Forget the fad diets; there are sustainable ways to losing weight and keeping it off. Here are some ways to get off the roller coaster of yo-yo dieting and acheive your goal weight.
If you’ve ever tried to slim down, you’re likely familiar with the frustration of seeing that number dip down and climb back up or, at times, stay the same when you hit a plateau. There’s even debate among health experts as to whether yo-you dieting is worse on your body than doing nothing and staying the same weight. Here are some ways that may help you shed extra weight and keep it off.
Slow and steady weight loss
In our fast-paced world, we want immediate gratification, and dropping all your extra weight quickly and dramatically by exercising like a fiend and severely restricting your calories may sound like precisely what you need to do. But the truth is you will not be able to maintain this regimen over the long run, and — you guessed it — you’ll gain that weight right back. Following a sensible, well-balanced diet and exercising regularly in a way you can live with happily and in which you lose weight slowly but steadily is much more sustainable.
Reduce calories, increase exercise
Losing weight comes down to math. You need to burn more calories than you consume. To get you on the road to shedding weight at a faster rate, you’ll benefit most if you both watch your calories and get regular physical activity rather than just one or the other. Most health experts recommend a deficit of 500 calories daily for a safe, steady course of weight loss.
Bet on yourself
Studies have shown that if you wager on your weight loss goal, you may commit more to acheiving it. So gather a group of colleagues at the office or some of your friends or neighbours who are looking to lose their muffin tops, and put down some money or rewards as prizes so you have that extra, competitive bit of motivation.
Get enough sleep
Burning the midnight oil may lead to packing on the pounds. Aim to get six to eight hours of sleep, as this has been shown to minimize weight gain.
Switch off the boob tube
You may be so used to snacking in front of the television that you don’t even realize it’s a nightly habit, not to mention that the hours of sedentary time parked in front of it are not good for your body. Same goes for time in front of your computer; we zone out and snack in much the same way when surfing the net. Get up and get active. Go for a walk after dinner instead of watching a sitcom, for example.
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