First of all, if you’re after quick weight loss, this article is not for you. Go back to your fad diets that will make you lose ten pounds in two weeks, only for you to gain back twelve, which will be harder to lose the next time.
But if you’re tired of counting calories and counting exercise reps; if you’ve been fat so long you won’t mind waiting a little longer; if you’re ready to lose weight in a healthy way and keep it off so painlessly that you’ll hardly notice you’re dieting, read on.
Here are the steps to losing weight and keeping it off as painlessly as possible:
- Stock up on healthy food.
If healthy food is what you have in your house, that’s what you will eat, unless you’re so rich you can afford to eat out everyday. Here’s your next grocery list:
- Your favorite fruits and vegetable (enough to fill your refrigerator crisper, or more)
- A gallon of skim low-fat or non-fat milk, whichever you prefer (it’s useless if you don’t drink it)
- Brown rice, brown bread, oatmeal, unsweetened corn flakes, potatoes, pasta
- Dried fruit (for sweet cravings)
- Fish
- Lean meat
- Microwaveable popcorn or unsalted, roast nuts (or both, whatever you like. They’re great snacks.)
- Your favorite herbs and spices
- Tomato sauce, if you know how to use it (a great, low-fat way to make most dishes taste better)
- Follow the food pyramid.
This is really easier than you might think. Asians have been doing it forever. They eat mostly rice, EVERY meal, everyday, and use the meats only to give taste to the rice. If you start the meal with a fruit or vegetable salad, so much the better. Or eat your fruits and vegetables DURING the main meal, instead of for dessert. That way, you gorge mainly on Go and Glow food, and eat just enough Grow food, which is how it should be. In addition, the variety of food you had will keep you from feeling deprived, because after all, you weren’t. - Keep snacking.
This keeps your metabolism high, prevents you from gorging and keeps away cravings. But snack on fruit and vegetables, the low fat popcorn, roasted nuts and dried fruit. If you drink nothing but cold water, you will crave flavored drinks much less. - Drink lots of cold water.
Drink water before you eat. Drink water while you eat. Drink some more after you eat. Carry a bottle around and sip all day. Not only will it soften your skin (and your stool), it will also keep you feeling full. A bonus: cold water burns calories without any effort on your part. - Find a sport, or play with your kids.
When you play a sport, your drive to excel will keep you going without much psychological effort. When you play with your kids, they will keep you going whether you like it or not. In any case, this is a great way to gain quality time with your kids. If you’re single, playing a sport is a great way to find a date. Suggestion for single people or those without kids: lift weights. Not only do you meet people with really great bodies, it is also easier to approach them, with the excuse that you need a spotter.
For people who have kids: lift your kids. Give them piggyback rides. Hold them up in the air and down again, and up and down, and up and down. Sit down and let them ride on your legs. Your children will love these rides, and you’ll be building up muscle.
Remember, aerobic exercises may burn calories faster, but weight lifting builds muscles, which burn up fat even while you sleep.
The gist of the matter is, you have to get active. If you think you can lose weight and keep it off without exercise, you’re definitely dreaming. Which leads us to our last tip…
- Get at least eight hours of sleep everyday.
Studies show that people who get too little sleep eat more. Common sense says that the more time you spend sleeping, the less time you spend eating. And if you have been exercising, the muscle you’ve built up will keep burning fat even while you sleep! (I said it before, but I want to make sure you don’t forget.)
