Don't Starve! Three Easy Steps to Lose Weight
Infomercials are Evil!
I can’t tell you how many times I have sat and watched late night T.V. ads and cringed as they promote quick-fix weight loss pills and fad diet remedies which simply don’t work. There is not a healthy way to lose 50 pounds in a month, but I am going to share three reasonable and easy ways which will lead to safe and effective weight loss. And you won’t have to starve yourself.
1. Eat
Yes, and you’re not reading this wrong. You can eat, but make healthier choices. DON’T eat out at restaurants all the time, but DO enjoy three meals a day and a couple of snacks if you need them. Start with a big breakfast which consists of more than just a bowl of cereal.
While a serving of cold cereal is approximately 150-220 calories, depending on the brand, it will run right through you. In other words, your breakfast won’t last as long, and you will get hungrier sooner. Try eating foods with plenty of protein and fat for your first meal of the day. Eggs, ham and sausage will keep your appetite under control a lot longer than a bowl of Captain Crunch or a sugary donut. Remember, losing weight relates directly to burning calories.
You must burn 3,500 calories to lose one pound of body weight. If you make healthier choices, you will be able to eat more and still shed those pounds.
2. Avoid the Following Food and Beverages
Beware of the following foods and drinks: Sweets, white bread, mashed potatoes, fast food, pasta, beer and sodas. I know many of these items are delicious, but they are loaded with calories. If you take in more calories, you have that many more calories to burn which makes weight loss extremely difficult.
Now, I’m not saying give them up completely, but you have to be careful and cutback on these items. I recommend substituting diet soda for regular cola, replacing sweets with delicious fruits and switching to whole wheat pasta and breads.
You don’t have to give these foods and beverages up completely, but find creative ways to balance them with a healthy diet. A cheat day, days, are often the way to go, so you can still enjoy the foods you love without giving them up.
3. Exercise
It’s so much easier to burn calories off if you are active, and weight lifting helps build muscle mass which in turn burns fat. Walking and running are great cardio workouts which burn off the calories whether you are outdoors or on the treadmills, but the best way to approach exercise is to find something you love to do.
Personally, I love to play basketball, so I utilize hoops as my major source of cardio. It’s a lot easier to keep up an exercise routine when it doesn’t seem like work, so I encourage you to find your passion, and you’ll see the transformation in the mirror in virtually no time.
Losing weight isn't rocket science, but weight loss isn’t a quick fix either. Eat healthy, avoid “bad” food choices and be more active. If you follow these three easy steps, you will see the pounds melt away.
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