12 tips to help you lose weight

 

1. Avoid skipping breakfast

Skipping breakfast would only make you starve but will not help you lose weight. You could miss out on essential nutrients and you may end up having stomach ulcer which is not good for you.

Check out healthy breakfast recipes

2. Maintain a regular meal routine

Eating at a regular time during the day helps burn calories at a faster rate. you ca have a meal plan like having your breakfast from 6-9 am, lunch between 12-2 pm, and dinner between the hours of 4 and 6 pm. Any food you take after 7pm becomes an error as it complicates issues for your body fitness. It also helps to reduce the temptation to snack on foods high in fat and sugar.

Find out more about eating heathily

3. Eat plenty of fruit and vegetables

Fruit and veg are low in calories and fat, and high in fiber. They are essential ingredients for successful weight loss when adequately taken. They help in easy passing out of waste products from the body and also contain plenty of vitamins and minerals.

Read up on getting your 5 A Day

4. Exercise more

Being active always is a major key to losing weight and keeping fit. Have a non strenuous exercise routine that suites your daily activity and endeavor to follow it strictly.  Regular exercising helps a lot in putting the body back to shape and keeping fit especially after putting to bed as well as providing lots of health benefit. Exercise helps burn off the excess calories you cannot lose through diet alone.

Find an activity you enjoy and are able to fit into your routine.

5. Drink plenty of water

People sometimes confuse thirst with hunger and mistake quenching thirst with sodas or soft drinks in place of water. No amount of soft drinks you consume can replace taking water and you can end up consuming extra calories when a glass of water is really what you need.

Read more about drinking water as part of a heathly diet

6. Eat high fiber foods

Foods containing lots of fiber can help keep you from feeling full, which is perfect for losing weight. Fiber is only found in food from plants, such as fruit and veg, oats, wholegrain bread, brown rice and pasta, and beans, peas and lentils.

7. Read food labels

Knowing how to read food labels and its content can help you choose healthier options. Use the calorie information to work out how a particular food fits into your daily calorie allowance on the weight loss plan.

Find out more about reading food labels

8. Portion control

Using smaller plates can help you eat smaller portions. By using smaller plates or bowls, you may be able to gradually get used to eating smaller portions without going hungry. It takes about 20 minutes for the stomach to tell the brain it's full, so eat slowly and stop eating before you feel full.

9. Do not ban foods

Do not ban any foods from your weight loss plan, especially the ones you like. Banning foods will only make you crave them more. There's no reason you cannot enjoy the occasional treat as long as you stay within your daily calorie allowance.

10. Do not stock junk food

To avoid temptation, do not stock junk food – such as chocolate, biscuits, crisps and sweet fizzy drinks – at home. Instead, opt for healthy snacks, such as fruit, unsalted rice cakes, oat cakes, unsalted or unsweetened popcorn, and fruit juice.

11. Avoid intake of alcohol

A standard glass of wine can contain as many calories as a piece of chocolate. Over time, drinking too much can easily contribute to weight gain.

Find out more about the calories in alcohol

12. Plan your meals

Try to plan your breakfast, lunch, dinner and snacks for the week, making sure you stick to your calorie allowance. You may find it helpful to make a weekly shopping list.