Weight loss is the bane of a lot of people’s lives. Far too many of us – mainly teenage girls and young women – obsess over it, to the point where we aren’t enjoying our lives. It’s sad really that it’s got to the point where people’s whole lives revolve around their diets, isn’t it?
Of course, that being said, leading a healthy life is important, but surely it’s not psychologically healthy to make your weight the main focus of your mind? The answer is no; it’s not. The fact is that we spend too much time obsessing over our weight, rather than enjoying our lives. The problem is that a lot of people struggle to lose weight and keep it off, which is why we spend so much time worrying about it.
However, the good news is that by making some small changes to our diets – changes that won’t have a big impact on what we can and can’t eat – we can shed those extra pounds and easily keep them off. To do that, take note of the three dietary changes below and implement them in your diet, and you are sure to see some fantastic results.
- Cut the junk & drink only water
The fact is that a lot of people fail to think about what’s in their drinks. Did you know that one can of soda like Coca-Cola contains nine grams of sugar? Were you aware that fruit juice drinks like J20s contain a whopping 12 teaspoons of sugar? You could swap to sugar-free versions of your favorite drinks, but then you would be consuming a lot of sweeteners, which have been linked to cancer and other health problems. If you are serious about losing that extra weight and keeping it off, swap to drinking only water and you will see fantastic results. Not a fan of water? Infuse it with fresh fruit, cucumber, or fresh herbs like ginger using a AdnArt Water Bottle Infuser. Tea and coffee are okay to drink as long as you drink them black or have them with oat, soy, or nut milk instead of dairy milk.
- Reduce your portion sizes
It’s not always about the foods that you are eating but often about how much of them you are consuming. Just because chicken salad is healthy, that doesn’t mean you need two chicken breasts, three rashers of bacon, and a whole avocado to yourself. The fact is that portion sizes matter, which is why reducing them can help you to shed those extra pounds and keep them off. Buy a small plate and use that to keep what you’re eating in check. Or, if you struggle to adjust to smaller portions, order pre-made, healthy meals from a program like Nutrisystem, to make adjusting to eating smaller portion sizes easier. A lot of people who consume smaller sized meals, swear by using portion control plates – these are divided into sections, showing you how much of each meal part you should have. For instance, with each meal, a quarter of the plate should be taken up with meat, fish, or a vegetarian alternative, another quarter with carbohydrates like potatoes, pasta, or rice, and half with fresh vegetables or salad.
- Swap to snacking on raw fruit & vegetables
Whether your main meals are healthy, snacking on junk food will impact your weight significantly. Crisps, cakes, biscuits, chocolate, etc. are all packed full of sugar, salt, and empty calories. If you want to lose weight and keep it off, switch to snacking on raw fruit and vegetables. They may not taste as nice, but they are much better for you. You could always opt to team them with a hummus or yogurt dip to make eating them more enjoyable. Other foods that you can eat as snacks include nuts and seeds, pulses, and dried baked fruit with no added sugar. If you’re desperate for something bulkier, a homemade flapjack could be the answer.
There you have it, your guide to three dietary changes that will overhaul your health once and for all.
