Saturday, January 3, 2009

Easy ways to lose weight

By Cathereine Night

Are there any easy ways to drop weight? Everyone knows that diet, lowering food intake, and exercise, increasing the number of calories you burn, combine into a formula for losing weight.

But sticking to the diet is the hard part. It won't be easy, but with a little work it sure is easier. Here are some tips to make it easier.

Carry a notebook to jot down everything that passes your lips. Writing down everything you eat and drink, even water, helps you eat less. Studies show that people who keep track of what they eat end up eating 15% less. 15% is a lot.

On average Americans consume 245 calories a day from drinks. Switch from juice, soda, and other calorie drinks to water. 245 calories a day add up to 90,000 calories per year. That's 25 pounds.

Are soda and juice really that good? Another fact is that despite their calories, drinks like soda and juice don't trigger a feeling of fullness the way foods do.

Eat five or six smaller meals a day instead of three large meals a day. Eating more meals with smaller portions results in eating 30% fewer calories. Furthermore, even the same number of calories eaten in smaller portions during more frequent meals can result in weight loss. You're less likely to binge because the body releases less insulin.

Get rid of the "fat" clothes. If you don't have clothing that's comfortable when you're heavier, you're more likely to be reminded to keep slim every time you dress. And if you have to purchase a whole new wardrobe you're less likely to gain weight.

Use smaller plates. It's proven that people eat what's in front of them. Use the salad plates instead of dinner plates.

Try serving meals on the plate, restaurant style, rather than in bowls and on trays. Again, people tend to eat what's in front of them.

Don't eat white bread, sugar or white rice. Those are the foods with loads of carbohydrates which lead to higher blood sugar and weight gain. Stick to whole grain breads and dark rice. Don't be concerned with the sugar, pretty soon you won't miss it.

Weight loss isn't easy, but relatively speaking there are easy ways to lose weight. Don't think it won't take a little work. If weight loss were easy everyone would be slim all the time. - 16752

About the Author: