That stubborn fat can be so annoying. Sometimes no matter what you do, you feel like smashing the scale when it refuses to budge, eh?
The thing is, eating the right food alone is not enough. We hardly need a fitness expert to tell us that a critical part of any weight loss program is exercise. With regular exercise, we not only lose weight, but promote our overall health.
Just a few benefits of exercise are:
- Lower body fat
- Lower blood sugar
- Lower blood pressure
- Lower cholesterol
To truly reap the benefits of exercise, it is necessary to set goals and make a plan around these goals. Exercise has to be an ongoing activity.
Trying to lose weight without exercise only leads to temporary weight loss, but brings back the weight you lost. The horrible thing is, the fat you gain becomes harder to lose.
So, don’t even imagine that diet alone will do it – you also need to up daily activity level overall.
What if that stubborn fat refuses to go?
Here’s the real secret to weight loss
Do not diet
That’s right. Do not diet. Just eat reasonably. No starving. No depriving yourself. No yo-yo dieting.
Skip empty calories
Avoid processed refined foods like sodas and sweets.
Go in for smaller meals
Eat light at every meal – this will also keep your blood sugar steady and your metabolism stoked. I can endorse this as this is exactly what I am doing right now.
Eat healthy fat
That means Omega-3 fatty acids to promote efficient hormone function and balance, keeping our brains and bodies healthy. A nutritious diet rich in omega-3 fatty acids also helps reduce inflammation, prevent heart disease and arthritis, positively impact behavior and cognitive function, and bonus? You look better, feel better!
Eat lots of vegetables
Load up on the cruciferous variety. Examples are broccoli, kale, cabbage, cauliflower, radish, bok choy, Brussels sprouts..
They have anti-cancer properties.
Drink plenty of water
Water keeps you hydrated and healthy. Drink lots of it. No water, no life. About half an ounce for every pound you
weigh answers the “how much” question.
Sleep
Sleep well. And get enough sleep. Quality and quantity both matter.
Lower your stress levels
You know stress can kill. But before it reaches that ultimate level, it results in a whole lot of health problems. Get stress relief. Learn to relax.
Exercise
Increase your daily activity level gradually – every little helps. This will not only improve your health but also keep you fit.
Have fun
Yes, I saved the best for last. Take up an exercise program you enjoy and stick to it. Buddy up with a friend for accountability and motivation.
Doesn’t that sound do-able? Too often, we skip the basic things we need to do to stay healthy and wonder why we aren’t seeing results.
Be healthy, be happy!
4 comments
Nice pointers Vidya. The problem is when I do one I let go of the other. If only I could follow ALL of those together it would surely make a difference. 🙂
Helpful tips. I don’t know why (I guess I do know why) but I just can’t seem to get started on that exercise routine that is so nicely planned out in my head. O well…I will, I must. Thanks for the motivation 🙂
I wish I could stop hogging on chocolates 🙁
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