If you’ve ever lost weight and gained it back or struggled with your weight for years, you know how hard it is to maintain a healthy lifestyle. It’s not just the physical challenges – dieting can be tough on your social life too! But if you’re ready to take control of your health, there are some tips that could help make things easier.
But before we start we have to know why most people struggle to lose weight.
Most people fail because they have an all-or-nothing attitude. Either they are on a strict diet that forbids the occasional indulgence, or they believe they can never go without their favourite food again. The fact is you don’t have to give up everything you love, and if your weight loss plan allows for the occasional indulgence, it’s easier to stick with it.
Also, some people either rely only on their diet or exercise. But it’s important to remember that weight loss is all about a healthy lifestyle, which means you have to eat right and exercise regularly.
What causes people to gain weight?
The answer seems pretty simple, right? Either you have a poor diet or you don’t exercise. But, it’s not as simple as that. There are numerous other factors that contribute to weight gain. Here are some of them:
1. Stress:
Stress is the biggest cause of weight gain. When you’re stressed, your body releases cortisol and insulin, causing your body to store more fat.
2. Lack of sleep:
When you don’t get enough sleep, the hormones in your body are thrown off balance, increasing cravings for junk food while also slowing down metabolism.
3. Medications:
Certain medications have been known to cause weight gain because they affect the way certain metabolic processes work.
4. Age:
As people age, their metabolism slows down and they no longer burn as many calories. This is why older adults tend to gain weight more easily than younger people do.
5. Hormonal changes
Hormonal imbalances caused by pregnancy, thyroid disorders, menopause, and premenstrual syndrome can all cause changes in your weight.
6. Poor digestion
When your body doesn’t properly digest food, the calories it gets are not actually used. Instead, they are eliminated as waste or stored as fat.
These are some of the main reasons why people struggle with their weight and you have to figure out what is causing you to gain weight before you plan to lose it.
Here are some helpful tips for losing weight and keeping it off:
No matter what causes you to gain weight, these tips will help you lose it and keep it off for good:
1. Follow a healthy diet:
You don’t have to start eating salads every day, but you should make an effort to eat more vegetables and fruits. A whole foods diet has been known to reduce cravings for unhealthy food and it will help balance out your hormones.
2. Exercise regularly
Just because you are on a diet does not mean that you can stop doing exercise. Exercise is important for weight loss and it’s even more important to keep the weight off. You do not have to go to the gym every day! Start by exercising for 10 minutes a day or if you can’t manage that, just take a short walk every day.
3. Drink lots of water:
Water is essential for your body and proper hydration can actually speed up your metabolism. It’s also a great way to flush out toxins and rev up your energy levels. You should drink at least 8 glasses of water every day for better health and weight loss. Carry a bottle of water with you wherever you go and finish it at least before the end of the day.
4. Get enough sleep:
When you don’t get enough sleep, your hormones are thrown out of balance, leading to weight gain. So try to get 7-8 hours of good quality sleep every night so your body can function properly and burn calories.
5. Avoid sugar and refined carbs:
Sugar isn’t just bad for your teeth, it’s also fattening. White sugar, flour, bread are all high in carbs that quickly get turned into sugar by the body after being digested. This can increase weight gain and lead to diabetes, heart disease, etc. so you should cut back on the amount of sugar you consume in your daily diet.
6. Consume more lean protein:
Lean protein is one of the best things you can eat for weight loss. It helps build muscle mass which speeds up your metabolism and burns more calories. You should include fish, lean meat, eggs, cheese or vegan alternatives in your daily diet.
7. Stick to it:
It is easy to start a healthy lifestyle, but it can be hard to keep it up. You will need to make an effort every day in order to keep the weight off. After a while, this will become natural for you and you won’t have to think about it anymore because this way of life will seem right for you. Just don’t give up!
Final thoughts
It’s not easy to lose weight, but you can make it simple by following these helpful tips for losing weight. Living a healthy lifestyle is important to your overall well-being and the way people look at you. If you need help losing weight or simply want to change your diet in order to stay healthy, these tips will guide you through the entire process.
