Did you know that over 42% of Americans are trying to lose weight yet the average American BMI is continuing to rise rapidly?
Whether you struggle with finding healthy meals for weight loss or squeezing a workout into your busy schedule, it’s understandable why so many people are frustrated by their lack of results. The good news is that weight loss is possible with the right mindset.
Do you want to achieve healthy weight loss and keep the fat off? Keep reading to learn 7 easy strategies that will help you build a sustainable, healthy lifestyle.
1. Eat Enough Calories
One of the most common mistakes people make when they try to lose weight is cutting too many calories out of their daily diet. While you may see results quicker, your body will think you’re in danger and become more resistant to fat loss, which can damage your metabolism. In addition, you’ll be at risk of binging to make up for these severe calorie deficits, which will undo all your work.
While slow and steady may not feel like a rewarding way to win the race, small calorie deficits will preserve your quality of life and allow you to enjoy every mealtime. If you cut 200 calories out of your maintenance diet, then you can expect to lose around a pound every two weeks by only removing a small snack a day. Even if this doesn’t seem like a lot, this simple lifestyle change can help you lose around 26 pounds in a year.
2. Make Healthier Versions of Your Favorite Foods
If you can’t stomach boring salads and smoothies, then who says you have to cut your favorite foods out of your diet forever? When you create a list of taboo foods, they become more appealing and tempt you to binge. Instead, give yourself permission to have your favorite foods in moderation or find ways to add more nutrition to them.
For example, if fries are your weakness, you could try baking or air frying them. If you need healthy lunch ideas for weight loss, then you can even make your fries more filling by adding healthy toppings, such as guacamole, beans, lean ground meat, and salsa. This can make your fries satisfying without adding tons of extra calories.
3. Find Exercises You Truly Enjoy
Lots of people view exercise as a punishment for eating badly or even a prerequisite to eat at all. Exercise should be joyful and healing, leaving you feeling stronger and nurtured when you’re finished. If you hate running or lifting weights at the gym, then never force yourself into doing those activities.
Working out is essential for keeping your body slim and healthy as you age, so you need to find activities that get you excited to move. Whether you try yoga, rollerskating, martial arts, rock climbing, walking, swimming, or dance classes, give yourself time to experiment and see what sticks.
4. Invest in Help From Experts
People who are dedicated to losing weight and making lasting changes can benefit a lot from expert help. One of the coolest ways you can start your weight loss journey is by trying programs at places like SaunaBar where you can get a wellness plan catered to your unique body. There, you can learn about healthy snacks for weight loss with a nutritionist, work out with revolutionary equipment, and have access to fat-burning treatments like SaunaPods.
It can be hard to justify investing in your weight loss if you have a tighter budget, but your health is always worth it. When you take care of yourself now, you can avoid a lifetime of expensive health problems and doctor’s visits.
5. Increase Your Fiber Intake
Did you know that around 95% of Americans fail to eat the recommended amount of fiber each day? If you eat lots of refined grains, then you’re missing out on nutrients that can help you feel fuller for longer.
To get more fiber into your diet, you should work on swapping refined grains for whole grains, such as brown rice, whole wheat bread, whole grain pasta, and oats. Whole grains also have extra protein, which is great for people who want to tone up. Make sure you start adding fiber-rich foods to your meals over the course of a few weeks so you can avoid any uncomfortable gut issues and give your body time to adjust.
6. Try to Avoid Drinking Your Calories
While you don’t have to swear off soda or Frappuccinos for good, it’s best to get into the habit of choosing beverages that don’t contain a ton of calories or sugar. These calories do little to fuel your body and the high doses of sugar can actually cause you to eat more than you normally would.
Our bodies need lots of water to stay vibrant, so you should consider buying a water bottle with time stamps on it to encourage you to drink more throughout the day. If water is too boring for your taste, you can spruce things up by adding fresh fruits and herbs for a zesty flavor.
7. Prioritize Your Mental Health
Stress causes our bodies to cling to fat. Even if you eat well and stay on top of your workouts, your results could be slowed if your mental health is suffering.
Journaling, going for walks outside, cuddling with your pet, chatting with loved ones, and doing a fulfilling hobby are all great ways you can keep stress at bay. Your weight loss journey should never come at the cost of your mental wellbeing because physical and mental health always go hand in hand.
Healthy Weight Loss Will Revolutionize Your Lifestyle
Say goodbye to being miserable on terrible diets and painful exercise regimens. Healthy weight loss is all about making these small, sustainable changes over time to achieve long-term results.
Do you need more help figuring out a workout routine or healthy meal plan for weight loss? If so, our site has plenty of other excellent wellness articles that can help you thrive. Check out our blog so you can start being your best self.
