New Years Resolutions haunt many of us. There is no escaping that spare tire let alone trying to find ways of making all the air escape from it. It’s in our best interest to lose weight, but actually getting to the point where we actually do it can always be tough.
We always find ourselves asking: “What is the quickest way to lose weight?” and there are simple and quick things you can do in order to lose weight without much change to your overall routine. You want to avoid surgery because it’s dangerous and costly.
Pills are also high in cost but carry with them side effects that no one really wants.
1. Just say no! To refined sugars that is. Refined sugars are found in a many processed foods. In all reality, they are foods “touched by man”. If the food is packaged and processed by someone it most likely has refined sugars.
Cereal is a great example. Always keep away from large amounts of salt, sugar and fat.
2. Always read the labels! There is no excuse to say “Oh – I didn’t know [insert name of chemical] was in it!” – all foods are required by law to have ingredient labels. Do not just read the short list of stuff. The real obtrusive chemicals are found below the label, in the fine print.
The simple rule is if you cannot pronounce it put the box down. Take cereal for instance. Sugar Snaps are loaded with sugar and plenty of things no normal human being could ever pronounce.
Toss it aside and grab a box of Shredded Wheat instead! It has just one ingredient and that is wheat. Granted, Shredded Wheat is bland as a cardboard box so sweeten it up with some sliced fruit like bananas or strawberries.
Use 2% milk unless you are looking at fat-free in which case go for skim.
3. What is the quickest way to lose weight? Balance is the key to good nutrition. The above offers the basis for a well-rounded meal. The milk gives you much needed protein, the whole wheat gives us good carbohydrates and peanut butter provides healthy fat as well as a great source of protein.
If you can maintain this type of combination throughout the day and add in a great cardio workout, you will bust the battle of the bulge in no time!
4. Protein is nature’s fat burner. Our bodies take roughly three hours to digest the meals we consume and lean protein (i.e. chicken, beef, turkey) are what you call “thermogenic”. That means they burn calories better than anything else does.
If you consume a meal every three hours, you will never hunger for junk food. Besides the norm, consume fish like salmon and trout.
Be careful though as too much fish can create a protein in your body that can actually increase your chances of gaining weight. Other protein sources include egg whites, cottage cheese (non-fat of course) and whey protein to supplement your other sources.
5. Carbohydrates are your friend – really! The no carb diets look good on paper but that is about all. Atkins says you can eat as much meat as you want just no carbs. That is awesome if you want to clog your arteries with fat. We need energy in order to properly work out.
Complex Carbohydrates (the good ones) gives us this energy. Spinach, Kale (and other leafy greens), Broccoli, Brussel Sprouts, Red Peppers, Tomatoes, Legumes (beans, lentils) and even Yams, Sweet Potatoes, Barley and sugar free oatmeal.
6. Hydrate! If your body is not hydrated properly, you can feel weak, dizzy and out of sorts. The water also works to flush out toxins in your system. 8 to 10 eight ounce glasses of water will do it. Tea, Coffee and Kool Aid does not count as water.
7. Exercise. Go to the gym and hire a personal trainer. They know their stuff and can get you started down the right path. Three to four times a week should do it.
If you cannot get to the gym try working out at home, it takes more discipline but can be more challenging as well.
Now the next time someone asks what is the quickest way to lose weight you can answer him or her. Eat right, eat well and balance it all out with cardiovascular/resistance training exercises that you enjoy.
Eat Right & Get Going!
