Healthy Lifestyle Changes to Lose Weight Naturally

Our body needs nutrients, especially carbohydrates. These carbohydrates are used up or broken down into glucose which is the food for our cells (especially Brain cells). When we lead an unhealthy lifestyle, our body will store these extra carbohydrates in our adipose cells which are mainly found in our butts, thighs, arms, legs and the belly. That is the reason why you get fatter in these areas first. As long as you continue to follow an unhealthy lifestyle, your body will also continue to store fats in other areas.

It is important to note that weight loss is not dependent on expensive gym memberships. Neither is it about counting the calories and skipping meals. Heavy exercises only give a temporary loss of weight, especially if you discontinue working out after some time. When you stop exercising all of your weight tends to return.

The only way to lose weight successfully would be to change your lifestyle. An effective weight loss program is slight life-style change that you can live by for the rest of your life. Your success depends upon your attitude and your willingness to do what it takes to lose weight.

How can you break this unhealthy lifestyle and lose a little bit of weight every day?

First of all, ask yourself why you want to lose weight. Be brutally honest with yourself. Losing weight should be something you really want to do. Permanent weight loss will never happen if you are doing it to please someone else.

Perhaps you need to lose weight for a medical reason. Maybe you are tired of being overweight. You may just want to lose a few pounds and become more fit. Any reason is a good reason and is achievable as long as you are willing to make the necessary lifestyle changes.

Next, you need to analyze your current lifestyle. What does your typical day look like? How active are you? What types of foods do you usually eat? Are they mostly refined processed foods or whole fresh foods? Do you eat out? What about your water intake?

Don‘t be afraid if you find that you need to make a lot of slight changes, as you can make these changes gradually and not all at once.

Drink enough water

When we do not get enough water each day, our body holds onto all of the water it does get, because it does not know when it will get more. This is what leads to water weight. By drinking more water each day, our body begins to learn that it will be getting water on a consistent basis, so it does not need to hold onto excess water. In addition, most of the water that your body previously held onto is expelled through urine and sweat. This gives you instant weight loss results.

Eat more often

You should eat about 6 times per day: breakfast, lunch, dinner, and a snack in between each of those meals. Now, you will not be able to eat the same sized portions that you were used to since you will be eating more often. If you reduce your portions during the main meals and choose some healthier snacks to eat between the meals, not only will your metabolism be working at the optimum level, but you will not feel hungry throughout the day, helping you to reduce your cravings for foods that are less than ideal for health.

Get more sleep

One study showed a distinct correlation with lack of sleep to higher levels of body fat. Another study concludes that not getting 8 hours of sleep affects your hormone levels, especially those that are connected with appetite. When you do not get enough sleep, your body craves more higher-carbohydrate foods the next day because of your hormone levels.

While getting more sleep is not a silver bullet for weight loss success, it is definitely a key component and you should strive to get 8 hours of sleep each night.

Get rid of clutter

There is a psychological link between getting rid of clutter and weight loss. When you clean all the clutter from every room of your house it is as if you are clearing the clutter out of your mind too. With a clear mind comes a willingness to clear the clutter from the body as well. An analogy of a “cluttered” body is a body with excess weight.

You also need to clear the clutter from your cupboards and fridge. This type of clutter is called “junk food.” Any refined processed foods that are high in sugar, salt and fat are the kinds of food you want to get rid of. There is no sense in having these foods around just to tempt you to eat them, as eventually you will.

Make your life stress free

Uncontrolled stress plays havoc on the body’s health. Chronic stress can cause weight gain because it releases cortisol, a stress hormone. Both stress and cortisol cause metabolism to slow which in turn causes our bodies to burn less calories and store more fat. To make matters worse, high levels of stress can cause junk food cravings and emotional eating. The end result is we gain more fat.

It is important to alleviate the stress in our lives or at least to control it. Breathing exercises are a great way to promote relaxation. Start off by sitting in a comfortable chair with your feet flat on the floor and your hands resting on your lap. Close your eyes and breathe slowly through your nostrils, lifting your shoulders towards your ears. Hold the position for a second and then exhale through the mouth, while completely relaxing all the muscles in your upper body. Repeat this five times.

Other good ways to control stress include: meditation, massage, hypnosis, daily exercise and listening to relaxing music. If you find none of these techniques work for you then you should consult your doctor.

It is possible to lose weight naturally without the expense of weight loss programs or an expensive gym membership. Weight loss happens when you acquire the correct attitude, choose the right foods and make determined exercise commitments you can live with for the rest of your life.

RESOURCES

• Mayoclinic: 6 strategies for success
• The New York Times: Lifestyle Changes and Psychosocial Treatments
• Lifestyle Changes, Not Diets, Are Key To Losing Weight
• Lose Weight Naturally Fast – Whole Foods, Clean Eating, Healthy Living Book