5 Weight Loss Tips That Actually Work
The weight loss and fitness industry has a lot of useful information out there, but for every bit of truth, there is just as much bad information. Weight loss gimmicks like fat burning pills, the "Shake Weight", and weight loss belts are the first things that come to mind.
Fortunately, we're here to give some legit advice with some proven weight loss and fitness information that you can actually use.
Here are 5 weight loss tips that are proven to make a difference in anyone's life...
1)Don't Drink Your Calories
Today, there are a ton of different temptations to drink other than water. Of course we all know about soft drinks, but there are so many drinks to avoid too. Energy drinks not only could overload you with caffeine, but could overload you with sugar too. "Healthy" drinks like Gatorade, although tasty, contain a ton of sugar and have been noted to contribute to tooth decay. Furthermore, things like flavored water powders or bottled flavored water are probably good options, but they have a ton of chemical additives in them.
So if you're looking to lose weight always be mindful of flavored drinks. The extra calories and sugar in these drinks can be enough to wreak havoc on an otherwise good diet.
So many bad options to choose from
2)Drink Water Before And After Meals
One of the easiest ways to lose weight is not only to replace all your drinks with water, but to drink water at specific times of the day. Drinking a glass of water before you eat a meal will force your body to feel fuller, thus almost fooling your body into thinking your stomach is full when is really is not.
Its proven that when you then eat your meal, you'll eat less then you would had you not drank a full glass of water. Furthermore, drinking a glass after you eat will make you feel even fuller, and thus extending this sensation.
3)Lift Weights
A popular misconception about losing weight is that running your butt off and doing a ton of cardio will lead to massive weight loss and muscle tone. This isn't entirely true. When my wife ran her first marathon, I couldn't help but notice all the participants in the marathon had a wide variety of body types. There were skinny "runner" type bodies, average body compositions, and even larger people.
Running and doing a ton of cardio will increase your cardiovascular fitness and provide numerous health benefits, but it doesn't necessarily mean you will lose a ton of weight and have a sleak, toned body.
True fitness comes not only from cardio, but from weight training too. Studies have shown that when you have more muscle, you also have a faster metabolism. And a faster metabolism means more calories burned, even when you're not actively working out. This is why I saw a variety of body types at the marathon. Those people had great cardiovascular fitness, but not necessarily the most efficient fat burning bodies.
One of the easiest ways to lose weight is not only to replace all your drinks with water, but to drink water at specific times of the day. Drinking a glass of water before you eat a meal will force your body to feel fuller, thus almost fooling your body into thinking your stomach is full when is really is not.
Its proven that when you then eat your meal, you'll eat less then you would had you not drank a full glass of water. Furthermore, drinking a glass after you eat will make you feel even fuller, and thus extending this sensation.
3)Lift Weights
A popular misconception about losing weight is that running your butt off and doing a ton of cardio will lead to massive weight loss and muscle tone. This isn't entirely true. When my wife ran her first marathon, I couldn't help but notice all the participants in the marathon had a wide variety of body types. There were skinny "runner" type bodies, average body compositions, and even larger people.
Running and doing a ton of cardio will increase your cardiovascular fitness and provide numerous health benefits, but it doesn't necessarily mean you will lose a ton of weight and have a sleak, toned body.
True fitness comes not only from cardio, but from weight training too. Studies have shown that when you have more muscle, you also have a faster metabolism. And a faster metabolism means more calories burned, even when you're not actively working out. This is why I saw a variety of body types at the marathon. Those people had great cardiovascular fitness, but not necessarily the most efficient fat burning bodies.
4)Don't Diet
Another big misconception is that dieting will lead to weight loss and an awesome new life. Truth is, dieting CAN lead to weight loss, but often people simply regain the weight they actually lost.
The right mindset is key when trying to lose weight. You have to approach a weight loss journey like a marathon, not a sprint. By changing your habits and adopting a healthy lifestyle your chances of changing your body are much higher than by choosing a diet and sticking with that for a few weeks. Sure, a diet may help you lose some weight, but a healthy lifestyle, with consistent healthy eating habits will get you the body you want...forever.
5)Use Smaller Plates
Which black circle in the picture below looks bigger?
If you guessed the right circle, your not alone. Many people respond with that answer, but the truth is they are the same size. This picture is known as the Delbouef illusion. Named after a mathematician from the 19th century, this popular illusion tricks our eyes into thinking the circle on the right is bigger when in reality they are the same size.
You can use this illusion to your benefit when you're trying to eat healthy and lose weight. If we place our food on a small plate, filling up the entirety of the plate, our minds think that our hunger has been satisfied. If we eat the same size portion on a large plate, our minds think we are depriving ourselves of food and we're more likely to eat more. Use this little trick to your advantage when trying to eat right and change your lifestyle.
You've read about 5 simple weight loss tips that actually work. Now its time to implement them. The first step, grab a bottle of water and start drinking.