Eat, drink and lose weight – that’s right, it is possible to eat healthy and lose weight. It is also possible to lose weight even if you do not follow a balanced diet all the time. But if you eat fast food, you still need to know how to make healthy fast food choices if you want to keep your calorie consumption under control.
According to a personal trainer Gunnar Peterson, here is what you need to do to eat, drink and lose weight.
Keep those seconds under control There is nothing wrong with refilling your plate, but it helps a lot if your second portion is a lot smaller than your first. “Choose items that have more nutritional benefits, like proteins and vegetables. Also, be aware that creams, sauces and gravies are filled with sodium – so use them sparingly,” says Peterson.
Leave leftovers alone If you keep returning to what was left on the table, “You will eventually eat it all, which can turn a single day of indulgence into a week or more, leading to unnecessary weight gain,” he says.
Cheat on your diet – within reason You basically need to cheat on your diet if you want to lose weight and keep it off. “If you want to sample Granny’s cobbler, try some – but do not eat your body weight in it. Remember that carrot cake is not a vegetable and apple pie is not a fruit,” says Gunnar.
Any exercise is better than none Gunnar says you need to be familiar with a few workouts that you can do virtually anywhere. I basically agree with that, but I do not think you need to spend your time on developing a separate exercise program just for the purpose of exercising anywhere. You can walk anywhere, right? And that is the best workout for most people anyway. Peterson likes lunges and crunches. He also suggests keeping a jump rope around for what he calls “portable cardio.”
Take the family for a stroll “It is easy to end up munching when you linger at the dinner table between courses. Instead, gather some of the crew for a brisk walk outside. You will burn off some of the extra calories and get away from the tempting side dishes and desserts,” says Gunnar. [via]