Simple Yet Effective Weight Loss Tips

By Russ Howe


As a gym instructor, over the last five years I have seen many people try to lose weight. Most pick up the latest celebrity diet plan or try to lose weight quickly for a special event such as a wedding and as a result of their need for a 'quick fix' gimmick, they fail.

Here are a few very basic and easy to follow rules which will help anybody to drop some unwanted poundage from their waistline.

* Okay first of all if you are trying to cut weight you need to consume less calories than you do now. Sounds simple, right? That's the basic rule. If you're not sure how many calories you currently eat per day keep a food diary for the next two days and develop an average between the two days consumption.

* Protein is great for weight loss, that's a fact. If you snack throughout your day time then you need to stock up on protein rich foods. These come in the shape of fish, chicken, protein shakes and a whole ton of other options. The fact is when you eat protein you store way less fat than when you consume carbohydrates or fatty foods. Use that to your, and your hunger's, advantage.

* Snack tubs are a fantastic addition to your weight loss routine. You are most vulnerable when at work during a long double shift with no healthy food in sight. You can literally feel the chocolate machine staring you down, right? We have all been there. Take four small tubs packed with a rich protein food and you will keep hunger at bay as well as reap the weight loss rewards of avoiding junk food without even thinking about it.

* When you lose weight you want to ensure it's bad weight which is coming off, i.e. you want to be losing fat not muscle. Even if you're a lady and have no intention to look like a bodybuilder, you do not want to be burning off muscle tissue. So when you drop your carbs down to lose weight like most dieters do, be sure to increase your protein intake. This will prevent your body from burning muscle and ensure you are only losing unwanted fat.

* Taking a day off at the end of each week, or two weeks if you are particularly focused, is a massive plus for anyone in their quest to diet effectively for the long-term. Remember these tips are not about a ridiculous quick fix but will actually help you to change your life, so anything which helps you to prolong the effort is a great thing.

Temptation is our worst enemy when dieting, so it makes a lot of valid sense to take a day off each week. Label it a 'reward' or 'treat' if you wish, but basically this will help you to stick to your program for far longer. If you have ever known someone attempt a diet plan and fall spectacularly off the rails after about 3 weeks you'll know this makes perfect sense.

But the main killer reason we recommend doing this is because it gives you a target. There is a difference, of course, between 'off day' and Christmas day. Don't overdo it. But having that relaxation period on a Sunday is something which will get you through even the toughest week, particularly if you have found it hard to stick to diets in the past.

Nobody we ever meet in the gym says they want to lose weight without following it up with the fact that they also want the weight to stay off forever. We've all known a yo-yo dieter and the terrible things they do to their body every three months or so is definitely not something most people want to follow. These steps will help you not only to lose the initial weight you're after, but they will also ensure it stays off for good.




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