3 Tips for Helping You Stay Slim
By Genevieve Cunningham
Everyone wants to be in shape and stay slim. It’s a natural desire to look good, but being slim is about a lot more than physical appearance. Excess weight can cause a whole host of negative side effects such as high blood pressure, a higher risk of diabetes and heart disease, and others. Staying slim and being fit is about health, plain and simple. To keep your body in better health and fight those stubborn extra pounds, check out these tips for staying slim and healthy.
Be Aware
You probably don’t even realize how much mindless eating you do on a daily basis. Unless you’re already tracking your calories or keeping a food diary, you may be eating hundreds or more calories than you intend. A simple handful of chips may be 100 calories. That cupcake, depending on the flavor and ingredients, may be 200 or 300. If you want to watch your calories, and therefore your waistline, you simply must be aware of what you’re eating. The more aware you are, the less likely you are to overeat and pack on the unnecessary pounds.
Alter Your Tastebuds
Believe it or not, your palate can be changed. It might take some time, effort, and energy, but the lasting effects will be more than worth it. To change your cravings and palate, you have to slowly introduce healthy foods while eliminating highly processed foods. Once you make the switch completely, you may notice that processed foods make you feel sick or don’t taste near as good as you thought that it did. Those who are exposed to fresh and healthy foods begin to develop a natural inclination toward those foods. And the longer you go without the toxins and chemicals in processed foods, the better and better the healthy foods taste.
Manage Stress
Much of the time, stress is inevitable. But if you want to stay slim and healthy, it must be managed. Try picking up a stress relieving activity, such as exercise or a massage, and do it every day. Too much stress can trigger the hormone cortisol, which has long been known to increase belly fat. Learn to manage and lower your stress, and you’ll have a huge jump on staying more fit and protecting your overall health.
Staying fit is about so much more than vanity. While we all want to look good, it’s really about protecting yourself and your health for good. Use these tips to fight excess fat, stay slim, and boost your health now and long into the future.