January 8, 2014

Dieting & Weight Loss Tips for 2014!

Photo by I Yunmai on Unsplash

By Kristen M. Leccese

Over the years, we’ve been told endless myths about weight loss that too many of us swear by. Eat regularly, never skip breakfast, don’t eat carbs – the list goes on and on. Unfortunately, the same rules don’t apply to everyone. Truth is, there is no magic formula for losing weight. It’s all about cutting overall calories – NOT depriving yourself of any one food group – as well as figuring out a steady fitness plan that works for you. The bottom line is that to lose weight, you need to burn more calories than you consume. Here are some helpful tips to keep you on track with your weight loss goals for the New Year.

Don’t feed into fads. Your diet needs to be less of a “diet” and more of an overall lifestyle change. Think about it – if you’re eating next to nothing or cutting out major food groups and nutrients your body needs, how will you maintain your weight loss long term? Answer: you won’t! You can achieve a complete lifestyle makeover by eating more fruits and vegetables, making your workout routine an essential part of your life, and NOT depriving yourself of the occasional cookie or slice of cake.

Hydrate. You may not realize how many calories you are drinking rather than eating on a daily basis. Soda is an obvious one, but juices, iced teas and other flavored beverages can pack on a ton of extra calories in a day. Try replacing as many drinks as you can with water, which of course has no calories at all. By making this simple swap, you will soon notice a big difference. If you need just a little bit of flavor, unsweetened iced tea is a great substitute. Another handy tip – if you find yourself craving a snack shortly after you’ve eaten, drink a glass of ice water and wait fifteen minutes. You may be thirsty instead of hungry!

Get enough sleep. Your sleep cycle contributes to how your body stores fat and maintains muscle, and when it’s interrupted it has a significant impact on your hormonal balance, which in turn effects your weight management. Be sure to get your eight hours as often as you possibly can.

Make your workouts fun. As much as you can, anyway! Exercising doesn’t have to be a chore – guaranteed, once you get into the groove of a regular workout plan, you’ll feel incomplete if you skip a day. Vary your routine with lots of different types of exercise – Zumba, strength training, yoga, dance classes, running, whatever you want as long as you’re moving. Group classes are great because the instructor will be there to motivate you, making it a lot harder to throw in the towel halfway through.

Don’t forget that weight loss is less about dieting and fads, and more about a complete lifestyle change. Make working out a necessity and change your eating habits in a way you’ll be able to maintain, and you will likely see much better results than if you start with a strict deprivation-style diet. Good luck with your weight loss goals this year!