When it come to shedding pounds the healthy way, burning fat is the way to go. Weight loss can take many forms. For instance, a severe case of dehydration can show up as weight loss on the bathroom scale. But it isn’t. In fact, unhealthy weight loss can delude you into thinking you’re doing the right things, thus compromising your training and causing a plethora of health problems. Instead, if you want to lose weight the right way, then you must get rid of the fat deposits on your body. For that, below are 2 eating guidelines that can give a boost to your weight loss program!
Don’t Skip Meals
Many fitness enthusiasts who are on the weight loss path make the decision of skipping meals as a means to speed up the weight loss process. This is a big mistake. In fact, opting for this eating strategy is a sure way to force your body into starvation mode and it will hamper the metabolism and burn off fewer calories as a result. In addition, when meal skipping, you’ll be setting yourself up to binge and overeat as you’ll be hungrier on your next meal. All this leads to weight loss plateaus, even weight gain, and a bunch of other physical and mental performance troubles.
Therefore, make sure to keep your metabolism levels running high throughout the day. The best way to do that is to eat frequently and all through the day. The ideal eating pattern to follow is 4-5 small meals every 4 hours. Each meal must be composed of a healthy mix of complex carbohydrates (providing energy), lean protein (to aid with recovery and building muscle) and healthy fats.
Furthermore, your body should be well hydrated all through the day. Shoot for 7-8 glasses of water per day and replace sugary drinks with healthier alternatives such as herbal teas and lemon juice. Fruit juice should be consumed in moderation.
Use The Glycemic Index
The Glycemic Index is the perfect tool if you’re looking to slim down by keeping your blood sugar levels at bay. See, the tastier (more sugars in it) the food, the more elevated your blood sugar levels will be after consuming it. When you have high blood sugar levels, expect troubles. Most people tend to have mood swings, low energy levels, and overeat as a result of high blood sugar (don’t forget about the risk of diabetes also).
Keep your blood sugar levels under control by following these tips:
- Review the Glycemic Index list of foods and use it whenever you’re planning a meal. Opt for foods with lower ratings as they’re less likely to cause a sugar spike.
- Eat your carbs in the right times. The best time to eat the majority of your carbs is in the morning and immediately after a training workout. During these times, the human body is primed to use the carbs as energy instead of storing it as fat on your body. Don’t eat carbs at night.
- Keep tabs on your blood sugar levels. Though the glycemic index is a powerful tool, most people respond differently to different food. You need to come up with your own list of food that work the best for you.
These 2 eating guidelines are simple and easy to follow. Nevertheless, being a perfectionist can stand in the way of your success. You need to be flexible and find what works best for you by monitoring what you’re eating so you know if it’s actually yielding the results you seek. Therefore, you need to be your own “guinea pig” and uncover what works best for you.
