In 1980 national surveys showed that 35% of Americans were overweight. Today, that number has almost doubled to 65%. Keeping weight off is looking like a losing battle in more ways than one. Maybe we’re just doing it wrong. Despite the widespread interest in losing weight many Americans are in the dark on some of the fundamentals.
Here’s 3 secrets you may not know about losing weight:
1. Almost all successful dieters eat breakfast. If you pass on breakfast you can let yourself get too hungry by lunch time and that leads to overeating. Eating a good breakfast helps you keep your appetite under control and improves the functioning of all parts of your body. Your brain will be clearer, too, and that helps you make good decisions about food.
2. Losing weight takes some planning. You can’t just say “Today I’m going to eat less”. You have to think ahead to what you’re going to eat for each meal so that you can get to the grocery store and stock up on the foods you need. If you don’t plan, you’ll get to meal time and realize that you don’t have the healthy foods you need on hand. That leads to the dreaded refrigerator grazing expedition. At this point, the diet has gone out the window so better luck tomorrow. Don’t let that happen to you. Have a plan ready for each day and make sure you execute the plan with time to spare. The old saying “Failing to plan means planning to fail” applies to dieting, too.
3. Watching television makes you fat. For one thing, if you’re watching TV you’re likely to miss the signals that your brain is sending you telling you that you’re full. You’re also more likely to ignore what your stomach is telling you and wait until the commercials to stop eating. Don’t let TV tell you when to start and stop eating.
Gaining all that weight didn’t happen in a short time so it’s unrealistic to think you can get rid of it in a short time either. There is no more reliable way to lose weight than by portion control and exercise. Stick with it and you’ll succeed. Remember, once you lose the weight the battle is just beginning. Stay with your new healthy lifestyle and you’ll keep the weight off too.
Want to find out more about successful weight loss? Visit HealthyLiving411.com to choose the best diet for your needs.
