Lose that Extra Weight: 6 Lifestyle Habits You Should Have

Most people think that subscribing to fad diets and spending every waking hour in the gym is the key to losing weight. While those things can help you lose weight, it’s your lifestyle habits that make your workouts more effective. Just imagine spending hours in the gym only to go home and eat like there’s no tomorrow at the wrong time, then not doing anything in the house, etc.

These things might not seem to have a huge impact, but they still have some effect on your body. That said, follow on for Lose that Extra Weight: 6 Lifestyle Habits You Should Have!

1. Pay Attention to Your Food Portions

Most people eat two to three times more than the recommended amount should be. Not only that, restaurants often also serve up bigger portions than is recommended. But why is this important? Having bigger portions can trick your mind into thinking that this is the customary amount of food you should be eating.

You can ask your doctor if you need to know exactly how much you should eat. But if you’re more interested in knowing how many calories you should approximately consume, that information is readily available on the internet. All you have to do is to put information about your weight, height, age, etc., and then input the food items and tally up.

2. Put Down Your Spoon and Fork Between Bites

Most of us are so busy that some of us practically inhale food and don’t chew it down like we’re supposed to. Some of us don’t even eat meals because we’re always in a hurry. But let’s focus on the former, mindful eating. Eating your food slowly is a nifty trick to cut back on calories. Instead of scoffing your food down in a few seconds, eating more slowly can help your body register its fullness, making you feel satiated properly and more importantly, feel more grateful for it.

On average, it can take more or less 20 minutes for your brain to ‘feel’ full. So if you finish your meals earlier, you might still feel ’empty’. Then you’ll tend to gorge on more food, but if you take time, you’ll also find you also cut back on calories significantly.

3. Drink More Water

Have you ever experienced feeling hungry right after you finish your meal? The human body is a brilliant machine, but it can also have some slip-ups, like mistaking your thirst for a hunger pang. That said, sometimes, you think a hunger pang is a thirst, so it will be very beneficial to drink more water, especially at every meal and in between.

4. Pay More Attention when Making Your Lunch

Not only will making your lunch save you a lot of money, but it also helps you appreciate more about what you’re eating. Not only that, but since you’re preparing it yourself, you’ll know the stuff you’re putting into your food, making you more in control of your diet, especially if you’re trying to lose weight.

This is undoubtedly much better than always eating outside since you never know exactly what the preparation is behind the food you’re eating in some restaurants!

5. Be a Smart Snacker

Snacking is not a bad thing per se; it’s more about your habits when it comes to snacking. When you’re trying to lose weight, snacking can be your best friend in losing weight or a sneaky fox that can lead you to gain more weight.

If you’re trying to lose weight, it’s better to divide snacks into suitable portions and eat them at regular times throughout the day instead of eating them just whenever you want. Doing the latter will leave you wanting more later in the day, which can lead you to mindlessly snack your way into an empty fridge, which is the exact opposite of what we’re trying to do here.

6. Sleep More

We all know it can sometimes be challenging to stick to a sleep schedule, so losing weight will be the least of your problems if you don’t have proper sleep. But having a good sleep schedule can work wonders if you’re trying to lose weight.

But why? This is because sleep keeps your ghrelin and leptin in check. If those hormones are imbalanced, they will increase appetite, which can push all of your efforts down the drain. The recommended amount of sleep for adults is between 7 to 9 hours a night. If you’re having trouble sleeping, you can opt to use sleeping aids to help you sleep. You can even get them for discounts on sites like Buzzrx.

Spending every day in the gym and subscribing to fad diets won’t get you very far. You should focus on your lifestyle habits, especially those involving your meals. It’s good that you’re exercising and dieting, but fitness and weight loss habits are first forged at home. Don’t allow bad lifestyle habits to spoil your gym efforts!

How convinced are you that lifestyle habits are the most effective components in sustaining weight loss? Let us know in the comments below and on FacebookTwitter & Instagram!

Jennifer Dawson

Jennifer Dawson is an experienced freelance writer who specializes in food and nutrition. Working in fitness marketing previously gave her a good feel for the industry and since going freelance she has been able to explore her preferred topic areas such as diet types, nutrition and food. Outside of work, Jen enjoys traveling, swimming and spending time with her young family.

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