By ‘natural’ we mean not losing weight using any supplements, pills, dietary products or other aids. Using food and preferably fresh food is the better way to lose weight over the long-term.
You have read all that you need to know about how to stop being overweight. That simple set of instructions should be easy to follow, but not for the 50% of Australians who are unable to prevent being overweight.
When we are overweight we usually want to trim down for a whole lot of reasons: some related to health, others having to do with perception – our own or others.
It really is never too late to lose weight.
It is obviously a whole lot easier to prevent putting on weight in the first place than to try losing it.
One thing we all know is that weight gain is likely to continue if we do not take active steps to stop it.
Evidence shows that many people who are trying to lose weight invariably stray. They tend to go back to their old eating habits even after they learn to adopt better eating habits. They tend to return to sedentary ways even though they enjoy exercising.
The good news is that despite the momentum toward weight gain, you can stop it from happening.
Health is a major factor in choosing to lose weight. Being overweight takes a huge toll on people’s physical health and longevity.
The Way to Losing Weight…Naturally
The nuts and bolts of eating right to maintain a healthy weight is not all that complicated. In fact, it is a good bet that most people pretty well know what is best. Hence, losing weight the natural way should not be a problem at all.
Consequently, an accepted reasonable approach for losing weight naturally is to stick to a diet that is high in complex carbohydrates, high in fiber, moderate in protein, and low in fat.
Not sure what they are? A complex carbohydrate is a baked potato. Fat is the sour cream and butter you should not put on it. Fiber is vegetables. Fat is the oil you should not fry them in. Protein is a lean cut of meat. Fat is the gravy you should not pour over it.
Health experts argue that dietary fat promotes weight gain because it is a very dense source of calories. Also, when you consume excess calories from dietary fat, you store those calories as body fat more efficiently than excess calories from other sources. In this case, more efficient is not good – it means your body hangs onto the fat really well!
Do not fall into the so-called “fat-free” trap – that will not help you lose weight naturally or otherwise. Manufacturers keep coming out with low-fat or fat-free versions of their best-selling foods, but Americans keep getting fatter anyway. Why? Check the label. Often you will find more sugar or salt added to compensate.
One of the greatest misbeliefs is that “no fat” means “non-fattening.” The truth is, you are often getting just as many calories from the no-fat version, even if the calories are not coming from fat.
The term fat-free can be a trap if you start to believe that you can eat any amount of the foods that are advertised that way.
Get used to reading labels. ‘Fat-free’ is an indicator, not a license to eat!
Learn to to respond to hunger with healthier snacks. Some health experts suggest it’s better to eat every three to four hours to keep your metabolism stable. Just make sure it’s a nutritious low-fat snack between lunch and dinner.
When you feel the urge for food coming on, snacking on something healthy such as a slice of whole-grain toasted bread is a better alternative to a biscuit. By the way, never skip a meal and eat snacks instead – that is the worst thing you can do if you are trying to control your eating habits and weight.
Remember, if you want to lose weight naturally, you have to keep track of every food you eat and of every activity that you do.
Losing weight naturally is a process and not a fad.
It’s going to be slow. It’s going to need determination, self-control and discipline to make the lifestyle changes that will lead to permanent weight loss and achieve your ideal weight.
And you’re so worth it!