Many people are looking to drop a few pounds in order to be healthier or fit better into their favorite outfits. I know I am. However, with so many fad diets floating around, it's hard to know what methods really work. Below you will find weight loss principles that have scientific evidence proving their success.
Eat a Lot of Protein
Many diets call for increasing your protein intake, and according to the Journal of Nutrition, eating higher quality protein can help you keep your muscle while lowering your body fat.
Try to eat at least one form of protein at every meal, while keeping your overall protein consumption at 15 to 35 percent of your daily diet.
Too much protein puts extra strain on your kidneys while also decreasing the amount of calcium in your bones, so make sure you're eating other foods as well.
There are a lot of benefits to eating them you just need to balance it all.
Maintain the Correct Level of Calories
Numerous studies have shown the validity of counting calories.
In order to use this method, you'll first need to determine your calorie maintenance total. This is the total amount of calories you eat per day that will help you maintain your current weight.
Once you have this number, subtract about 500 to 1,000 calories to determine how much you can eat to safely lose weight.
With this method, you'll lose about one to two pounds per week. While it's slow going, it's steady and won't have negative effects on your health.
Reduce Your Carbohydrate Intake
French fries, bread, pasta… these are all delicious foods that will, unfortunately, make you fat.
Studies show that a low-carbohydrate diet is effective for weight loss — more so than even a low-fat diet.
You don't want to cut carbs out of your diet entirely, as they are an important energy source. However, you do need to eliminate refined carbs, which have less nutritional value.
Try eating more eggs, vegetables, cheese, and nuts to fill you up during meals.
When you do eat carbs, stick to healthy choices like sweet potatoes, sourdough bread, legumes, apples, bananas, quinoa, or brown rice.
Never Skip Meals for Weight Loss
Some diet plans call for you to fast during part of the day by skipping breakfast or lunch. This is one of the worst things you can do when dieting.
Skipping a meal causes your blood sugar level to crash, causing you to feel fatigued and generally unwell.
Your metabolism will slow down because it doesn't have the energy supply to stay active, meaning you won't burn as many calories.
Even worse, your body may slip into starvation mode and start conserving every morsel of food you eat as fat. Eventually, your body might even start tapping into muscle as a source of energy.
Get off the diet roller coaster and make some big changes to the way you eat, drink, and think about food. Here are some tips to get you started! Click To TweetPrevent all of this by eating every few hours. Never go more than four to five hours without snacking on something – even if it's just a small meal, it will keep your body nourished.
By following a specific diet plan, you'll be able to lose weight faster and easier than if you tried to do so on your own. To lose weight and get into shape without harming your diet, coolsculpting cost is worth considering.
The above guidelines will help you develop a plan that works with your body to promote the most fat-burning possible.
I’m gaining weight so quickly before the upcoming holidays. I love this article. The website determine your calorie maintenance total is very helpful.Thanks for the informative tips and hopefully they will work.
We are doing a diet right now to try to prep for Thanksgiving. It’s my husbands favorite holiday 🙂
These tips sound reasonable. I’m not into any fad dieting, some are not safe, and people get desperate. Eating a healthy diet can help you feel more energetic which can help you get motivated to be more active, too.
True. We need all the motivation we can get!
I honestly have never tried to lose weight. I’m 5’4 and around 170 lbs (the heaviest I have ever been) but I’m content and happy. I like food and my soda too much to even attempt a diet so rather than fail I just don’t do it lol.
As long as you and your doctors are happy there is nothing wrong with that 🙂
It’s almost impossible for me unless it’s medically supervised. I have to stop eating everything I like, pizza, bread, cake etc and just eat protein and fruits and vegetables.
That way of eating helps me lose weight when I want to too. I miss my desserts and carbs, though!
I try to make sure I’m drinking enough water. I also park further away in order to make myself walk more.
I need to try parking further. I tend to try the closest spot because I’m lazy most of the time LOL.
I find myself in one uncomfortable situation,I’ve been in a health crisis for about the last three years. Too get the core of it is this, after a surgery i contracted sepsis while recovering from a broken hip. I have been in and out of surgeries and the hospital until May of 2017 well now I’m unable to walk (a the present i haven’t given up) I had lost like a lot of weight after my near death situation. Well now all i lost has tripled, i mean i huge and in a wheelchair. I desperately want/need to lose weight and gain strength. Also ladies after 20 years my husband has become obsessed with his body and and lost over a hundred pounds. Out enjoying new clothes a new outlook and the whole nine yards. So you know if you your honest what would cross your mind to think the seven year itch maybe looking for a scratch…i am fatter than ever and stuck. So do you have any suggestions or thoughts advice or encouragement? Seriously i need help
I’m so sorry to hear about all of those problems, Traci! They don’t sound easy to deal with. How did your husband lose the weight? Maybe you could do something together.
When I am diligent about it, water and walking. I have to be so disciplined though, and when I see and feel results, it does motivate me.
I need more water and walking in my life. I get distracted too easily.
Whenever I have wanted to lose weight, I have found that 2 things really work. 1) No more desserts and 2) get my heart rate up over 135 for 20 minutes per day.
I often get sad about the no desserts rule. It’s one of my nightly traditions.
I don’t have a problem with my weight. I pretty much eat what I want, just not alot.
That’s a good thing! I only have to watch what I eat sometimes.
When I want to lose weight I will drink more water and workout more. I love dancing and taking walks with my little girl and our pug.
I have to eat protein, fruits and vegetables and avoid carbs particularly white flour. No sweets. It’s horrible. I love bread, cake, sugar etc.
These are great tips. I have never really had to worry about my weight. Once I did have a little more than I wanted and I eliminated sugary drinks and I shed those extra pounds.
Lucky! I just recently have had to start watching my weight. I seem to gain much quicker now and it is way harder to get off. The joys of aging 🙁
Nice, basic and proven pointers – thank you! I would add: don’t take fat out of your diet!
Thanks, for the added tip! I don’t think I could take fat out of my diet even if I wanted to LOL.
All meals are important, but breakfast is what helps me start my day on the right track. I amim to eat anywhere between 400 and 500 calories for my morning meal, and make sure I’m including a source of lean protein plus filling fat. Startingmy day with a blood-sugar-stabilizing blend of nutrients helps me slim down without sacrifice.
I love the sound of that! Breakfast is a very important meal and I have often found that I seem to have an easier day energy wise if I make sure I get a good, solid breakfast.
I find that listening to my body is the best way for me to eat what I need. I eat small meals and take my time eating what food I do eat. I try to exercise 3 days per week. Nothing too strenuous. In a year, I’ve lost 40 lbs~
Nobody said that losing weight had to be fast and immediate. The way you do it is the best way, in my opinion, but each person is different. However, I’ve heard that your method seems to be the best way to lose permanently.
I’ve never had to worry about weight loss except one time in my life. That time I made sure to always eat meals because I mneeded thsat energy with seven lkids. Ate extra protein and hgot plenty of exetrcise with my kids anyway. I don’t believe in dieting. I ate whatt I want in small quanities when it came to snacks and desserts though.
I believe dieting isn’t for everyone. It’s always good to know your body and your own habits and work out something that you know you can follow and stick to.