Weight loss tips tricks
Losing weight is not easy, especially if you have a lot of it to lose. COURTESY PHOTO
What you need to know:
“Start your day with a hearty, healthy breakfast, eat a moderate lunch and end with a light and early supper
Losing weight is not easy, especially if you have a lot of it to lose. These tips and tricks will help you on your journey to a trimmer, healthier body.
•Take picture of yourself, at the beginning and throughout your journey. The initial pictures may show your bulges in all the wrong places, but your progress will show in your photos as you lose more and more weight. This will encourage you to work even harder to reach your goal.
•Start your day with a hearty, healthy breakfast, eat a moderate lunch and end with a light and early supper.
•Use a small plate or bowl for your meals, to help you eat less.
•Cut out oil completely or reduce it to one to two teaspoonfuls, for the occasional stir-fry.
•Cook with small amounts of herbs and spices to add flavour to your food.
•When plating your food, make sure steamed, boiled or stir-fried vegetables make up the largest portion of your food with a small side of protein and carbohydrates.
•If you feel like snacking, select healthy low calorie snacks, such as; an apple, an orange, a small banana, a slice of watermelon, pineapple, pawpaw and half a handful of roasted nuts and simsim.
•Celebrate your victories by giving yourself non-food treats, such as a new t-shirt or top, or a day at a spa.
•Exercise daily, even skipping or running on the spot for a few minutes, can make a huge difference over time.
•Exercise to music to make your sessions less boring.
•Make food swaps that make significant differences to your calorie intake. For example, instead of sodas, take soda water or plain water with the juice of one lime or lemon to make it more refreshing.
Substitute mayonnaise for plain, thick yoghurt mixed with a little lemon juice, garlic, salt and pepper. Or use a little vinegar or lemon juice with a few spices for salad dressings. Cut out sugar and use cinnamon or tea masala to flavour your tea instead.
•Be patient and realistic about your expectations. It took years to pile on that weight and it is only logical that it should take you a year or so to take it off.
