Healthy Weight Loss Tips

Forget the Complex Rules
Simple weight loss tips to help you keep to your resolution

We have all been there before. We step on to the scale with our eyes half squinted, not really wanting to see the number that reads before us. Whether you are a novice or a professional dieter, here are some simple, often overlooked, tips that can get you off to a good start.

The first step to a successful experience is to start at the source. Figure out what you are craving and why. You will likely find that the ‘what’ is the easy part and usually includes something packed with sugar. The ‘why’ is where we all begin to scratch our heads. Why should we care why we want something, we simply do and we want it immediately. However, knowing the reason for your cravings can help you shed pounds faster.

Since our bodies strive for an internal equilibrium, when things aren’t in balance, the body will seek out any mineral or vitamin that it may be lacking to fulfill that need. For example, many of us crave chocolate because we are deficient in magnesium. A diet high in fat can cause less magnesium to be absorbed and cooking may decrease the magnesium content of food. But, although chocolate is an excellent source of magnesium, it is also usually full of sweet, heavenly calories and fat. Therefore, rather than reaching for the nearest chocolate bar, try where possible to keep the levels stable in our bodies by consuming a diet rich in natural sources of the mineral such as leafy green vegetables (spinach is one of the best), beans, halibut fish, avocado, almonds and other nuts. A good supplement of magnesium, which includes double the amount of calcium can also help to balance the scales once again. Look for magnesium citrate or ask your natural health care professional.

Another weight loss tip can actually help us eliminate the fat phobia we have all been brainwashed with over the last few decades. Many people feel that fats cause fat, but high quality, protective fats can actually trigger fat burning rather than fat storage. Sources of these essential fatty acids include flax-seed oil, avocados, olive oil and almonds. In addition, they help to stabilize our blood sugar, keeping us feeling fuller longer so we eat less in the long run.

The last piece of the weight loss puzzle is in determining if we are really hungry or simply thirsty. Often we confuse the two and end up eating more than we need or should. The best kept secret in weight loss, I think, is to stop before eating a snack we know we shouldn’t and simply have a glass or two of pure water to drink. This will not only keep you full longer, but will help you to determine if the satiety you are feeling really needs further indulgence.

With the millions of fad diets abound these days, sometimes we need to stop and look at the simple strategies that will help us shed the weight. These tips not only helped me to shed much unwanted weight, but are simple, natural strategies that anyone at any stage in life can incorporate into their weight loss plan.