments possible. Try these tips and stick with them, and you will be confident enough to try bigger and better things; not only in weight loss but in life as well. And as you start to see results it will indeed become more fun.