What comes into your head when somebody says the word diet to you? You probably think of being miserable and feeling hungry all the time. How would you feel if somebody told you that you can eat more and still lose weight? It is possible to eat more and weigh less. Here are some simple ways to shape up without starving.
Learn about calorific value
If you’re not familiar with calorie counting, and you never check the nutritional information labels, learning about calorific value will be hugely beneficial for designing a diet that works for you. Calories are units of energy. The higher the calorific content, the more energy a food provides you with. If you use the energy you consume, you won’t gain weight. However, if you take on more calories than you burn, you will put on weight. If you’re struggling to lose weight, counting calories is a good place to start. The calorific value of foods varies massively. You could eat a giant bag of spinach, and it would contain fewer calories than a single deep-fried French fry, for example. A takeout pizza and a milkshake could contain more calories which you can know from costco pizza calories than three low-carb meals from tasteaholics.com and snacks that will keep you full all day. If you choose the right foods, you can eat a lot and still lose weight. Cutting down on sugar and swapping processed meats for lean meat, poultry, and fish, and replacing white bread, rice, and pasta with whole grains will get you off to a great start.
If you don’t already use an app to keep a food diary, this is a really simple and quick way of keeping an eye on your calorie intake. All you have to do is enter what you’ve eaten, and how much exercise you’ve done, and your app will show you your daily calorie count. It will also provide you with more detailed nutritional information so you can see if you’re getting enough nutrients, vitamins, and minerals.
Move more
Weight loss is achieved by using more calories than you take in. This means that if you move your body more, you can eat more without putting weight on. If you haven’t exercised before, the thought of even stepping into a gym can be daunting. If you do want to start working out at the gym, take that first step, and book an induction. Organize some sessions with a personal trainer or go with a friend who is used to working out. If you’re not crazy about joining the gym, there are plenty of other things you can do to burn calories. Start cycling or jogging to work each day or go for a swim during your lunch hour. Take up dance, spinning, trampolining or yoga classes or join a hockey, tennis, soccer or netball club. If you’re not a gym bunny, and you need inspiration, check out http://www.huffingtonpost.com/marlo-thomas/unusual-ways-to-get-in-shape_b_3071757.html.
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If you thought you had to starve yourself and spend all day, every day on a treadmill to lose weight, think again. If you make the right food choices and you exercise on a regular basis, there’s absolutely no reason why you can’t enjoy hearty, healthy meals and lose weight at the same time.
