Have No Fear of Summer
by: Colleen Palati
Summer will be coming again soon. It'll be time for beach parties, pool parties, outdoor picnics, and vacations. It's a great time for you to be outside and enjoy your life. Do you feel anxious about the coming season due to some extra pounds? Need some realistic help on safe weight loss? If so, I would like to share with you some of the weight loss tips that helped me.
Of course everybody has different personalities, genetic makeups, and lifestyles that make each of us special and unique. But there are some common tips that can help, regardless where you are in our life. Let me emphasize one point. I use the word "help". Ultimately, the decision comes down to you. You're daily choices will either help you or hurt you. I can offer you tips that have worked for me, but ultimately, your weight loss is in your hands. So on that note, let's dive into the following suggestions, get some safe weight loss help, and start taking control of your future health & happiness!
#1. A positive mental attitude
I start with this point because I think it is, by far, one of the most powerful tools we have. I believe a safe weight loss plan begins here. Our behavior reflects what we put into our mind. If we think of ourselves in negative terms, our behavior will follow. If we fill our minds with good, positive, and goal-striving thoughts, our behavior will mirror that.
Think good thoughts about yourself. Take some time.20 minutes a day if you can, just mediating on your weight loss goals. Close your eyes. Relax. Envision yourself as a thin, healthy, and happy individual. Then, in as much detail as you can, picture what you will do to get there. Picture yourself exercising (and liking it!).
See yourself making healthy food choices. Imagine how happy you will be when you reach your goal weight. Try to do this everyday and, trust me, it will be easier to lose the weight. It worked for me! (If you would like to read further on this subject and learn more about power the mind has in our life, read Psycho Cybernetics by Maxwell Maltz.)
#2. Don't be a slave to the scale
Checking your weight constantly can be discouraging rather than helpful especially if your weight fluctuates naturally. Try weighing yourself only once a week at the same time of day. I like to judge how I'm doing by utilizing "the clothes test". Check to see how your clothes are fitting you. (I believe a safe weight loss plan can be interrupted with an obsession with the scale and its number starring back at you, so use alternative methods.)
This method works great for me as I experience less anxiety and can focus more on making good choices rather than obsessing on the number I just saw from the scale! And for all my ladies out there, don't weigh yourself or do "the clothes check" when you are PMSing. We are naturally going to be heavier and bloated because of our cycles. The last thing some of us may need is more stress injected into such a "spirited" week!
#3. Understand your Metabolism
Some of us are under the misconception that if we don't eat anything or very little, we'll lose weight faster. This belief is certainly not safe weight loss! The body needs a fairly consistent flow of healthy foods to keep your metabolism going. I want you to think of your metabolism as a fire. When you throw wood onto that fire, it gets bigger. Withhold the wood and the fire will die out.
The same concept can be applied to your metabolism. Withhold food, and your metabolism will slow down, burning less fat and eventually turning onto your lean muscle to feed on. A good rule of thumb is to eat every 3 hours or so. I like to carry around a handful of raw almonds or walnuts, and an energy or protein bar for when my "3 hour snack" hits when I'm not at home. Fruit is another excellent choice. Whatever you choose, make it a low calorie and healthy choice to activate that fire inside of you!
#4. Fill up on whole fruits and vegetables
(continued...)
Have No Fear of Summer
Page 2
About The Author
Colleen Palati
Get your free subscription to HealthyRevelations newsletter and be on the cutting edge of topics such as health, nutrition, & weight loss. Gain insight on issues that'll be sure to enhance your life! Go to http://www.healthyrevelations.com
|
|
