Weight Loss Tips
You finally found and ordered
your dream wedding gown and now maybe you want to lose a few extra
pounds before it arrives for your first fitting. Maybe you want
to get fit before you hit the beach on your honeymoon. Many brides-to-be
feel that their wedding is finally the motivation they need to
lose those unwanted pounds.
If you want to avoid resorting
to "fad" diets or diet supplements, it is within healthy
limits to lose 1 to 2 pounds a week. But it takes dedication!
First any bride-to-be who wants
to lose weight should remember that you will not see results on
the scale in two days, no matter how hard you worked. You won't
lose two inches in two days. You should keep in mind that results
will never come as fast as you want them to, but they will if
you stick to it.
KEEP
TRACK OF WHAT YOU EAT
This tip is perhaps the most obvious. If you are eating a lot
and taking in plenty of calories and fat, you will not lose weight.
Therefore you should watch what you eat. One of the best ways
to keep track of what you eat is by keeping a journal of what
you eat. Often, people don't realize how much they are really
eating until they write everything down. When keeping a journal,
you may also be able to pinpoint trouble spots in your daily eating
routine. For instance, you might realize that you eat a candy
bar or some other candy snack at the same time every day. You
realize that it is when you are tired and taking a break from
work. By thinking ahead, cutting out that candy bar and replacing
it with something else healthy, you could cut 250 or more calories
from your daily intake.
Don't be afraid to eat three
meals and two low calorie snacks a day. The snacks can keep you
from starving and then eating a huge portion during meal time.
WATCH
YOUR PORTION SIZES
With all the excess at restaurants, it's hard to view large portions
as anything but ordinary. However, most restaurants serve up huge
portions, which usually equals a huge amount of calories. Portion
sizes should often equal the size of the palm of your hand. For
instance, one healthy-considered portion of meat or chicken would
be the size of the palm of your hand, or maybe a deck of cards.
The same goes with anything you may have on the side like pasta
or rice. When served a big portion of food at a restaurant, a
good tip is to get a to-go box even before you are halfway through
your meal. Put part of your meal in the box before you are even
done eating, and leave behind what you judge would be a healthy
portion size.
Of course adding extra fruits
and vegetables benefits your diet. Besides the vitamins and minerals
they contain, they are very low in calories, so they fill you
up with little calorie intake.
EXERCISE
5 TO 6 DAYS A WEEK
Exercising burns calories. Therefore if you workout 5 to 6 days
a week for 30 minutes or more each time, it will help you lose
weight. If you are not used to physical activity, try starting
out by just walking 3 days a week and then build it up.
Strength training also revs
up your metabolism. Just don't forget muscle weighs more than
fat so it may affect what you see on the scale if you are strength
training!
DRINK
MORE WATER
It's important to keep you body hydrated. Drinking water is a
good weight loss tool because when you drink plenty of it, it
can help you feel full. Also, when your body is slightly dehydrated
and thirsting for water, sometimes if feels as though you are
hungry. So you may think you may need to eat something, but drinking
water and hydrating your body could get rid of that fake type
of hunger.
However you choose to lose
those extra pounds -- set reasonable goals, be patient, stick
to it, and you will be well on your way to reaching your goal!
