7 Tips for Simple and Healthy Weight Loss
By Shelby Skiles and Amy Vespa
There is a myth out there that losing weight has to be hard. Our culture tells us that eating healthy is expensive and takes too much planning. The market is full of terrible food that is cheap and very easily accessible. There is no secret fad, diet, or magic way to lose weight. The answer is simple- be intentional with your life and your choices but, how do you go about it?
Here are 7 tips to get your weight loss journey on the right tracks:
Read labels!
Determine the difference between real and fake foods. Raw vegetables, nuts & seeds, ancient grains, and healthy fats should make up the bulk of your diet. Fake foods are anything processed. If you can’t pronounce the ingredient-it’s fake!
Find what works for you and stick to it
Eating healthy doesn’t have to be hard. When you are intentionally buying real ingredients, putting good meals together for your family can be simple. Meal planning, crockpots, and salads can be your best friends when you want simple weight loss ideas.
Don’t listen to media and marketing
The advertising firms and media outlets do not care about you and your health. They care about product sales and beating out their competition. For example, certain cereals claim to lower your cholesterol when, really, they’re full of sugar, which turns to fat inside your body, thus increasing your cholesterol. If it says ‘low fat’ that probably means it’s higher in sugar.
Avoid Inflammatory foods
Our nation is at an all time high in inflammatory diseases. Avoiding foods that cause gut inflammation can help prevent conditions like acid reflux, leaky gut, diabetes, and any number of other health problems. Inflammatory foods such as dairy, gluten, sugar, corn, bread, pasta, rice, and potatoes all turn to sugar and can lead to glucotoxicity (high sugar levels) in the body. Too much animal protein can cause inflammation as well. Good quality, organic, grass-fed beef, when consumed in moderation, is fine, but moderation with animal protein is important for your gut health.
“Organic” & “Gluten Free” labels don’t always mean healthy.
Again, check those labels. Candy is technically ‘gluten free’ but, are you eating candy at every meal?
Pile on the Veggies with a side of fat!
A diet full of non-starchy vegetables keeps you full longer, which results in less snacking and eventual weight loss. Healthy fats also keep you full when eaten in moderation. Snack on celery and nuts when you have a craving then eat a large salad for dinner!
Reduce your stress!
Have you cleaned up your diet but, you still aren’t losing weight? Stress is probably the culprit. You may not always feel stressed but, we all suffer from any number of stressors all day, everyday. Great ways to combat stress are getting plenty of sleep, meditation, physical activity & exercise, being in community with others, and keeping an eye on your mental health.
One size doesn’t fit all when it comes to your health. When you are intentional and determined to put your health first, it’s actually very simple to be healthy. Your whole body health is key to weight loss. Diet and stress management can be overwhelming but, it doesn’t have to be. Real food combined with self care, and when needed, professional help can get you feeling the best you have in years!
