(BlackDoctor.org) — If you were to vote on the top resolution that people make at the start of a new year, losing weight would be the undeniable winner. And with good reason: Americans, as you know, are getting heavier and heavier, despite all of the weight loss pills, books, plans and celebrity-featured commercials.
When it all comes down to it, there is no real 100% guaranteed gimmick to lose weight. No tricks. No magical potions. When it comes to losing weight, the only way to do it is to overhaul your eating habits and consistently eat less.
Easier said than done, right? Not necessarily. Here are five things you can do to help you eat less, and finally, finally lose that weight.
- Invest in tools to help you get it right. Using measuring cups, scales, pre-portioned plates, and pre-portioned foods can help take away the guess work in determining if you are eating too-much. We typically overestimate portion sizes and overeat in most circumstances. By using these tools you will learn how to reduce what you eat and also be able to visualize correct portions when eating away from home.
- Get happy and active. Finding what makes you happy and doing it reduces your stress level which creates cortisol which can lead to overeating. Also less stress means less emotional eating, this is often the main source for intake of unhealthy, high calorie foods.
- Get organized. Preparing meals ahead of time and keeping all of your lunch time supplies, such as lunch bags and containers, in order will make it easier and less time consuming to choose the right foods. This will eliminate the need for a mad dash through a drive-thru for breakfast and lunch and therefore will eliminate all the added calories, fat, and sodium from fast food meals.
- Breakfast! Taking the first bite early in the morning can help keep you more satisfied during the day and also helps to get your body burning more calories earlier and faster. Eating breakfast will help you avoid overeating later in the day and also gives you one more meal to obtain nutrients to keep you focused and fueled all day long.
- Move it. Being active and finding activities that you love to do are great ways to reduce intake of mindless snacking. Think about the times of the day when you resort to sitting on the couch or in front of the computer and snacking on those not-so-healthy foods. Fill that time with a spin class or a walk around the neighborhood or even dancing around the house with the kids and eliminate those extra calories.
Step into a new, healthier you with a few steps that can help you take charge of your eating habits and activity level. Eating less calories to get to a healthy weight will help you feel great, look great, and most importantly reduce your risk for chronic diseases such as diabetes and heart disease.
