If you’ve decided to get serious about your weight loss efforts, you’ve probably already taken a look at a calendar and plotted out how long it is going to take you to lose “x” amount of pounds. You might even have already determined how many calories you think you’ll need to eat every day, along with how much you’ll need to burn through exercise in order to meet your weight loss goals on time. With all this planning in mind, doesn’t it make sense to incorporate a few tweaks as early as possible? Why wait until you’ve “reached a plateau” before you examine all the subtle issues associated with weight loss and then decide to add some modifications? In this post, we will discuss five tweaks you can incorporate into your weight loss plan right away to keep you on track and maximize weight loss during your journey.
Wait, what? Are you surprised that you need to eat in order to lose weight? It is actually very important to eat enough while on a weight loss plan, especially for those who plan to invest in a serious exercise program along the way as well. The human body is programmed to protect itself — and a weight loss plan that allows too few calories is perceived as a threat to its survival. Don’t plan on starving yourself during your journey and if you find yourself crazy with hunger, it’s time to reevaluate whether you’re getting enough to eat.
If you do feel that you’re “hungry all the time”, it is not a license to eat everything in sight. If hunger is a consistent issue, consider whether you are getting enough lean protein every day. Lean proteins are very weight loss friendly. Protein feeds all of your muscles and it increases your metabolic rate — two things that are very important to preserve for good health and maximum weight loss. When selecting proteins, try to stick to those that offer about 45 calories per ounce, rather than some of the higher fat proteins, which can come in as high as 100 calories per ounce. Lean proteins include turkey, chicken, fish, and some types of beef, including flank steak and sirloin cuts along with chuck.
The average American diet is often lacking in sufficient amounts of fiber. Fiber helps regularly move the bowel, boosts metabolism because it makes the body work harder to break it down for digestion, and also adds bulk to a meal, helping individuals to feel fuller longer. To maximize weight loss, women should eat a minimum of 25 grams of fiber daily, with men requiring at least 38 grams per day. Foods high in fiber include beans, raspberries, bran products, and artichokes. If you still have trouble getting enough fiber in your daily diet, consider taking a fiber supplement. Either way, be sure to drink enough water to enable the fiber to properly do its job.
If you really want to maximize weight loss, don’t skimp on getting a good night’s sleep! Not getting enough sleep puts one at risk for hormonal disturbances in their ghrelin and leptin levels that can lead to a feeling of increased hunger throughout the day. So turn off the TV, put down your Kindle and your phone, and get some sleep.
There are countless types of exercise a person can avail themselves of, but exercise that focuses on building strong muscles is the BFF of those currently following a weight loss program. You already have the biggest barbell you’ll ever need (your own body), so use it to increase your metabolism level by way of increasing your muscle mass. Muscle takes up less space than fat, making you look leaner, and it burns significantly more calories (50 per pound) than fat does.
Implementing these tweaks right away into your program will maximize weight loss, thus keeping you motivated and on track to reach your health goals. For more weight loss tips, contact us!
David Michael Gilbertson is the founder and president of 3 Elements Lifestyle, LLC., a Fitness and Weight Loss company that specializes in YOU!. With more than 15 years of experience owning, operating and managing clubs of all sizes, David lectures, delivers seminars and gives workshops on the practical skills required to successfully help you with your health and fitness goals. David also helps you build the teamwork, management, and training necessary to open your own fitness center. For more information on Licensing and Consulting Services Visit his website at www.3elementslifestyle.com or email at daveg@3elementslifestyle.com or call (805) 499-3030.
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Thousand Oaks, CA 91320