We often mistake going on a diet with eating less, but managing your diet more seriously doesn’t have to mean eating less; it simply means controlling what you eat and managing your calorie intake. Here’s a little secret – you can still eat delicious food and lose weight as long as your diet is healthy.
Here’s another bit of good news – adopting a healthier diet isn’t as difficult as you think. In fact, your existing diet may already be healthier than you assume. With a few tweaks and some minor changes, you can start losing weight with the help of delicious dishes. These tips will get you started with a healthier diet right away.
Don’t Skip Breakfast
Skipping breakfast is something you want to avoid when you are trying to lose weight. As counterproductive as it may seem, having a good breakfast is the key to keeping your diet in check. Breakfast gives you the nutrients you need to survive the day.
Skipping breakfast leads to some unhealthy habits that will actually translate to weight gain. When you don’t get enough nutrients in the morning, for example, you usually start feeling hungry and looking for snacks by 9 or 10 am.
Even worse, skipping breakfast will also make your lunch less satisfying. You either eat more at lunch or maintain your portion, but then have more snacks later in the afternoon. Either way, have a good breakfast to avoid these problems.
Protein Matters
Carbohydrates are something you want to consume less of when you are trying to get into a healthier diet. Stacking up on carbs leads to two things, one of which is significant weight gain in a negative way. Besides, you feel sleepier and less energized when you consume too many carb-rich foods.
What you want is an increase in your protein consumption. This usually means eating more fruit and vegetables, meat and beans, and of course, poultry and dairy. You will feel fuller and more energised when you substitute carbs with healthy proteins.
Proteins also help with slimming. You can have shakes as a slimming aid to help you get enough protein and lose weight at the same time. Shake That Weight gives you the best benefits when it comes to shakes. Their plan will even reduce hunger pangs and help you control your diet better.
Drink Plenty of Water
Water is your best friend when you are trying to have a better diet. Drinking enough water will not only help your body metabolise more optimally but also allows for better control over what you eat. We often mistake thirst for hunger, and drinking enough water helps avoid that problem.
Water, combined with high-fibre foods, also helps the body control fat build-up effectively. After every meal, drink at least a full glass of water to give your body that signal that you are full and ready to return to your activities.
Make this a habit too. When you are accustomed to drinking enough water every day, your body will react positively. Your skin and hair will get better, you will feel fresher when you wake up in the morning, and your immune system will be significantly better after a while.
Use a Smaller Plate
This next one is actually very simple; just use a smaller plate. A smaller plate allows you to reduce your portion size without the brain asking for more. That illusion of a full plate is more than enough to trick the brain into thinking that you are eating enough.
You have to try it to believe it. Simply switching from a large plate to a small one, without changing the portion of your meal, gets you fuller faster. There is a limit to what this trick can do, but it is a trick worth trying if you are serious about losing weight.
Another important thing to do is manage the portion of your meals. Don’t make big changes either way. Whether you are trying to increase your portion or decrease it, do it gradually over a period of 10 to 14 days. Give your body enough time to adapt.
Plan Ahead
Last but not least, it is also a good idea to plan your meals ahead. If you want to have two cheeseburgers on a Saturday, for instance, you can adjust your meals leading up and after that day so you don’t lose that consistency.
Consistency is the key to maintaining a healthy diet and losing weight. It is far more important to remain consistent in what you eat than to make radical changes that confuse the body. Combined with planning ahead, you can have any meal you like without fear of gaining weight.
That’s it! These are the best secrets to keep in mind if you are trying to lose weight. For more tips and tricks on maintaining a healthy diet – including some of the best dishes to try when you are on a diet – stay tuned right here on Made in Shoreditch.
