5 Simple Tricks to Shed Extra Pounds
By Sandy Schroeder
As fall rushes in, losing weight may seem even harder. You may feel like you are adding pounds as every meeting comes with food, and tempting snacks pop up everywhere you go. If you feel a little overwhelmed, it may be time to try some new strategies from Harvard Health to lose pounds and keep them off.
Try several strategies - If you have a favorite way to lose weight, start with that and keep going. Losing weight really is hard, and keeping it off is even trickier. Make weight loss a daily effort, but not an obsession, to be successful in the long haul.
Try mindful eating - Many people are discovering this strategy to become more aware of their food. Take the time to stop and write down everything that you eat, and focus on the food as you eat. Contrast that approach to watching an exciting game and polishing off a bag of chips without even thinking. Calories can easily sabotage a diet as they are quickly inhaled and barely tasted. Instead, use the mindful process as you prepare a special dinner and sit down with family and friends to enjoy it. When you are eating, put the fork down between bites. Also avoid eating at your desk at work or in front of the television.
Stay on course - Bouncing on and off of diets can be disastrous with weight gains and losses defeating the whole effort. Instead, approach the matter calmly every day and try to eat a little less. If you slip off of your diet, don’t give up. Just start over and keep going.
Eat healthy - Choose a diet that is full of fresh fruit, vegetables and healthy fats. Allow yourself little treats along the way and keep looking for new recipes that are full of high fiber foods and healthy spices. Watch out for hidden sugars in ketchup, sauces and soups and reduce sodium by cooking with fresh herbs and spices such as basil, dill, and cilantro and onions and peppers.
Use exercise and diet - Eating sensibly is really half of the weight loss equation. The other half is regular exercise to lose it and keep it off. As we age, our metabolism slows down and we burn fewer calories. At the same time, our bones and muscles may lose strength as fat increases. Shoot for at least 30 minutes of daily walking, jogging or working out, including aerobics, strength training and stretching exercises.
When you begin to lose weight, the whole process may become easier. As one weight loss group says, “Nothing tastes as good as thin feels!” Just sliding into a size smaller jeans often provides a lot of motivation to keep right on going.
To learn more about your health, wellness, and fitness, see your local chiropractor at The Joint Chiropractic in Lakewood, Calif.