Peel Off the Pounds: 5 Strategies to Help You Succeed
If you’re ready to peel off the pounds, then get ready to partake in the most thriving and triumphant hustle of them all, health. Forget honesty and candor, it’s time to dupe, double cross, and swindle your way to dieting success. To succeed, you will have to learn to take advantage of certain foods, deceive your stomach and use the wisdom and knowledge of health experts.
Becoming a Master Trickster
Learn to trick your mind and body into thinking you’re full of calorie-rich foods when you’re really filling up with foods that contain very few calories but can keep you satisfied.
“By eating fewer nutrient-dense foods (foods relatively high in calories per serving) and eating more fiber-rich foods and those that contain more water per serving (more whole grains, vegetables, and fruit), you can actually eat a greater volume of food but fewer calories per day,” says nutritionist Susan Burke.
The best way to become a master trickster of health and start shedding those extra pounds is to first learn about your own needs.
“The way to choose the diet program that’s right for you is to find one that contains foods that you like to eat,” Burke said. “Just as important, you need a program that reflects your lifestyle.”
“It’s easier to gain weight than to lose it,” says Burke. “I’m talking from experience, not citing a scientific study. Doesn’t it seem that one day your pants fit, and the next week you have trouble pulling up the zipper? If you’re like me, overeating for more than just a few days shows up on your hips. Losing weight takes effort, but I have five sure-fire strategies to peel off the pounds.”
The Tips
1. Eat breakfast. Make it healthy. Eating breakfast is the habit of champion weight-loss maintainers. Try high-fiber cereals such as Kashi GoLean, Bran Buds, Fiber One (these have about 13 grams per serving), or hot oatmeal with a tablespoon of raisins plus a cup of nonfat milk and a cup of berries.
2. Eat smaller meals more frequently. If you’re used to three squares, break each of your meals into smaller meals by just taking an item or two to eat a couple of hours later. Stoke your metabolism by fueling frequently. Aim to eat until satisfied, then stop.
3. Drink water. Have a glass of water before every meal, between every meal and before, during, and after you exercise. Water is great at suppressing appetite. It keeps you hydrated and healthy.
4. Exercise! Get off that couch, and walk for at least 30 minutes, briskly. Add to that aerobic activity lightweight training or work with elastic bands. Join the eDiets fitness plan and get a personalized workout suited to your level of fitness. The workouts get more challenging as you grow fitter.
5. Portion control. At home or dining out, most people eat way more than they need. Adopt this weight-loss strategy and make it your habit: Order appetizer portions for entrees when dining out; at home, use smaller dishes and plate entrees in the kitchen; eat seconds of salad and vegetables.
