Starting a new diet can be intimidating. Whether you are doing it to fit into that beautiful dress for your wedding, look great on the beach during vacation or just get a better handle on your health, dieting is going to take work; changing your eating habits does not happen overnight. If you plan on kicking-off a new diet soon, keep the 6 areas below in mind to help you stay focused and meet your weight loss goals.
Supplements
Supplements are incredibly important for a weight loss journey. When you are so focused on cutting calories, it is easy to overlook your nutrients. Regardless of the type of diet you follow, your body needs proper nutrients. Without it, while you may lose weight, you could suffer negative side effects due to a lack of minerals and vitamins.
Supplements come in many forms. They can be pills, powders, bars, shakes, or an entire line of different products. A great example of a comprehensive program is THRIVE by Le-Vel. The THRIVE Experience includes shakes, capsules, and their innovative derma fusion technology (DFT) patch. You wear the patch on your skin and nutrients are absorbed into the body to promote weight loss. Le-Vel THRIVE reviews speak highly of the amazing effects of the products, so much so that many users have started selling them!
In summary, your body needs proper nutrients, no matter your diet. Make sure you are supplementing with minerals and vitamins. Be it a simple pill or an extensive line of products, you will struggle to hit your pique health without nutrients.
Snacks
Whether you have a hankering for salty foods or you boast a sweet tooth the size of the Grand Canyon, chances are you enjoy snacks throughout the day. When making the switch to a healthier eating plan, you need to keep a close eye on your snacking. Over-snacking can be the downfall of any diet.
The first step is to get all the tempting junk food out of your house. Once that is done, fill your refrigerator and pantry with healthy, diet-appropriate food. If you are struggling to find quick and convenient munchies that do not have to stay cold, try going to a health food store versus a general grocery store, or do some online searches. The beauty of the digital age is nearly everything you need is a click away, including healthy snacks!
Once your kitchen is cleaned out and stocked with yummy, healthy snacks, you still need to keep an eye on how much you are munching. Even if the food is healthy, if you are constantly eating throughout the day the caloric intake can add up. Even if you do not count every single calorie you put into your body, have a general idea of how many calories your snacks are adding to your diet. If you are struggling to lose weight, you may have to cut back on some snacks.
Sleep
Getting a good night of rest does wonders for your body, including promoting weight loss. On average, you should get 7 hours of sleep each night. Anything less puts you at greater risk for going off-course on your diet.
Without a proper night of sleep, the frontal lobe of your brain is less active; this part of the brain is key for self-control and decision-making. If you lack sleep, you will have less self-control when it comes to making smart decisions regarding your diet. Additionally, without enough sleep, your body creates less leptin, a hormone that stifles hunger and tells your brain you are full and creates more ghrelin, a hormone that tells your brain you are hungry. With less leptin and more ghrelin, chances are you will make poor decisions when it comes to eating.
Aim to get 7 hours of sleep every night. Try to go to bed at the same time each night, including weekends. Doing this will establish a routine and help ensure you get adequate rest each night.
Water
Water should be the primary drink you are consuming every day. Not only is it good for your skin and promotes bodily functions, but it can also increase your metabolic rate. While you should be drinking 2 to 3 liters of water a day, adding an additional 2 to 3 cups may increase your metabolic rate up to 30%.
Purchase a large water bottle and keep it with you at all times. If you do not like the taste of water, add some low-calorie foods to mix-up the flavor. Great examples include mint, cucumber slices, strawberry slices or lemon juice. Try different combinations to find which ones you like best.
Meals
Planning and packing your meals ahead of time will help you stick to your diet. If you do not have food handy, you can only say “no” to the donuts or pizza party at the office so many times before you crack. Packing meals at the beginning of each week will ensure you have something nutritious to turn to and help overcome the tempting food at those office celebrations.
Plan a menu and grocery shop at the start of each week. For any meals where you will not be home, prepare and pack the food so it is ready to go at the beginning of each day. Make sure to include healthy snacks as well. And don’t forget your water bottle!
Splurge
Whether your diet includes counting calories, cutting carbs or removing animal products, you do not want to be so uptight and rigid about your diet that any small slip-up sends you spiraling into depression and you end up going completely off-plan. Everyone makes mistakes and gets off course at times. By strategically allowing yourself splurges, you feel less deprived and this reinforces the idea that your diet does not have to be perfect to be successful.
Allow splurges here and there. This may be having cake and ice cream at a birthday party, getting pancakes at breakfast instead of the egg white omelet or indulging in the extra cheesy plate of pasta instead of the dinner salad. Enjoy the food and do not feel guilty about eating it! At the same time, do not let a splurge turn into a justification to start going off-plan every day. Plan your splurges, enjoy them, then resume your normal eating habits the next meal.
Put It All Together
Whether you want to shed a few pounds or need a complete makeover in your approach to dieting, the above recommendations will help you get there. Review the tips and take steps to apply them to your routines. Making these changes will bring you a few steps closer to your weight loss goals.
Tags: fat loss, lose fat, lose weight, weight loss
