With all of that information out there on losing a little weight, you would think we all understand everything that there is to know about it by now. But that isn’t always the case. In particular, the advice that is out there can be way too focused on just one thing, in the hope that it will lead you to shed the pounds. But our bodies are holistic organisms, and so they respond better to a fitness program that works on more than one aspect of weight loss. Read on to find out more.
Eating
The first, and arguably the most vital thing that you can do to achieve weight loss, is to take stock of what you are eating. I know that there are loads of experts out there saying that if you do these certain exercises, you will lose weight. But it is, in fact, better to change what you are consuming first, as this will make the largest difference. Of course, exercise is never a bad idea, and we will go into how to combine these in the next section.
But how do you do this? Well, some folks have an iron will and can cut out sweets and treats completely for the time it takes for them to reach their desired weight. But for the rest of us back in the real word, an eating plan can help.
A plan, such as Weight Watchers, with a focus on filling nutritious, healthy foods is a great way to take charge of what you are eating. If you are thinking of joining a slimming club, you can benefit from the weekly meetings where other share their achievements and trails as well.
Or, you can choose to follow a plan individually of a group such as the paleo, clean or ketogenic diets. But this can be tougher as it requires you to keep a track of your progress and be accountable for yourself.
Also if you are not so keen on cutting out certain types of food, another way to deal with your diet is to be more mindful when you are an feel for that full sensation. Then over time, you will consume less, so have fewer excess calories, which should result in weight loss.
Exercise
Now it’s all very well and good saying that food is the most important element of weight loss. But know that exercise definitely has value in this area as well. Or trained athletes wouldn’t need to consume such a large amount of calories when they are prepping for an event.
That is where this perfect storm idea comes in because to get the absolute best results you need to combine the two.
Just think if your diet is working because you are eating 500 fewer calories a day, then you will lose a lb a week. But if you exercise three times a week and burn 500 calories in every session, you can lose around another half a pound. Or eat those calories without endangering your weight loss. The two work in tandem for success!
But what sort of exercise should you do? Well, most folks believe that aerobic exercise is best because it is more intense and it burns the most calories in the shortest amount of time. However, it’s important to realize that this sort of exercise isn’t best suited for everyone.
If you are concerned about the impact that aerobic exercise like running has on your joints, you may want to pick something gentler. Like Yoga or Piyo. Just remember to check out a Piyo review or two, before you invest in any one program. So you know you will get the best one for your goals, and the best value for money.
Rest
Now eating and exercise in combination are certainly important for weight loss. But so are other factors as well. One of these is rest. We all need rest, and about a third of our life is actually spent sleeping. This is when the body get a chance to repair and replenish itself, and it can make a big difference for your weight loss.
For example, when you are not getting enough rest in your life, your body may try to compensate by increasing your appetite. Especially for quick energy boosting items like sugar. This, of course, is bad news because not only do you have to fight these cravings when you are losing weight. It’s going to make getting the energy up for exercising even harder.
Also, if you do not get enough rest, then it can be super hard for your muscles to properly repair themselves. Which is going to affect your performance when working out the next time, and could cause you problems with your motivation in the long term.
Mentality
Another very vital factor in achieving the weight loss that you want is your mentality of mental state. You can have everything lined up for success. But if you aren’t in the right headspace you will continue to make choices that with be counterproductive to your goals.
For example, you might take your healthy lunch to work but feel a bit down so treat yourself to a candy bar from the vending machine. Or you have joined the gym, but forgotten your kit, so you think to yourself that you’ll go 2morrow. Or you mean to be in bed by 9 pm every night, but your favorite show is on at 10, and you stay up to watch it. Even though you can easily Tevo it to watch another time. Any of these sound familiar?
If so, then you may be fighting your own inner saboteur that is getting in the way of your weight loss. But what can you do about this? Well, awareness is really the key. As you need to become aware of when this is happening, and gently redirect yourself in a direction that will better serve you.
Yes, it can be super difficult, and you won’t win the fight every time. But after a while, you will get stronger at doing this. So, combined with the other change you have put in place, you will have created a perfect storm to achieve your weight loss goals.
