Wanting to lose weight (and/or to become more fit), is the single most popular New Year’s resolution. Every January sees an enormous increase in diet aid sales and the purchase of gym or fitness club memberships. Unfortunately, as the year draws on, this resolution is also the most likely to fall by the wayside.
Fortunately, there are many things you can do to help keep yourself on track.
Here are some tips that will help you plan the lifestyle changes that will keep those unwanted pounds away:
Have a Plan
You may be familiar with the expression, “People don’t plan to fail, they simply fail to plan.” Never is this more true than in the case of weight management. Planning your daily food intake and physical activity will help you to lose weight and to better manage your new weight.
Always Eat Breakfast
Our ancestors’ bodies were designed for survival during times when food was scarce. Perhaps unfortunately, this characteristic remains with us. As soon as the body senses a restriction of its usual food supply, it goes into survival mode. This means that the metabolism slows right down, making it more difficult to burn off caloric intake.
The slowdown of metabolism usually kicks in after a substantial gap in food intake. Since people who skip breakfast are restricting food intake for 14 hours or more, they are likely to push their bodies into survival mode.
Even if you are not a “breakfast person” you should try to consume something light to break your night-time fast. A slice of wholegrain toast with peanut butter, a bagel and light cream cheese, a cup of yogurt or a breakfast smoothie will be enough to rev up your metabolism until lunchtime arrives.
Identify Your Weak Times
Virtually everyone has certain times of the day or night when the desire to munch on fattening foods is almost overwhelming. For most people this occurs two to three hours after dinner.
Leisuretime pursuits such as watching TV or reading are more enjoyable to many when they are accompanied by eating something - usually finger foods such as cookies, popcorn, potato chips and other high fat or high calorie munchies.
Prepare for these times by making yourself non-fattening snacks beforehand. Carrot sticks accompanied by a few almonds, shelled sunflower seeds and sliced apples are all good choices.
Sneak in Activity
Being active is an important component of any weight loss plan. Physical activity, particularly when intense, revs up the metabolism during and after the workout. If you can’t afford the time to work out, remember that the benefits of physical activity are cumulative. Sneaking in a few minutes of activity now and then during your day will quickly add up, elevating your metabolic rate and burning more calories.
Consider Weight Management Aids
Many excellent weight management aids are available from the pharmacy department at London Drugs. These include the Jamieson Slimdown® weight loss products. Please consult your pharmacist if you are unsure which products best suit your specific needs.