In fact, most people fail in their weight loss journey simply because they do not understand why they are overweight. If you don't know what's wrong how can you fix it? If you don't fully understand the reason you are overweight you can patch something here and patch something there, but you will never fully get the results you want. Amazingly enough, this is what the vast majority of weight loss programs do€¦They try to change a few things without ever addressing the things that are actually causing you to retain body fat.
So what's the cause of obesity or being overweight?
It is your metabolic process! Metabolism is the process by which the body convert food into energy. If your body can't efficiently convert the food you consume into energy you will retain body fat. This is why the main objective of any healthy weight loss plan should be to create an efficient metabolism.
How then do your create an efficient metabolism? It is by following these Three Pathways:
The Eating Pathway
Eat more, NOT LESS: Eating less than required to support your basal metabolism will slow your metabolism down. Metabolism is raised and blood sugar level kept stable with regular healthy eating. It also helps prevent bingeing because you never feel famished.
Snacking eating is good: If you want to burn fat and prevent your body from gaining back the fat, you must stabilize your blood sugar. In order to do this, you need to eat every two to three hours, which includes healthy snacking (mid morning and mid afternoon). Fasting, skipping meals or overly restrictive diets will enable you to lose weight but only in a short term; the weight you lose is water weight and muscle tissue. When you restrict your food intake, your body instinctively thinks it being starved and shifts into a protective mode by slowing down your metabolism and storing nearly all your calories as body fat. Losing muscles is the last thing you want.
Eat fruit first: Have a fruit, say, an apple 30mins before a meal. Studies show it is a good way to feel satisfied.
Find out what is eating you: The desire to eat foods that aren't healthy is often triggered by stress, boredom, loneliness, anger, depression and often emotions. Learning to deal with emotions without food is a significant skill that will greatly serve long term weight control.
Slow down Eating Pace: Eating slowly is one of the methods that can help take off pounds. That is because from the time you begin eating, it takes the brain 20 minutes to start signaling feeling of fullness. Fast eaters often eat beyond their true level of fullness before the 20 minutes signal has had a chance to set it. So slow down, take smaller bites and enjoy energy tasty morsel. Nutrient uptake is more effective too. When you slow down your food, you are not able to digest your food nutrients as effectively. Eating too quickly can overload your stomach causing gas and bloating. Also you tend to gulp more, when you eat quickly. So remember to eat healthy regular meals and eat them slowly to release the food nutrients properly.
Eat in the Raw: Every time you eat something cooked, take something raw with it, e.g. salad. Raw foods are the only source of food enzymes, a catalyst for weight balance.
Eat dinner early: Dinner should be no later than 6 to 7pm or three hours before you go to bed, if possible. Unless you want to gain weight and feel sluggish, of course.
Eat when calm: If you are upset, wait until the feeling passes or lessens and then eat. Do not attempt to eat a full meal if you are stressed out or upset, best to opt for juices (fresh) or soup (pepper soup) that day, because they are much easier for digestion.
The Drinking Pathway
Drink more Water: Drink eight glasses of water a day between meals. Have a large glass of water 20 to 30 minutes before meals. Other drinks to include are herbal teas and vegetable juices. If you are exercising, you should be drinking more. Fizzy drinks, juices, and coffees full of caffeine don't count. Lack of water can slow the metabolic rate just as lack of food can. Since water is the body is most important nutrition, the liver will turn its attention to water retention instead of doing other duties such as burning fat. Dehydration (because it causes headaches), lack of concentration and fatigue is often mistaken for hunger.
Don't drink too much with your meals: Do not drink copious amount of liquids with meals, not even still water. Have a glass of water about half an hour before you eat and take only little sips during meals if you must. FIZZY DRINKS ARE BANNED.
The Exercising Pathway
Exercise is necessary
You do not have to kill yourself, but you do need to be active. You should be doing some form of exercise each and every day. Go for long walks; take bike rides; lift weights; run€¦The possibilities are endless. Exercise provides the stimulation your body needs to burn fat and build muscle and it's essential for a lean, fit figure!
Running is the best form of exercise to lose weight fast. If you prefer another type of exercise, go with cardio. Thirty to 50 minutes a day is an adequate amount of exercise. Gradually increase your work out to 60 to 120 minutes to lose weight quickly.
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