The journey to effective weight loss is difficult and at times confusing, with so much conflicting information out there. We look at what the experts are saying to help you make the right decisions.
Increase your vegetable intake
It should come as no surprise that eating more vegetables is on the weight loss tip list. Because they are low in calories and high in fibre, you can eat plenty of vegetables without gaining weight – plus, your hunger pangs will be kept at bay as they fill you up for longer. Try to add vegetables into every meal and your snacks.
Exercise the right way
A mixture of both cardio and strength training is needed for effective weight loss. While cardio will get the calories burning, strength training helps you build muscle. Group fitness classes like Body Pump, which focuses on resistance training, and HIIT, which uses interval training, are great choices. Fitness instructor John Kersbergen tells Popsugar that: “The most efficient way to get results is to do some form of high-intensity interval training (HIIT) for a total-body workout and to focus on strength training certain body parts (upper body, lower body, core) on different days of the week.”
Stay hydrated
Drinking water throughout the day is the simplest thing you can do for yourself on your weight loss journey. Not only does it boost your metabolism, it cleanses your body and hydrates the skin too. Up your water intake by eating foods that have a high water content, such as cucumber, watermelon and grapefruit.
Don’t be too strict
Registered dietitian Leslie Langevin of Whole Health Nutrition says adopting a ‘free’ diet (carb-free, sugar-free, fat-free etc.) or swearing off specific foods is not the best idea. “Cutting out too much” isn’t sustainable, she says, causing you to crave certain foods more and ultimately over-indulge. This same reason is why 95% of people who lose weight on diets gain it back within one to five years, Psychology Today reports.
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