If we had to write down the most frequently asked question our Fitness Instructors receive in the gym on a daily basis it would undoubtedly be folks asking how to lose weight quickly and keep it off forever. There are many myths surrounding this, so today we show you the facts on how to do it.
In a world where hype is king we all get misled at some point by celebrity gossip magazines claiming we can all lose five stones in a week without going to the gym, or bodybuilding magazines claiming a new supplement is going to help you build muscle in your sleep. This causes disappointment, depression and ultimately no results.
There is a way around it, however. No matter what your current situation, weight loss is not impossible.
The five steps below are the benchmark of a good, proven diet:
1) A calorie deficit is necessary to lose weight but it must be done correctly or it will not work. This means cutting your daily calories by around 100-200 per day until you reach your target number each day as opposed to suddenly dropping your food by 50% and hoping for the best. The former will increase weight loss and make your diet far easier to stick to, whereas the latter will force your body into starvation mode where it stores fat. That's right, drop your calories too drastically and you'll be storing more fat even though you are eating way less. This step is where so many 'yo-yo' dieters and celebrity magazine followers go wrong.
2) If you eat more protein you will burn more fat. That may sound strange, given that protein is normally associated with bodybuilders and building big muscles, but it is completely true. As you drop your carbs and fat intake you will begin burning muscle and keeping fat. You don't want this to happen. Increase your protein intake and you'll end this effect, forcing your body to retain lean muscle and lose fat instead.
3) Protein has far less effect on the body's fat storage systems than both carbohydrates and fat. So when you fancy a snack it makes sense to first look at the available protein sources such as chicken or fish. This is also why protein shakes are increasingly popular.
4) Pack your lunch. This is not perhaps what you'd expect but it will make sense and is a real favorite at the gym among those who get results. When you are out all day at the office there is huge temptation coming from the resident chocolate store or vending machine. We've all been there. Pack a few small tubs with 50 to 100 kcal meals and you'll beat this temptation. The snacks are too small to impact your daily diet anywhere near enough to make a significant difference and it will help you avoid fatty, bad foods.
5) Taking a day off from your diet is a great way to prolong results. You read that correctly! Have you ever done a weight loss plan where you felt like you were punishing yourself, living on 'rabbit food' and avoiding everything you like? If so, where did it lead you? If you are like most people it led you directly to falling off the wagon and reaching 'I'll start over next month' territory.
You are free to have a day off every single week. In fact we advise you to even if you don't want to, because it helps. Your moral goes up, it gives you a target if you are having a tough week at work or feel down, and you can also use it as a kind of reward for your hard work without worrying about eating bad calories. This helps you far more than it hinders you.
Always remember that losing weight gradually is far superior to losing weight drastically, because once it's off it will stay off. These five tips today will help you to begin enjoying those effects.
In a world where hype is king we all get misled at some point by celebrity gossip magazines claiming we can all lose five stones in a week without going to the gym, or bodybuilding magazines claiming a new supplement is going to help you build muscle in your sleep. This causes disappointment, depression and ultimately no results.
There is a way around it, however. No matter what your current situation, weight loss is not impossible.
The five steps below are the benchmark of a good, proven diet:
1) A calorie deficit is necessary to lose weight but it must be done correctly or it will not work. This means cutting your daily calories by around 100-200 per day until you reach your target number each day as opposed to suddenly dropping your food by 50% and hoping for the best. The former will increase weight loss and make your diet far easier to stick to, whereas the latter will force your body into starvation mode where it stores fat. That's right, drop your calories too drastically and you'll be storing more fat even though you are eating way less. This step is where so many 'yo-yo' dieters and celebrity magazine followers go wrong.
2) If you eat more protein you will burn more fat. That may sound strange, given that protein is normally associated with bodybuilders and building big muscles, but it is completely true. As you drop your carbs and fat intake you will begin burning muscle and keeping fat. You don't want this to happen. Increase your protein intake and you'll end this effect, forcing your body to retain lean muscle and lose fat instead.
3) Protein has far less effect on the body's fat storage systems than both carbohydrates and fat. So when you fancy a snack it makes sense to first look at the available protein sources such as chicken or fish. This is also why protein shakes are increasingly popular.
4) Pack your lunch. This is not perhaps what you'd expect but it will make sense and is a real favorite at the gym among those who get results. When you are out all day at the office there is huge temptation coming from the resident chocolate store or vending machine. We've all been there. Pack a few small tubs with 50 to 100 kcal meals and you'll beat this temptation. The snacks are too small to impact your daily diet anywhere near enough to make a significant difference and it will help you avoid fatty, bad foods.
5) Taking a day off from your diet is a great way to prolong results. You read that correctly! Have you ever done a weight loss plan where you felt like you were punishing yourself, living on 'rabbit food' and avoiding everything you like? If so, where did it lead you? If you are like most people it led you directly to falling off the wagon and reaching 'I'll start over next month' territory.
You are free to have a day off every single week. In fact we advise you to even if you don't want to, because it helps. Your moral goes up, it gives you a target if you are having a tough week at work or feel down, and you can also use it as a kind of reward for your hard work without worrying about eating bad calories. This helps you far more than it hinders you.
Always remember that losing weight gradually is far superior to losing weight drastically, because once it's off it will stay off. These five tips today will help you to begin enjoying those effects.
About the Author:
Writer: Russ Howe is a qualified and much followed Personal Trainer and Fitness Instructor. If you are lost with your diet, be sure to also watch our exclusive video step-by-step to how to lose weight today.
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