You can trick your body into
losing weight, simply by doing the unexpected.
First, be aware that your body
mass index is important when you want to lose weight, as it provides a
guideline with respect to what your approximate weight should be, in relation
to your height. Note that this can still vary depending upon your body build.
What is body mass index?
“Body mass index (BMI) is a measure of body fat based on
height and weight that applies to men and women.” (1)
Now that you have determined
what you should weight, use the following tricks to begin losing weight.
See yourself as someone who can
lose weight.
Do you look in the mirror and
see someone who can lose weight? If not, begin to look at yourself that way,
because you can lose weight, even though your mind and body may seem to be
telling you something different. Picture yourself at the weight that you want
to be and then, begin to work towards achieving that goal. The mental imagery you create
for yourself will encourage you to reduce your weight. See the weight you
are now, as being something in your past.
Reduce the size of your plate
and cup.
You may not realize that from
day to day and meal to meal, you gradually tend to increase the size of your
cup and plate, as well as your portion size, because you feel hungry and enjoy eating your food. More than likely, your body does not need that
much food. You will feel better when you reduce your portion size. Reducing the
size of your plate and cup helps you to reduce your portion size accordingly.
Add some spice to your life.
Spicy or tangy tasting food can
be tantalizing to the palate and satisfying, as well. Reduce the amount of bland
flavored food in your diet, because most of it is likely to be bulky
carbohydrates that will cause you to gain weight. You are less likely to eat a
lot of spicy food. It may be those spices and that tang that your body is
craving, not the bland food volume.
Cut down your large meals.
How many large meals do you eat
on a daily basis? You do not need to eat three, six-course meals per day.
Eating only one and having several, smaller meals would suffice. Your stomach
is only so large and over stuffing it with extra food will cause you to
feel uncomfortable. Just how big is your stomach? Clench both of your fists and
line them up together. Your stomach is not even that large.
Listen to your body.
When you learn to listen to
your body, it will tell you what to eat and when. Consume only as much food as
it takes to make you realize that your need for food has been satiated. You can
always go back later, but your body may not want you to do that. It may be
something different your body is craving. An example might be one, hard
peppermint that can satisfy your sweet tooth or one square of chocolate, rather
than an entire chocolate bar, to satisfy your craving for
chocolate.
Learn to identify what your
body is craving.
Your bodily craving may not be
for food or something to drink. You may be craving intellectual stimulation,
physical exercise or the release of creative energy, in some way.
Perhaps what your body wants is to work off some of the extra sugar you have
consumed. Try doing physical activity that is not food related. Find a
stimulating book to read, learn a new skill or go for a bicycle ride. Sometimes, talking to a family member or friend about
your craving can help to identify that need, but make certain that it is
someone who gives you positive, constructive support and feedback with
respect to losing weight.
Reward your personal successes.
Your successes are important.
Always reward your personal successes and look past your failures. Remember
that you will succeed at losing weight, if you are consistently determined to
do so. See yourself as being successful at losing weight. Knowing you are
successful, reward yourself accordingly, but not with food. Find something that
makes you feel good like walking through a park and picking a bouquet of wild
flowers or meeting a friend for a day of fun-loving activity. Walk the
neighbor’s dog or babysit an active child for the day and see how much energy
they have. As you lose more weight, your energy level will increase too.
Prepare or purchase only low
calorie snacks.
Low calorie snacks are easy to
prepare. If you have to go out to purchase them each time you had
a craving, you would probably not do so. If you are aware that you may eat the
wrong kind of food, keep only low calorie snacks in your cupboards or your
refrigerator. When you do have cravings, you will be able to munch on them,
instead of high calorie or high carbohydrate snacks that add needless pounds.
Before you start to munch on any kind of snacks, place a portion of your chosen
snack in a small dessert dish. That may be more than enough to satisfy your
craving. You do not need or want to eat all of your munchies at one sitting.
Walk around carrying ten pounds
of sugar for an hour.
If you carry ten extra pounds
of anything for a while, you will find that you feel tired, frustrated and
physically exhausted. Putting the weight down will prove to be a huge relief. Recognize that each time you lose ten pounds is like putting ten
pounds of sugar back on the shelf. Ask yourself, why carry senseless weight
when you do not have to do so?
Begin to increase your physical
activity gradually.
Increased physical activity
invariably means potential, weight loss. Walk your dog instead of having your
children do that for you or hiring someone else. Why pay to have someone walk
your dog, when that money could purchase new exercise equipment for you and
your family? Always park your car where you have to walk across the parking
lot. Better still, use your bicycle or walk to the neighbor’s instead of
driving. Do some extra gardening or plant flower beds to encourage yourself to
bend and stretch. Plant some herbs to spice up your meals.
These are all simple tricks you
can do to help your lose weight. Be honest with yourself and others about your
weight, as your body will reveal the truth. As you begin to lose weight, dress
appropriately. Place all of the clothes that are too large for you, into a box
to give to someone who needs them. Feel free to find yourself something new,
exciting and different; in other words, find clothing that fits you better at your
new weight.
Knowing you are approaching or
have reached your appropriate BMI goal for you, will give you a sense of
accomplishment.
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