Health & Wellness - India Herbs Blog

Here is how you can benefit to shed that stubborn weight.

1) Do not try to do EVERYTHING at once

There are times when we overcommit ourselves, pledging to amend and adopt anything and everything healthy possible in the run to shed those tough pounds. We have these new routines on top of our daily routines and the next thing we know, we are slaves to our unreasonable goals. Start small and stick to it. Snack on fruits and veggies only and have smaller lunch and dinner. Cut off all sugar, especially during breakfast. They will add up over the long term and so too will your weight loss.

2) Plan ahead

Planning is the key to success. The simple act of planning ensures that we are never caught off guard. Ideally, we should start each day knowing what we will eat for every meal and snack, what foods we need to take with us and what we are going to buy.

3) Clear out your cupboards

Most of us are easily tempted with foods such as chocolates, biscuits, potato chips at home. It is human nature to eat food when we see it, so replace these with key items for those nights when you get home late. Limiting your chances to eat treats is absolutely necessarily and will make the process of reaching your diet and lifestyle goals much easier.

4) Have soup

Any diet that contains a fewer calories that you are used to leaves you hungry easily. A simple trick is to eat a thick vegetable soup to provide mass without many calories. A soup based on leeks, celery, onions and garlic will not only provide nutrition but also help to draw excess fluid from the body, leaving you feel light and less bloated.

5) Go alcohol free

Giving up in alcohol in the early stages of weight loss is vital. Health experts has confirmed that high-alcohol diet would be the easiest way to put on weight. Successful weight loss is all about oxidizing or burning. Not only does alcohol put the brakes on fat loss, it is also one of the most effective ways to slash your testosterone levels. Go alcohol free for a month may be the kickstart you need to see the change in the scales, to find out how much you really have been drinking, and to consider if you are drinking for enjoyment or out of habit.

6) Go nuts

A portion of ten nuts each day ensures that you get a good dose of healthy fats, protein, fibre and vitamin E. Have them with a piece of fruit as a late-afternoon snack, which will help to ward off the pre-dinner munchies. When it comes to which type to choose, walnuts stand out as the clear winner as they contain exceptionally high amounts of good fats.

7) Pile on the veggies

Eating plenty of vegetables wins hands down when it comes to keeping body weight in check. Always have a couple of vegetables in your handbag to snack on, whether it’s carrots, some celery sticks or cherry tomatoes. Not only will you always have something to satisfy hunger pangs, it also means you are more likely to hit the minimum three portions of vegetables or salad adults should have every day. Unlike fruit, which is carbohydrate-based, vegetables consist mainly of water, so they have virtually no calories, which means you can eat as many as you like without gaining weight.

8) Do not skip breakfast

After going without food for eight to 12 hours during the night, the body is ready to refuel. Putting off eating until 10am or 11am, or skipping breakfast altogether, slows down your metabolic rate and can ultimately lead to long-term weight gain. Recent research found that people lost twice as much body fat when they consumed half their daily calories at breakfast. Good choices include wholegrain toast with one or two poached eggs, low-fat cheese, baked beans on toast, or muesli with yoghurt and fruit.