Losing weight is a common battle that is fought by individuals all across the world. Weight loss really needs to be viewed as a journey, and not one "quick fix" tip that will make the pounds melt away. When you view it as a journey, you learn to take the right steps, and those steps ultimately lead to weight loss success that can last a lifetime. Here are a few tips to help get you started on your journey.
The first necessary step on your journey is to take inventory of your pantry and refrigerator. While you are establishing your inventory, take the time to throw away the stuff that is not healthy. While it is okay to keep one or two splurge treats in the house, if your pantry is full of them, you will always turn to them. Instead of filling your home with cookies and cakes, make it a priority to have lots of fruits and vegetables cut up and ready to eat. This is a great way to get yourself off to a great start.
Another important step is to change the way that you eat. Instead of consuming two or three large meals a day, try to eat five or six small meals a day. Carefully consider what types of foods those meals consist of and only eat until you are comfortably satisfied. This type of eating allows you to always feel full, and it can reduce cravings and spontaneous binges that involve unhealthy junk food.
While you are eating those five or six small meals a day, make sure to take your time eating each one. Shoveling food in your mouth does not give your stomach the opportunity to talk to your brain and let it know you are full. This often means you eat more than you actually need to and increase your overall caloric intake. Take a break between each bite and put your fork down. Sip on water while you eat too. Make it a goal to take at least twenty to thirty minutes to eat each of your three main meals, and try to consume your snacks in no less than ten to fifteen minutes.
In addition to changing your daily eating habits, you also need to address the reason that you are eating. Food should be used to satisfy hunger. It is not meant to be a reward, and it should not be eaten because you are feeling sad and looking for some sort of comfort. If you are eating for these reasons, and many individuals do, it can be beneficial to speak with a weight loss counselor, therapist or psychologist.
Finally, take some time to write your journey down in a food journal. Jot down what you are eating, how you are feeling and why you are eating. Also take some time to make note of how you feel after a meal or snack. Writing things down gives you something to look back on. It can help you to learn where you are making mistakes and what areas you are doing well at improving. It is also a beneficial tool to share with your counselor or therapist if you are using one.
Winning the weight loss battle takes some time and effort, but if you view it as a journey the steps involved will start to make sense. This is the best way to find long term success in the battle of the bulge.
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