Have No Fear of Summer: Weight Loss Help for Success!
Summer will be coming again soon. It'll be time for beach
parties, pool parties, outdoor picnics, and vacations. It's a
great time for you to be outside and enjoy your life. Do you
feel anxious about the coming season due to some extra pounds?
Need some realistic help on safe weight loss? If so, I would
like to share with you some of the weight loss tips that helped
me.
Of course everybody has different personalities, genetic
makeups, and lifestyles that make each of us special and unique.
But there are some common tips that can help, regardless where
you are in our life. Let me emphasize one point. I use the word
"help". Ultimately, the decision comes down to you. You're daily
choices will either help you or hurt you. I can offer you tips
that have worked for me, but ultimately, your weight loss is in
your hands. So on that note, let's dive into the following
suggestions, get some safe weight loss help, and start taking
control of your future health & happiness!
#1. A positive mental attitude I start with this point because
I think it is, by far, one of the most powerful tools we have. I
believe a safe weight loss plan begins here. Our behavior
reflects what we put into our mind. If we think of ourselves in
negative terms, our behavior will follow. If we fill our minds
with good, positive, and goal-striving thoughts, our behavior
will mirror that.
Think good thoughts about yourself. Take some time.20 minutes a
day if you can, just mediating on your weight loss goals. Close
your eyes. Relax. Envision yourself as a thin, healthy, and
happy individual. Then, in as much detail as you can, picture
what you will do to get there. Picture yourself exercising (and
liking it!).
See yourself making healthy food choices. Imagine how happy you
will be when you reach your goal weight. Try to do this everyday
and, trust me, it will be easier to lose the weight. It worked
for me! (If you would like to read further on this subject and
learn more about power the mind has in our life, read Psycho
Cybernetics by Maxwell Maltz.)
#2. Don't be a slave to the scale Checking your weight
constantly can be discouraging rather than helpful especially if
your weight fluctuates naturally. Try weighing yourself only
once a week at the same time of day. I like to judge how I'm
doing by utilizing "the clothes test". Check to see how your
clothes are fitting you. (I believe a safe weight loss plan can
be interrupted with an obsession with the scale and its number
starring back at you, so use alternative methods.)
This method works great for me as I experience less anxiety and
can focus more on making good choices rather than obsessing on
the number I just saw from the scale! And for all my ladies out
there, don't weigh yourself or do "the clothes check" when you
are PMSing. We are naturally going to be heavier and bloated
because of our cycles. The last thing some of us may need is
more stress injected into such a "spirited" week!
#3. Understand your Metabolism Some of us are under the
misconception that if we don't eat anything or very little,
we'll lose weight faster. This belief is certainly not safe
weight loss! The body needs a fairly consistent flow of healthy
foods to keep your metabolism going. I want you to think of your
metabolism as a fire. When you throw wood onto that fire, it
gets bigger. Withhold the wood and the fire will die out.
The same concept can be applied to your metabolism. Withhold
food, and your metabolism will slow down, burning less fat and
eventually turning onto your lean muscle to feed on. A good rule
of thumb is to eat every 3 hours or so. I like to carry around a
handful of raw almonds or walnuts, and an energy or protein bar
for when my "3 hour snack" hits when I'm not at home. Fruit is
another excellent choice. Whatever you choose, make it a low
calorie and healthy choice to activate that fire inside of you!
#4. Fill up on whole fruits and vegetables Foods like fruits
and vegetables are full of nutrients that not only help you to
lose weight, but also help you to care for your body. Be sure to
include at least 5 servings of fruits and vegetables per day.
And if you can, the closer to raw they are the better...you'll
consume more of the nutrients that way.
If you don't like raw veggies, try steaming them. Also try
keeping baby carrots, grapes, or some of the tasty summer fruits
handy for you to grab when you need them. Green products are
loaded with the superfoods found in many healthy fruits and
vegetables, and can be a quick way of getting your nutrients in.
To achieve safe weight loss, get an abundance of fruits and
veggies!
#5. Be sure you get in your whole grains! When choosing your
carbohydrates, follow this simple rule: Avoid anything white.
That means no white potatoes, white rice, white breads, etc.
Choose only whole grains.they not only help to support your
digestive system, but also cause the brain to release serotonin
to help calm the mind. Don't get caught up in the low-carb
craze...just be smarter on the carbs you choose! A safe weight
loss plan will always include a good amount of whole grains and
fiber. Your body needs it!
#6. Take your supplements Of course, whole food nutrition is
best, but if you like to supplement your diet with vitamins and
minerals, be sure they are whole food supplements. Whole food
supplements are made from actual food sources, as opposed to
sludge in a petri dish like most vitamins and minerals out on
the market today. You're body is able to absorb more nutrients
from a whole food supplement, therefore taking in more nutrients
and maintaining a harmonizing balance within your system. You
may end up paying more for a whole food supplement, but the
benefits are great.
#7. Exercise! Exercise! Exercise! You've got to move it to lose
it!!! There is no way around it...exercise is one of those key
ingredients a lot of us would rather ignore. But safe weight
loss and overall health depends on exercise. It helps you not
only to lose those extra pounds and tone up your muscles, but
also release's stress, helps you sleep better, breathe better,
and function as a whole better. I know it can be hard for some
of you to find the time to squeeze in your activity, but you've
got to do it.
You don't need to do it everyday...3 or 4 days a week with your
heart rate up for about a half an hour a day will do it. So sit
down, have a serious discussion with yourself, and make the
time. You can join a gym, walk around you neighborhood, go to
your local track, walk around the mall, purchase an exercise
tape and actually use it...anything that can get you moving.
Work on changing your mind about exercise (refer to step #1).
You'll find that once you are on an exercise schedule, it can
become easier and easier and the pounds will start to melt away!
#8. Consult your doctor Before embarking on any safe weight
loss plan, exercise or dietary program, please consult your
physician. As mentioned earlier, we all have unique needs. Some
of you may have a medical condition that is contributing to the
extra pounds. Whatever the case, it is always best to see your
doctor to discuss any changes in your lifestyle, exercise, or
dietary programs.
I hope these tips were helpful to you. Remember....you only have
one body. Treat it well and make good choices that will
contribute to a lifetime of health and happiness!
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