Tag: weightlossjourney

Dieting No-No’s

Published on by gamechangerjoLeave a comment

If you are reading this, chances are you have decided to make a change in your eating habits. Too often, we get so caught up in the fray of everyday life, we fail to realize just how poorly our choice of food becomes! No matter what your job, hobbies or goals may be, the choices you make when it comes to fueling your body, are the absolute foundation for performance. Frequent stops at the drive-thru on your way home, and microwaved “meals” only lead to decreased performance in everything you do, as well as the overall quality of life. Diets come and go every single day, this post will not focus on naming specific diets to avoid. Instead, we will look at the four key characteristics of any diet you may consider starting and allow you to steer clear!
Extreme Caloric Restriction
One of the biggest mistakes a lot of fad diets make is encouraging people to drastically reduce their caloric intake from day one. For example, the standard diet usually consists of around 2,000 calories. If any diet instructs you to only consume, let’s say, 1,200 calories from the very beginning, forget about it! This is a fallacy for a couple of reasons; the most important aspect of any diet is consistency. If you fall off the wagon after a week or so, every eating plan ever created is going to fail. Do you want to know a great way to avoid sticking to a diet? Being miserable will get you there QUICK!
Another reason this type of diet is a no-no is the bodily response to acute caloric restriction. Sure, reducing your caloric intake equals weight loss. However, this should be done gradually. Ironically, when you instantly begin eating far fewer calories than the body is used to, you actually signal a sort of starvation response. Your body is hardwired for survival, and instead of shedding excess bodyweight; it will do everything it can to spare it. The end result: being hungry all the time and still not losing weight.
Completely Eliminating A Macronutrient
In case you are not aware, carbs, protein, and fat are the three key macronutrients. Your body needs each of these to repair and carry out vital functions. While it is true that consuming a proper ratio of these nutrients is beneficial, eliminating any of them entirely is a mistake. Many diets you are sure to come across will advocate the miracle of abstaining from a certain macronutrient for a lengthy period of time. Simply put, don’t buy into it!
Weekly Or Daily “Cheating”
Remember, consistency is very important when sticking to any diet. A healthy relationship with food needs to be a lifestyle, not a 6-week crash course. If you notice, a lot of diets basically have you starving yourself or eating things you hate all week before “allowing” you to have a cheat meal or day on the weekend. Essentially, you deprive yourself of enjoying food for days on end, and the gorge on an unhealthy feast of your choice for one day. Make no mistake; one day of stuffing your face with junk food CAN undo an entire week of healthy eating. Your body doesn’t just reset its caloric calculator every morning; there is no “cycle”. Furthermore, this way of eating significantly increases your chances are developing an eating disorder.
General Absurdity
Let’s keep this one simple. If a particular diet sounds absolutely ridiculous, it is. The things you can find out there can get crazy. For example, consuming every single meal in liquid form,  weightloss earrings, only eating celery sticks and quinoa for two weeks, is not going to magically chisel out your beach body. Use your own discretion here. You are not a lab rat taking part in a clinical trial. Any diet you decide to adhere to needs to at least appear reasonable from the get-go!
No one can tell you which diet to try or ignore, this is a very personal decision. You should, however, use information readily available to help you make an informed decision. Beware of advertisements that create an urgency to “buy now”, or use celebrities’ pictures and names they are not familiar with, etc. Interestingly enough, recent reports by the Federal Trade Commission reports at least 6.5 million people to fall victim to weightloss scams every year. Don’t be a statistic. Consult a Doctor or Nutritionist, for the best ways to lose weight for YOU.

For my final diet/weightloss post of the month, I will have at least two free products and reports for everyone!
Until the next post,
Best,
Juan

Changing Habits

Published on by gamechangerjoLeave a comment

Now that we have a working knowledge about SMART goals, it’s time to focus on the baby steps to meeting your goals.  Some people lose weight through intermittent fasting and adopting new diets. Others try to make such major changes, but they start missing their afternoon candy bar or go-to snacks. Pretty soon, they revert to old habits and wind up gaining back the pounds they lost and more.
If you’re tired of watching your weight fluctuate, you may need a more gradual approach. Little changes add up, until you see a big difference on your bathroom scale. In fact, minor adjustments are often more sustainable because they suit your lifestyle. See how easy it can be to slim down, starting with these simple things to incorporate into your diet and workouts.

Small Eating Habits That Help You Lose Weight

  1. Cook more. Preparing your own food allows you to control the ingredients. Restaurant meals tend to have more calories, salt, and sugar. That’s true whether you’re eating at a fast-food outlet or a fancy bistro.
  2. Plan your meals. Write out a menu for your daily meals and snacks. You’ll be able to tell at a glance if you’re getting all your required nutrients, and you’ll probably eat less.
  3. Stock your kitchen. Keep healthy snacks on hand, along with staples for light meals. You can make room for good things by getting rid of junk food.
  4. Increase your fiber. Some studies suggest that eating more fiber is the single most significant change you can make in your diet. The top sources include split peas, lentils, and black beans.
  5. Boost your protein. Foods rich in protein fill you up and recharge your metabolism. Plus, your body has to burn more calories to digest them, compared to carbohydrates and fats. Include some protein in each meal and snack.
  6. Eat breakfast. Refueling in the morning helps to prevent excessive eating later in the day. Start out with something hearty and nutritious, like Greek yogurt with berries and nuts or a bean burrito.
  7. Control portions. Forbidden foods can become so tantalizing that they lure you off your diet. Reduce your serving sizes so you can enjoy your favorite treats without any guilt.
  8. Focus on whole foods. Make vegetables, fruits, and other natural foods the core of your diet. Cutting back on packaged items will eliminate the most empty calories.
  9. Drink water. Quench your thirst with plain water and tea, instead of beverages loaded with calories. Staying hydrated facilitates digestion.
  10. Be mindful. Slow down and pay attention to what you’re putting on your plate. Your food will be more enjoyable. You will likely notice when you’re full instead of continuing to eat more than you planned.

Small Workout Habits That Help You Lose Weight

  1. Be consistent. A successful exercise plan is one that you can stick to. Select preferred activities, and invite a friend to join you. Aim for at least 250 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise a week if you’re trying to lose weight. That translates into about 35 minutes each day.
  2. Build muscle. Increasing your muscle mass enables you to burn more calories even when you’re at rest. Lift weights or do squats, and pushups with your body weight.
  3. Move your whole body. Speaking of squats and pushups, devote most of your workout sessions to exercises that target your whole body. They’ll burn more calories than smaller movements like bicep curls.
  4. Train in intervals. High-intensity interval training pays off. Alternate between brief bursts of intense activity and even briefer rest periods. For example, run for a few minutes while you’re taking a walk.

Eat healthier one small step at a time. You can shed weight without disrupting your life or feeling deprived. 

Until the next post,
Next,
Juan