Weight Loss Within Reach: Try These Trusted Tips!

By Mary Zink


There are a number of reasons you might be overweight. Stress and poor eating habits, top the list but there are countless reasons you might be holding on to extra pounds. The good news is that no matter what your reasons, there is a solution. Take a look at these tips and watch your weight melt away.

To lose weight, don't just focus on cardio, but also incorporate strength training into your routine. Muscle tissue burns more calories than fat; having more muscle means you will be burning more calories throughout the day. Plus, you will see added benefits in a toned physique and fewer injuries.

To help keep your mind on your weight loss goals, have a reference item that you keep visible at all times. For example, purchase a pair of jeans in the size you'd like to reach and hang them behind the pantry door. In this way, you have a visible reminder of why you're dieting.

Eating slowly is one of the best things you can do to lose weight. As a society, we tend to rush through everything, including our meals. If you eat too quickly, your brain doesn't have a chance to realize that your body is full. Therefore, you continue to crave more food than you actually need.

A key to losing weight is to cut way down on the amount of fast food you eat. Fast food restaurants serve high calorie foods, which are not only fattening but unhealthy in other ways. Do yourself a favor and try some "fast" ready-to-go foods such as apples and carrot sticks instead.

A good way to stay fit is to avoid eating snacks like chips or cookies. These foods might taste good, but they're very poor in nutrition and won't help you reach your fitness goals. Instead, try snacking on a handful of almonds, or even some pretzels.

If you want to effectively lose weight, remember to eat plenty throughout the day. Purposely starving yourself is not an effective weight loss measure and is just flat out, unhealthy. Eating your regular three meals a day with snacks between meals and combining that with regular exercise, is proven to be the most efficient way to lose weight.

Reduce the amount of carbohydrates that you eat throughout the day. Also do not eat any carbohydrates late in the afternoon or in the evening. You can increase the amount of good fat and protein that you eat to compensate for your lost calories when you cut out the carbohydrates.

Alcohol is one of the worst things to consume when trying to lose weight. Not only is each drink loaded with calories, when people get a little intoxicated they tend to eat more. Don't allow yourself to go out drinking often, and when you do, it is important not to overdo the drinking so that you don't loose sight of your weight loss goal.

Want to burn the most fat? Exercise before breakfast. When you wake up in the morning, your body doesn't have as much glycogen/stored carbohydrate to use as energy--which means it will burn fat first. According to one study of runners, two thirds of calories burned before breakfast are fat calories.

If you occasionally want to indulge in a high calorie treat, plan for it. Consider your indulgence as part of your diet plan and make more sensible choices for the rest of the day. An occasional treat won't ruin your diet if the rest of your meals are full of healthy fruits, vegetables, grains, and lean proteins.

Make sure to not skip any meals when trying to lose weight. Skipping meals can put your body into a fat-storing state and will make it harder to burn calories throughout the day. Make sure that your meals are nutritional and healthy and that will keep your body burning calories, all day long.

If you feel like your reasons for being overweight are strong, use these tips to make yourself stronger. Practice one tip at a time until it is second nature, then try the rest. You're strong enough to knock that weight off if you commit to losing weight. Just say yes to a slimmer you.




About the Author: