Weight Loss Wisdom – A Guide to Slimming Down Safely

Sticking to a strict diet can be difficult. If you over restrict and cut out a large variety of food groups you will struggle to stick to a diet. The secret to keeping weight off is to change your diet permanently and not temporarily. To lose weight you will need to adopt a healthy lifestyle rather than completing a short-term crash diet. Crash diets can damage your metabolism leading to life-long weight struggles. The best thing you can do for your body is to lose weight gradually. Here are some ways to slim down safely and effectively.

Talk to a professional

Losing weight can be difficult to do on your own. Specialised weight loss clinics and doctors will be able to evaluate you and teach you how to lose weight the right way. Your doctor can supervise you through your weight loss journey and monitor your progress and can help you lose the final few kilos over time.

Seeing a doctor for weight loss does not mean you are taking the easy way out. Weight loss is difficult and can be a psychologically challenging experience. Don’t go into to your doctor’s office thinking that your doctor will immediately prescribe you with weight loss pills. These pills should only be taken in extreme cases when a normal diet and exercise program is not working.

Increase your fibre intake

Foods high in fibre are not only good for your digestive system but they are also good at making you feel fuller for longer. Feel full is a great way to stop you from overeating. On top of helping you feel satiated fibre has the ability to regulate blood sugar, in turn, curbing sugar cravings and preventing diabetes.

Great sources of fibre include nuts, beans, apples, broccoli and virtually all other plant-based foods.

Treat yourself in moderation

A diet will not be sustainable if you do not give in to your cravings every now and again. If you do decide to have a treat have a small portion to satisfy your craving. If you restrict your diet too much it can lead to your going on a sugar and salt fueled binge. Having treats in moderation is a great way to keep your diet on track and will prevent you from binging on high-fat foods.

Stay hydrated

Water is essential for your body to function properly. Did you know that your body finds it hard to distinguish between thirst and hunger? If you are feeling hungry have a glass of water. If you are still hungry listen to what your body is telling you and have something to eat. Alternatively, there are many ways to stay hydrated without drinking water.

Try to get more sleep

When your body is tired it looks for energy in other ways. Usually in the form of sugar and carbs. Try to get a full nights sleep as often as you can. This will stop your body from craving it’s energy in the form of high-calorie foods. When you are tired you are also more lethargic and less likely to exercise. When you have a full nights rest staying under your calorie limit is easy.

Make exercise and healthy eating a part of your life

If you return to your old eating and exercise habits after losing weight you will just end up gaining all the weight you lost back. This is why it is important that you maintain your healthy lifestyle even after you have achieved your goal weight.

A healthy diet and exercise is not something that you do for a short period of time to lose weight. It is something that you need to adopt in the long term. This does not mean that you have to be on a diet for the rest of your life. It simply means that you want to try to not go over your caloric intake regularly. Remember that when you eat more than you burn you will gain weight. That is all that you have to remember when keeping the weight off. You cannot keep the weight off by eating what you want and then going on a crash diet. This will only damage your metabolism.

Good luck on your weight loss journey and if you need further help, speak to your doctor about your weight loss options.