Lose Weight the Healthy Way


It's definitely no fun to lose weight -- put it back on, lose weight, put it back on, and so on. Just as you learn the rules of a new diet, you find yourself trying to get around them. What if all you had to do to lose weight was to eat less?

You may think it can't be done. However, experts say it can. Of course it sounds simpler than it is, but it's no more difficult to commit to healthy eating habits than it is to follow the diets most of us have tried.

In the end, it will actually be easier because you will feel less restricted as you begin to learn how to eat right instead of how to follow the rules of the newest popular diet. Here are a few tips to help you started:

  • Eat smaller portions, including items with protein, fat, and fiber in each meal. This combination is the one that researchers have found effective in helping to keep hunger pangs away.

  • Drink two full glasses of water with each meal. It will help you feel full and keep your body hydrated.

  • Eat breakfast. This critical meal jump-starts your metabolism for the day. But avoid empty calories like those found in doughnuts, many cereals, and sugar-laden pastries. They will only leave you feeling tired and hungry by mid- morning. For best results, eat items with plenty of protein and fiber.

  • Don't count calories or weigh food. Simply use the palm of your hand as a portion control guide. Most of us are fully aware of what a 'too large' portion looks like. We also know how it makes us feel. You should never feel bloated or stuffed-eat only until you are not hungry. You really aren't giving up anything if you save the rest for later. If it helps, think of it as taking a break when you set food aside for another time.

  • Give up something. It might be your nightly glass of wine, chocolate bars, or regular soft drinks. Then, commit to doing without the item for one full year. You'll find that you'll feel better without the sugar, caffeine, or alcohol. You certainly won't miss the calories as your waistline begins to shrink.

  • Identify your comfort food. What is it that you reach for in times of stress? Pizza, fried chicken, or a burger with fries all seem to top the list of foods people reach for when feeling down, anxious, and tired. Instead of reaching for food to comfort you, engage in a favorite activity. Go golfing, take a walk through your neighborhood, or hop on your bicycle for a quick spin.

  • Be aware that food is often used as substitute for other types of satisfaction. Take a look at your job, your family life, and your spiritual connections. Work to improve areas that are causing you discomfort and you will see the desire for unhealthy food fade away. Maybe it's time to start looking for a new job, go back to college, or find a church.

Taking control of your weight is more about taking control of your life than anything else. Don't allow yourself to make decisions based on food. Why be chained to someone else's diet rules when you know yourself better than anyone else. Put that knowledge to work, and watch your weight disappear.

If you want to make weight disappear faster, and to help keep those pounds off, be sure to exercise regularly. Walking 30 minutes daily is something most people can achieve and keep it up right into the senior years.

About The Author

Marlene Mathis is webmaster at Ana Health, the comprehensive health information resource. Subscribe to her ezine Health Vista at http://www.anahealth.com.


MORE RESOURCES:

Ashlee Simpson Buys Tiny Jeans to Inspire Weight Loss
Actress Archives, NY - 11 hours ago
Ashlee Simpson has bought six pairs of size zero jeans to motivate her to lose weight. The singer – who is expecting her first child with husband Pete Wentz ...


Weight loss surgery can leave saggy skin
WRAL.com, NC - 6 hours ago
While weight loss surgery can be a life-changing and life-saving experience for many people, the after-effect can leave problems with sagging skin. ...


The Associated Press

Weight-loss camps invite families to come along
The Associated Press - Aug 26, 2008
PAUL SMITHS, NY (AP) — It took Kelsey Galer four weeks at a weight-loss camp to lose 9 pounds. It took her dad just three days to start acting like a "dork. ...


Pittsburgh Post Gazette

Weight loss, 'body lift' ends woman's bumpy ride through surgeries
Pittsburgh Post Gazette, PA - Aug 27, 2008
And, again, weight loss was minimal, so she continued her search for a surgical solution. "The only reason I did it was because I wasn't losing weight," Ms. ...


Joy Fit Club vets reveal weight-loss secrets
MSNBC - Aug 25, 2008
And while Bauer vacationed from the show, the trio of weight loss leaders happily took her place Monday to provide encouragement to others facing a battle ...


Examiner.com

Weight Loss Examiner
Examiner.com - Aug 27, 2008
These websites were picked by the Weight Loss Examiner as useful resources. I subscribe to the e-mail newsletter of Biggest Loser trainer Jillian Michaels ...


Mushrooms and weight loss
Los Angeles Times, CA - Aug 25, 2008
Far be it from us to pander to awareness-themed events, but did you know it's almost time for National Mushroom Month? As it happens, the journal Appetite ...


Calif. Weight Loss Boarding School Starts New Semester
NewsBlaze (press release), CA - Aug 26, 2008
"Wellspring Academies has among the best documented initial and long-term outcomes of any non-surgical weight loss intervention for any age group. ...


Rockford woman TOPS as weight-loss volunteer
Rockford Register Star, IL - Aug 26, 2008
Ronette Wenberg of Rockford, who has been in the TOPS weight-loss program since 1972, helps members get on the scale for their weight-loss total before the ...


St. Louis American

Web editor deletes 100 pounds in weight loss challenge
St. Louis American, MO - Aug 26, 2008
She is the undisputed winner of the staff weight loss challenge. At the end of the six-month Challenge, Kenya lost 97 pounds, almost 33 percent of her ...

Weight-Loss - Google News

Arcade Games | site map
© copyright NextAge Technologies Ltd @ 2006