Weight loss has become a very big concern these days. Everyone likes to stay fit and healthy, but due to busy lifestyle, unhealthy food and lack of physical activity, many people gain a lot of weight. If you are also worried about your extra kilos, then this article is for you. Here we will discuss effective and practical weight loss tips that will help you to become naturally fit.
- Improve Your Diet – Adopt Healthy Eating Habits
The biggest secret of weight loss is a healthy diet. You must balance your daily food.
Avoid processed and oily food. Reduce your consumption of chips, burgers, pizza, and bakery items.
Include more fruits, vegetables, whole grains, pulses, and lean proteins in your diet.
It is very important to reduce your intake of refined sugar and sweets. You can use honey or jaggery instead of sugar but in limited quantity.
Control the portion of your plate. Eat small meals instead of eating large meals but take 4-5 small meals a day.
- Drink more water
Drinking water is very effective for weight loss. When you stay hydrated, your metabolism also remains active.
Drink at least 8-10 glasses of water a day.
Avoid sugary drinks and soft drinks as they have high calories.
If plain water tastes boring, you can make detox water like lemon water, cucumber water or mint water.
- Do regular exercise
Exercise is equally important as diet for weight loss.
Exercise for at least 30-40 minutes daily. You can try brisk walking, jogging, cycling or swimming.
If you like gym, do a combination of strength training and cardio exercises.
Yoga and stretching are also very beneficial for weight loss and also reduce stress.
If you do not want to do heavy workouts, then keep a target of daily steps – develop the habit of walking at least 8000-10000 steps.
- Have a good sleep
Sleep plays a very important role in weight loss. If you do not get 6-8 hours of sound sleep daily, then hormones get disturbed which can lead to weight gain.
Give up the habit of waking up late at night.
Reduce the use of mobile, laptop or TV before sleeping.
Make a fixed routine for sleep.
- Reduce stress
Stress is also a big reason for weight gain. When we are stressed, we tend to overeat and choose unhealthy food.
Meditation and yoga help in controlling stress.
Spend time in hobbies like listening to music, painting or gardening.
Take out quality time for yourself and take care of your mental health.
- Avoid Crash Diet
Many people start crash diet for weight loss but it is harmful for health. In crash diet you lose weight in a few days but it is not sustainable.
Your diet should have a balance of all nutrients.
Don’t cut calories suddenly, reduce calorie intake gradually.
- Increase your protein intake
Protein is very effective for weight loss as it keeps you full for a longer time.
Include eggs, paneer, chicken, fish, lentils, beans and nuts in your diet.
If you are a vegetarian, soy products and dairy products are the best options.
- Track your progress
It is important to track your progress in the weight loss journey.
Check your weight daily or weekly but do not get stressed by it.
Take measurements like waist, hips, arms size and track them.
Keep your goals realistic, a target of 1-2 kg per month is achievable.
- Keep Cheat Meals Limited
It is okay to have cheat meals but there should be a limit to it.
Weight loss is not possible by eating junk food every day.
Enjoy your favorite food once a week but in portion control.
- Be Patient – Weight Loss Takes Time
Weight loss is a gradual process. It is wrong to expect instant results. You should continue your healthy habits with patience.
Conclusion
Discipline, patience and consistency are most important for weight loss. Bring small changes in your lifestyle like healthy diet, regular exercise, proper sleep and stress control. You will be able to lose your extra weight naturally slowly. Most importantly, prioritize your health and avoid crash diets or unhealthy shortcuts.
