5 Simple Strategies for Weight Control
Maintaining a healthy weight is important. If you’re underweight, overweight, or obese, any of the three can increase your risk of certain health problems. Roughly two thirds of the U.S adult population are overweight or obese. If you’re in this category, achieving a healthy weight will enable you to control your blood pressure, cholesterol, and blood sugar. What’s more, managing your weight can prevent weight-related diseases, like diabetes, heart disease, and arthritis.
To maintain your weight and stay healthy, minor lifestyle changes can yield impressive results. If you aren’t sure what action to take, here are some simple strategies to get in control.
Monitor Calorie Intake
Many of us aren’t aware of how many calories we consume daily. Unless you’re paying attention to your food packaging, you could be exceeding the recommended daily calorie intake. Over time, this can lead to gaining pounds and make it harder to manage your weight. There are apps you can use that can track your calorie intake and help you pinpoint areas to cut back.
If you’re serious about eating fewer calories, you may want to try intermittent fasting for short periods. Potential benefits of intermittent fasting include weight loss, fat loss, and a lower risk of some diseases. You can get the latest intermittent fasting tips and get ready to take back control of your health and weight.
Push Yourself to Exercise More
One of the most effective ways for losing weight is through exercise. However, you need to stick at it, rather than throw in the towel once you’ve achieved your desired goal. This is because the weight can soon creep back on. Exercise doesn’t have to be a chore either. Make sure to pick an activity you enjoy doing, otherwise, you’ll stay glued to the couch, rather than being fit and active.
Some of the best exercises for weight control include jogging or running, swimming, cycling, and yoga. To encourage you, you may wish to work out with a friend. You don’t have to head to the gym either. You can work out from home and be in an environment that helps you feel comfortable. Just make sure you include 30 minutes of physical activity in your day. You’ll soon see the benefits!
Skip the Sugary Drinks
Drinking beverages high in sugar is commonly linked with weight gain. If you want to keep your weight under control, you may need to put down the soda. Yes, we get that soda tastes amazing and can hit the spot, but if you want to manage your weight and avoid gaining anymore, we advise you to skip the sugary drinks and look for healthier options.
While you should be drinking lots of water already, there are other healthy beverages you can have too. These include green tea, fat-free milk, orange juice, or a tasty homemade smoothie. Ditching the soda and switching to any of those listed can help you manage your weight better.
Snack Smart
Many of the popular snacks we know and love may taste fantastic, but they’re high in calories. Whether you love a bag of Cheetos or can demolish a pack of Oreos without a second thought, eating too many snacks filled with added sugar, salt and fat won’t be good for your waistline. All the hard work you’ve achieved thus far will go to waste if you’re not mindful when snacking.
There is a solution to this – eat healthy snacks! We understand you may be rolling your eyes at the thought, but there are lots of nutritious and yummy snacks that will help keep your weight under control. These include rice cakes, hummus and veggies, yogurt and berries, and even dark chocolate. Make sure to stock your cupboards and pantry with lots of healthy snacks. That way, you won’t be tempted to gorge on something else.
Eat More Protein
High-protein foods have an array of fitness benefits. These include building lean muscle, speeding up recovery after an injury, and of course, helping to maintain a healthy weight. One of the great things about protein is that it can curb hunger and keep you feeling fuller for longer periods.
Some of the best foods high in protein include lean beef, salmon, chicken, and eggs. There are other ways to up your protein intake, such as adding protein powders like whey to your smoothie or shake. A protein-rich diet can help individuals lose weight and avoid overeating. Also, plan out your meals in advance. Doing so will ensure you’re getting plenty of protein on your plate.
Understandably, you’ll want to keep off any weight you’ve lost. However, with so many temptations all around us, it can be easy to regain the pounds and be back at square one. To control your weight and keep everything in check, all the strategies above can help you achieve just that.