In a world filled with ‘quick fixes’ and marketing mumbo-jumbo, it’s actually natural weight loss methods that remain the best way to keep your body in shape and lose weight for the long run.
Let’s face it: we all want fast results when it comes to weight loss, and it can be easy to get sucked into the latest gimmick or fad if you’re looking for ways to shed a few kilos. But truth be told, there is no such thing as a weight loss elixir!
If you want to keep your body in shape you need to begin with a look at your lifestyle and food choices. In most cases, these changes don’t have to be drastic – in fact, the best natural weight loss methods are simple and effective.
We also need to always be real with ourselves and rise to the challenge. If your weight gain has come about over a number of years, be prepared to invest the same time in working it off again. You can’t expect changes to happen overnight, when the problem has taken years to develop in the first place.
So, instead of following a bizarre fad or eating a minimalist diet, find out how you can incorporate some natural weight loss methods into your life today.
#1 – Exercise
It goes without saying that exercise is crucial to weight loss, as well as for our overall health and wellbeing. While strenuous exercise is important to do at the right stage of your fitness journey, it can actually cause a hinderance to your progress in the beginning.
If you’re new to exercising, it’s best to start off with milder forms of exercise such as power walking or yoga workouts. These will help your body get accustomed to the new regimen and form a foundation of fitness that you can then build upon.
Overdoing strenuous exercise right at the beginning also tends to make creating the habit of exercising more difficult. For many people, the shock to the system is simply too uncomfortable to bear, and subsequently, they give up.
In summary, choose a moderate level of activity and repeat it consistently. When you’re ready, gradually increase the intensity and introduce new forms to get yourself moving.
#2 – Go Vegan
Vegan diets can work like a charm as a natural weight loss method for those who are willing to try out a completely different lifestyle. The process is pretty simple – rather than eating meat, you eat food rich in fibre which makes you feel fuller for longer. You’re also less likely to crave snacks or processed food.
As a vegan, you’ll be plant-obsessed and crunching those greens 24/7 – think leafy greens, fruit, legumes (includes beans, lentils, and peas), and oats. If you don’t feel like coming up with different meals everyday, vegan meal delivery services are a great way to equip yourself with various vegan meal options that give you easy access to healthy, fresh produce.
#3 – Hydration
If you want your natural weight loss process to pick up the pace, you have to include sufficient water intake into your diet. Water speeds up your metabolism, helps in the digestion of food, suppresses your appetite, and can be especially important if you’re dealing with overeating or undereating as it helps regulate hunger cues.
When you’re well hydrated, your body can effectively stimulate all cognitive and mechanical processes necessary for functioning properly. Another way to assist weight loss is by drinking tea. Brands such as Black Leaves have created the perfect combination of herbs to maximise weight loss.
Did you know? Resting energy expenditure (burning calories) is directly related to water intake. In other words, you can experience a 24-30% increase in resting energy expenditure after 10 minutes of drinking water.
#4 – Keep Track
When you’re trying to lose weight the natural way, you need to make sure that the calories you consume are the right balance for the level of activity you’re doing. Put simply, you need to keep track that you’re not overeating nor under-eating.
While eating too little may seem like the most obvious way of shedding pounds, under-consumption of calories actually causes your metabolism to slow down and the body to store fat. It can also trigger cravings and blow-outs which only work against your best efforts to lose weight in the first place.
These days, there are great calorie tracker apps that you can download to help you keep your weight, health and daily food intake in check. People who keep tabs on their food consumption and exercise progress tend to lose weight faster given they have a clearer picture about their situation which can also be motivating in the long run.
#5 – Switch to Unsweetened Drinks
This might come as a surprise, but unsweetened coffee or tea are loaded with antioxidants and can assist with fat burning and weight loss. Caffeine alone won’t be the main factor for losing weight, but it can help the process and prevent you from gaining additional weight. Green tea is especially helpful when it comes to getting rid of belly fat, due to its potent EGCG, which is a plant-based compound called catechin responsible for most of its weight loss properties.
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