Top Ten Ways to Effectively Lose Weight

Are you tired of the extra fat on certain parts of your body? Maybe you feel it is time time to lose a bit of weight and keep yourself healthy. Being overweight is a serious issue. It is not merely a question of vanity, but rather, a problem that threatens your health as well as your self-esteem. As such, it is very important that you make the choice to end this problem and live a healthier and leaner lifestyle. To help you in your quest to attain that optimum weight, here are ten ways to lose weight effectively:

10. Make a choice

Always remember that everything begins with a choice. Making a choice to lose weight is your first step to achieving a body that you’ve always dreamed of.

But of course, with that choice comes a certain responsibility. This means that once you’ve decided that you want to manage your weight, the responsibility of exercising and keeping a strict diet must be strictly followed. Yes, that means pushing yourself to watch what you eat and exercise even on days when all you want to do is gorge and binge.

9. Have a weight loss goal

As in most other tasks, your goal will be the fuel to keep you going in your journey towards permanent weight loss. Having a clear idea of why you want to lose all those pounds can help you achieve the ideal number on the weighing scale.

So take some time and mull over why you want to lose weight. Is it because you want to improve your health? Or perhaps you want to wear those model clothes? Do you want to be more attractive? Then, write them all on a list. You can even print this goal on sticker paper and stick it around parts of your house and work space where you will see it often. It will remind you about your weight loss quest every time you feel like quitting.

8. Consult your doctor

Before you undergo any kind of training, always remember to seek the advice of your physician. Take note that different individuals may require a special type of weight loss program. If you are suffering from certain conditions such as diabetes, heart disease or even fractures of certain bones, losing weight may prove to be dangerous instead of beneficial.

Make sure that you consult your doctor to see what type of diet or exercise will suit you. This way, you can avoid unnecessary injuries and complications.

7. Eat Healthily

Diets do not automatically mean starving yourself to death or even depriving yourself of food. It means choosing the right kind of food to eat and having these in the right amounts. Being wise about what you put in your mouth is one of the best ways to maintain a healthy body.

Remember that a balanced diet contains proteins, carbohydrates, fruits and vegetables. These food types will ensure that your body gets enough nourishment to keep it going. Avoid too much oil, excessive grease and junk foods as they are filled with preservatives and fat that will only add to your body’s fat reserves. Food such as chips or burgers may be delicious but you wouldn’t believe the sugar and the calorie content they deposit in your body.

Also try to veer away from sweets such as ice cream, soda or chocolate bars. Most of these products contain enough sugar to make your sugar level rise faster than a flag on a flag pole. Munch on something healthy like a slice of wheat bread, a grilled chicken breast, carrot sticks or a serving of vegetable salad when you feel in need of food.

6. Cut down on those snacks

Stop having unnecessary snacks! You are probably one of the millions of people who eat out of boredom. Although you may see this as something acceptable, you may not realize just how many times your hand reaches inside that cookie jar. Before you know it, you eat the entire stash of chocolate chip cookies!

The trick here is to eat only when you’re hungry. Your body will send signals to your brain whenever it needs food. So stop eating when you’re not really hungry. One way to accomplish this is to focus on something other than food. Thinking of work, your weight loss goal or your favourite sport can help divert your attention. When you are really hungry and it isn’t time yet for your usual meal, eat only healthy and low fat snacks such as cucumber slices or carrot sticks.

5. Use a Food Diary

One easy way to monitor your weight loss is to keep a food diary. Write down everything that you eat in your food diary. Jot down other important information such as the quantity and the time that you ate the food.

The diary will help you become more conscious of your eating patterns while at the same time, you will be able to keep track of everything that you take in. It will also discipline you in terms of sticking to a particular eating plan and schedule.

4. Exercise regularly

Exercise is one of the best ways to keep your body trim. Activities such as aerobics, cardiovascular workouts, strength training and anaerobic exercises can help improve your metabolism. This means that your body becomes more capable of burning those extra pounds.

Exercise also promotes muscle growth. It helps the muscle become leaner while strengthening both the lungs and the heart. You can also use exercise to reshape and tone certain body parts. For example, sit ups can help improve the muscles in the abdomen and help burn off the fat stored in this part of your body.

3. Reward yourself every once in a while

Give yourself a reward every time you achieve a weight loss goal. This may mean treating yourself to a serving of your favourite vanilla ice cream because you lost five pounds in one week. Do not forget to eat in moderation unless you want those five pounds right back on your body in less than a week.

Positive reinforcement will help you stay focused and eager to push through with your weight loss activity.

2. Be realistic in your goals

Although you want to lose those pounds as fast as you can, it’s not always possible. Fat that you lose and that stays off takes a disciplined regimen and a lot of time. Always take note that it may not be helpful or healthy at all to lose weight drastically. Aim for a realistic loss such as one or two pounds every week.

1. A healthier lifestyle is in order

Changing your lifestyle is one way to finally achieve and maintain the healthy body you’ve always wanted. Lose harmful vices like excessive drinking and chain smoking. Instead, focus on worthwhile activities such as sports, exercising and learning.

These ten suggestions are great ways to lose excess weight and maintain a trim figure. But weight loss begins with committing to losing weight in a set period of time. Why not start today and make a workout schedule online, or in a diary.