Weight Loss is Not Hard Work
By the choices you make, weight loss will either be a time consuming and
onerous process or it can easy. Weight loss is hard work only if you refuse
to follow your "brain and body rules." Yes, your brain and body have very
definite rules when it comes to healthy weight loss. Follow the rules and
your weight will balance and normalize itself very quickly and efficiently.
If you decide to invent your own rules then weight loss can be pure
torture. Always remind yourself that returning to a normal healthy weight
is a natural process that both your body and mind want to accomplish very
much.
Let's look at some important ways to make your weight loss program both
easier and more effective.
Listen to Your Body
Working with your body gives the fastest and most long lasting results
when it comes to losing weight. If you fight your natural tendencies and
body physiology, losing weight becomes more of a struggle than it needs to
be. Your body is different than anyone else's. It talks to you and your job
is to listen. If you feel bloated after a meal then the food you ate was
probably a poor choice. If on the other hand you feel energized and your
food digested well, you can bet it was a healthy choice. Consider the last
time you exercised at 5 in the morning just to "get it in" and you were
tired all day. Healthy or poor choice? You decide. When beginning any
weight loss program, it is important to consider how your body and mind
work. For greater success, strive to work with rather than against them.
Choose Protein Over Carbohydrates
Food by its very nature is addictive. The natural and artificial chemicals
in food directly affect your brain. These chemicals change the way you feel
by modifying the amounts of certain hormones in your brain. Simply put
"food affects mood" and that is where food can become just like any other
artificial stimulant or narcotic. As an example, carbohydrates are more
powerful brain stimulators than proteins. Eating a higher carb meal
will have you hungry in 2 hours while consuming a higher protein meal will
leave you comfortable and sated. Take advantage of the positive chemical
changes food has on your brain and make them work for you.
Lift Weights for Best Results
Physical activity helps increase your metabolism by building lean body
mass (muscle). The more muscle you can build, the more calories your
body will burn per hour no matter what you are doing. The fastest way to
increase muscle mass is to lift weights. So spending a lot of time on the
treadmill burning calories is not going to get the weight off as fast as
the same amount of time spent lifting weights. That extra muscle tissue
provides an additional benefit; it keeps the excess weight from returning
once you reach a healthy weight.
Stay Well Hydrated
Water is essential for every single biological function in your body. Why
is water so important for healthy weight loss? Water acts as a catalyst
helping increase your metabolism. Multiple studies have found that people
who stayed well hydrated (the amount of water in your body); accumulated
less body fat and tended to be closer to normal weight. So try and drink at
least 75 ounces (more for some people) of plain water every day to maintain
proper hydration. Plain water is more effective than juice, soda, coffee
tea or energy drinks at helping reduce excess body fat.