• Decrease font size
  • Reset font size to default
  • Increase font size

Main Menu

Articles

Newsletter


Receive HTML?

Information

Home Fitness and Sports Weight Loss Lose 20 Pounds. 11 Tips to Help You Get There!
Lose 20 Pounds. 11 Tips to Help You Get There! PDF Print E-mail
Written by T Martin   
When starting a weight loss program it is important to set goals. Just make sure those goals are reasonable and attainable. A goal of losing 10 to 20 pounds is a great place to start, and is well with your reach.
by TMartin


When starting a weight loss program it is important to set goals. Just make sure those goals are reasonable and attainable. A goal of losing 10 to 20 pounds is a great place to start, and is well with your reach.

Do not think 20 pounds is a lot of weight? Look at it this way, a bowling balls weighs around 10 pounds, so 20 pounds is like carrying around two of those all day everyday.

Before you start, you should know your eating and exercise habits. Take stock by keeping a journal. Try to focus on some key areas and ease your way into it. Don't get overwhelmed, and know you can gradually grow your efforts.

Tip number one: Understand your attitude. What is your motivation? How does the timing of this decision work? Are you in a place in your life that is a good place to start? Typically, those that are most successful at weight loss have a motivating factor or "light bulb" moment. Maybe it is a health issue, or an upcoming special occasion, or maybe it is simply a desire to change the way you live. My motivation came to me in the form of a child. I wanted to be a better mother by being a better me.

Tip number two: Weigh your self and take pictures. Your camera will not lie! Sometimes seeing yourself in print can be a reality check. This act will give you a good assessment of where "things" are at, literally. Beyond the shock factor, these photos will provide you before pictures. This can be a rewarding and humbling experience.

Tip number three: Journal. Write down every bite you eat in a log. Study after study indicates people who journal their daily food intake typically meet with more success. In the beginning it is important to just get used to the exercise of journaling. Eventually, you will add fat and calorie tracking to your daily log.

Tip number four: Portions, portions, portions. If you want to lose 20 pounds, you have to pay attention to your portions. People consistently underestimate the amount of food they eat. Not to mention clear their plates. Just because it is on your plate, does not mean you have to eat it. Pay attention to your body cues and quit when you are full. I know I would eat till I was stuffed full, which I can not stand to do now because I do not like feeling that way. Another helpful way to control your portions is use smaller plates. This give you the allusion of a big, full plate of food!

Tip number five. Fail to plan, plan to fail. If you do not do a little bit of pre-planning you are setting yourself up for failure. Have good for you snacks and meals on hand. Schedule your exercise into your daily routine.

Tip number six: Choose your restaurants carefully. It is a great idea to know what is on the menu before you arrive to insure there are healthy alternatives. You should drink water which not only helps your waistline, it helps your checkbook too. And for the love of Pete, do not go out to eat starving. Eat a small snack before hand so you don't lose all restraint and pig out.

Tip number seven: It is ok to treat yourself, do not practice total deprivation. It is a recipe for disaster. I tried to follow an 80/20 rule when I first started out on my weight loss journey. I ate healthy 80% of the time. The other 20% of the time I ate casually, but really watched my portions.

Tip number eight: Get good sleep. Study after study show people that suffer from a lack of sleep have a decrease in a hormone that promotes that "full feeling" and an increase in a hunger hormone.

Tip number nine: Eat more vegetables. Your mother told you time and time again, eat your vegetables, they're good for you. Well guess what? Turns out she knew what she was talking about. Fruits and vegetables increase your feelings of being full and lower your chances of overeating.

Tip number ten: Exercise. Hmmm...exercise. The benefits of exercise are well known. You do not have to set out to run a triathlon, but implementing small amounts of exercise through out your day would be highly beneficial. It is not necessary to buy a gym membership to get exercise into your day. Try to go for short 10 or 15 minute walks through the day. Combine that with things like parking further away or using the stairs. Plain and simple add more steps into your day.

Tip number eleven. Do not drink your calories. Do not waste precious calories on a drink. Soda, juice and alcohol are all extremely high in calories, drink water.

You can lose 20 pounds and do it with relative ease. Do not sabotage your new ways with a hardcore all or nothing attitude. If your style is naturally hardcore, then more power to you. For those of you willing to make some small changes, realize that is enough to have a real impact. Start small, your effort will be obvious and provide you with the motivation to continue on and do more.

About the Author:

If losing weight is your hope, it is our desire to help you achieve this. Tracey has had life long battles with weight and it is her hope to help you achieve peace once and for all. For more information on weight loss go to her site Strip the Fat.

Kindly provided by 4Girls.dk You are welcome to use this article on your own website, if you include this link.
 
Members : 2569
Content : 3681
Web Links : 3
Content View Hits : 539031