For many people, healthy weight loss sounds like an oxymoron. For too long, we have been told by the media that the only way to lose weight is to eat less than we need and also be miserable.
This couldn’t be further from the truth. Not only can weight loss be accomplished safely and healthily, but it can also be quite comfortable and it can even feel good.
Get Your Head In The Game
To begin with, you’re going to want to have a mental moment. Take some time to get still and present and think about weight and weight loss. Take note of any reactionary or difficult thoughts that arise. Really question the things you believe about weight loss. You may be tempted to skip this step. But time and time again, it has been proven that our mental state, and our beliefs about ourselves, have a drastic impact on all areas of our lives. It also has an impact on how successful we are when attempting to accomplish goals. Any lasting change involves a mindset shift.
From an incredibly young age, your mind has been programmed to believe certain things about yourself and the world. Sometimes these beliefs are not only false but harmful. Things like: I’ll always be bigger, I don’t like vegetables, I hate exercising. No matter what I do, I won’t be able to lose weight. It takes a conscious effort to alter self-limiting beliefs. But your mind is incredibly powerful. It does not like to be wrong about things. It will find ways to prove itself correct. Every change begins with a change in your mindset.
Avoid “Diet” And “Weight Loss” Products
Ironic, yes, but also necessary. Products designed to help you lose weight are often incredibly unhealthy, over-processed, and full of artificial chemicals that are terrible for you.
Just because something is labeled diet, low fat, or zero-calorie, does not mean it will help you lose weight. Almost always, the exact opposite is true. Anything truly bad for your body is going to require extra work from your body for recovery. This is energy and time your body could be spending on things that will have a positive effect on your health and waistline.
Cut Back On Sugar and Refined Carbohydrates
You knew this one was coming, didn’t you? Sugary foods and drinks are terrible for your weight, and your overall health, and your mental well being. Moreover, sugar is making you miserable, and it’s hurting your body. Refined carbohydrates like white bread and pasta are quickly converted by your body into glucose, resulting in a very similar effect to sugar.
Help Your Body Heal Itself
There are a few ways to help your body do what it needs to do. Sleep is the most obvious one. When you’re resting, your body is working. It needs this time to keep you in tip-top shape. Proper deep breathing through the nose can also help. Your body needs oxygen for so many things, and often, when people are stressed, they breathe more shallowly.
Branch Chain Amino Acids are an essential part of muscle growth and recovery, especially after intensive workouts. Experts from fintys.com.au/supplements/bcaa/ have broken down exactly what BCAAs are and how they impact your body when you are exercising and dedicating time to fitness and weight loss. Make sure you’re getting enough probiotics and prebiotics. These magical gut bacteria are what keeps your digestive functioning optimally, which has far-reaching effects on your weight, mood, comfort, and overall health.
Find An Enjoyable Form Of Exercise
Yes, you can enjoy moving and sweating. Start small. Stretch when you wake up in the morning. It feels good, doesn’t it?
Think of how children run around, how they roll, climb, stand on their heads. Think of how much they enjoy this. This is our natural state. (When speaking of terrible beliefs programmed into us, physical education classes in public schools deserve a stern talking to. Many adults associate exercise with humiliation or feelings of worthlessness because of this). This too can be healed with conscious effort. Remember how much fun it was riding your bike as a kid?
Listen To Your Body
Depending on how long you have been struggling with your health, body image, skin, or weight, this one might take some time to get right. Every moment your body is sending you messages. Your hair, skin, nails, mood, cravings, energy levels, menstrual cycle symptoms, headaches – all of these things are messages.
Now, that doesn’t necessarily mean when you crave something that you should give it to your body. A lot of us have had some bad programming and all messages should be more closely examined. Let’s say someone has a highly stressful and demanding job, a job that keeps them staying awake well into the night and getting up stupidly early.
This person’s body has probably sent the traditional “I’m tired” message repeatedly in the past (yawning, eyelids begging to stay closed, etc), but, in the past, this hasn’t worked to get their body energy, because the messages were ignored.
Now when this person is tired, they crave a chocolate bar, because that’s what their body has learned is the best it can hope for. Analyze and truly try to understand your body’s cues. You’re likely going to realize that your body has been begging you for good sleep, water, and healthy foods for years now.
Not only is it possible to lose weight healthily, but it is also completely possible for the experience to be interesting, beautiful, and enjoyable. Keeping these tips in mind will be beneficial no matter where you are in your weight loss journey.