OK so its 2010 and well with a new year comes….New Years Resolutions. If one of your resolutions is to lose all that weight you gained last year when you fell of the exercise band wagon or maybe you just decided to overeat through the holidays then you’ve come to right place!!!
When most of us think about how we can lose weight and get fit, starting with the latest diet trend always seems to be a great idea. But if you have ever had friends or family who have tried this, you will probably notice that most people don’t get the results they were hoping for.
My advice for you is to start by making small changes that you can in-corp0rate into your lifestyle for the rest of your life. Here is how you can do that….
1.Aim for fitness:
The American College of Sports Medicine recommends that you exercise at least 5 times per week for about 30-45 minutes. This can help to reduce the risk of developing heart disease, hyper-tension, colon cancer and type 2 diabetes and other health conditions. Furthermore , physical activity is related to improvements in flexibility, bone mass density, risk of hip fractures, depression and anxiety and health related quality of life.
2. Eat breakfast.
A nutritious breakfast gets you fueled for the day and this helps to prevent you from binging later during the day. Cold cereal with fruit and low-fat milk, whole-wheat toast with peanut butter, yogurt with fruit, or whole-grain waffles are all examples of excellent breakfast choices
3.Try low-calorie and low-fat versions of your favorite foods.
Don’t assume that you have to give up your favorite comfort foods like macaroni and cheese when you’re trying to eat healthier and lose weight. Just use lower-calorie ingredients or prepare it differently. For example, if your macaroni and cheese recipe uses whole milk, butter, and full-fat cheese, try remaking it with skim milk, less butter and light cream cheese. You can even add some fresh spinach and tomatoes to make it healthier and nutritious.
4.Watch your portion sizes.
Standard portion sizes may actually be smaller than you think. For example, three ounces of meat is about the size of a deck of cards. One serving size of pasta or rice is about the size of a tennis ball.Try putting smaller amounts of food on your plate or using smaller plates. If you put more food in front of you, you’ll eat it because it’s there. Now Remember if you are eating low calorie or low fat versions of your favorite food, you still have to stick to portion sizes.
5. Eat plenty of whole grains, fruits, and vegetables.
Try brown rice instead of white rice and whole wheat pasta instead of regular pasta. Aim for five servings of fruits and vegetables a day. A cup of salad counts as one vegetable, so try eating a salad with either lunch or dinner .And remember to choose low-calorie, low-fat or fat free dressing.
6. Keep healthy snacks on hand.
Since we all often get hungry throughout the day, it’s important to make healthy snacks available, especially when you’re at work. Keeping healthy snacks, such as fruits, veggies, granola, or popcorn, on hand will prevent you from heading to the vending machine for an unhealthy snack
7. Start with lean cuts of meat and poultry.
For poultry, the leanest choice is white meat from skinless breast of chicken or turkey. When shopping for beef, look for round, chuck, sirloin or tenderloin. Lean pork choices include tenderloin and loin chops.
And Lastly, Be Patient
We’re all looking for a quick fix when it comes to weight loss, but don’t expect to get it overnight. A healthy weight loss rate is 1 to 2 pounds a week, so don’t anticipate losing more than that. Set a reasonable weight loss goal, like five pounds in two months.
Good Luck for your weight loss and new years resolution and remember…you did not gain weight over night so don’t try to lose weight overnight!!! If you have any questions please do not hesitate ask or leave a comment.