If you’ve ever tried to lose weight, you’ll know that it’s much easier said than done. In theory, eating the right foods, getting enough exercise and drinking the right amount of water sounds easy, right?! However, life gets in the way sometimes and all of your good intentions go out of the window. Plus, there’s more to take into consideration when it comes to weight loss! So, let’s take a look at some effective ways to shed those pounds.
Embrace the plate, not the platter
Portion control plays a huge role in weight loss. Sure, you might be eating healthy foods, but if your plate is stacked high then you’re still going to be going over your calorie limit. Controlling your portion sizes can make a world of difference.
If you struggle to do this, try switching to a smaller plate. Doing this helps trick the brain into thinking you’ve eaten loads when in fact, you’ve eaten just the right amount.
Additionally, for those looking to enhance their dietary regimen, incorporating exante diet shakes as a meal replacement option may be beneficial. These shakes are not only designed to prolong feelings of fullness, but they also provide essential nutrients that might be missing from your regular diet.
H20 all the way
Water isn’t just for quenching your thirst, it’s a weight loss superhero. Drinking water before meals can help not only keep you hydrated but also make you feel fuller and prevent you from overeating. Plus, there are no calories in water so you don’t have to worry! So, ditch the fizzy drinks and sugary coffees and sip on some water instead. Being hydrated is not only essential for your health but it’s a great tool to use for weight loss.
Move your body
Not everyone enjoys the idea of going to the gym, but exercise can be so much more than that. Try and find something you enjoy doing, whether it’s dancing, hiking, yoga, or even swimming and make it a part of your weekly routine.
If you enjoy the exercises you’re doing, you’ll be more motivated to continue doing it. It might take some time to find something that you want to stick to, but you’ll have fun in the process and accelerate your weight loss. Once you make it into a habit, you won’t see exercise as a chore, instead more of a hobby.
Snooze to lose
We all know how important sleep is to the human body, but did you know that it’s an absolute game changer for weight loss too? Lack of sleep messes with your hunger hormones, which means you’re more likely to reach for calorific snacks late at night.
Try and aim for 8 hours of sleep each night and you’ll soon notice the pounds are dropping faster. Not only does sleep help your physical and mental well being, but it also helps you stay on track with your weight loss.
If you struggle to fall asleep at night, try setting yourself a calming bedtime routine. Switch off devices an hour before bed, and do activities that keep you calm like reading or listening to music.
Park the crash diets
Too many people get caught up in crash diets that promise quick results. While you may see quick results, you’ll also regain the pounds once your crash diet is over.
When it comes to embracing a healthier lifestyle, it involves you making a permanent change to your daily habits. Healthy weight loss isn’t about doing drastic things to quickly get the body you want – it’s about making healthy choices that you can continue practising even when you hit your goal weight.
Spice up your life
If you love cooking, you’ve probably got a whole cupboard full of spices. Now is the time to put them to use! Not only do spices enhance the flavour of your food, but they also help give your weight loss efforts a little boost.
Try using metabolism boosting spices such as cayenne pepper, turmeric and cinnamon in your cooking. Spices can enhance many elements of the human body, so check out some of the other spices that you could incorporate into your dishes for even more health boosts.
Snooze the snacking
Have you ever found yourself eating a family bag of crisps while binge watching the latest season of your favourite TV show? Us too. While it’s perfectly okay to treat yourself to this every now and then, it’s important to try and practise mindful eating.
Try savouring each mouthful and pay attention to when you’re no longer hungry. This can help prevent overeating and also make those crisps last longer!
Alternatively, try portioning out some snacks into bowls. You’ll be shocked at how satisfying an intentional portion can be! You can also use this technique when eating full meals too.
Once you’re no longer hungry, stop eating! You can always wrap up your leftovers for later.
Befriend more fibre
Fibre is so good for the human body. Not only do they help you stay full and satisfied, but fibre also helps with digestion and keeps your gut healthy. So, load up on fibre rich foods like fruits, veg and whole grains.
Fibre can also help regulate your bathroom breaks, which is another essential function of the human body. The better your body is functioning, the easier you’ll find it to lose weight.
Celebrate small victories
Finally, weight loss is a journey and it’s important to remember that it won’t happen overnight. That’s why it’s important to celebrate little victories!
It doesn’t have to be scale related either – it could be fitting into your favourite pair of jeans or saying no to dessert at your favourite restaurant.
Recognising and celebrating even small achievements helps you keep a positive outlook on your weight loss, meaning you’ll be more likely to stick to your journey and hit those goals faster.
There you have it, 9 effective ways to help you lose weight. Remember, losing weight isn’t about depriving yourself of the foods you love. It’s about making choices that are going to benefit your body in the long term.