How To Lose Weight Without Going On A Major Diet
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1. Exercise: You don't want to go on a diet but you want to lose weight? Exercise will be crucial! You will not have to change the amount of food you eat, but you will need to burn more calories by making your muscles work.
And you can even choose the areas of your body that you want to target: to refine your legs, go for cycling; to tone your abs, go for the gym; to firm up your buttocks, sign up for aquagym sessions. And take advantage of every opportunity to eliminate calories: go up the stairs instead of taking the lift; get off a bus or tube station before your usual stop; play fitness games on the kids' Wii and the list goes on. The goal is to try to be as active as possible.
2. Foods to avoid: To lose weight without going on a major diet, you don't necessarily need to eat less - except of course if you are eating an excessive amount for your daily caloric needs - but it may be necessary to change your eating habits. Learn to favour more balanced, less fatty, and less sugary foods. And be aware that some foods are fake friends: Camembert is less caloric than Emmental (60 calories less per 100 grams).
3. Be patient: To lose weight without a diet, you have to relearn how to eat, quite simply. To relearn to eat, it means first of all taking the time to chew: a meal guzzled down in 10 minutes will satisfy you less than a meal eaten mindfully, making sure to savour every bite. You will really have the feeling of having eaten well and you will not be tempted to go for seconds. This will also protect you from bloating and flatulence.
In the evening, eat a light meal, avoiding starchy foods and cheese - which you can however eat at breakfast if you want to. Finally, make sure you get a good night's sleep. Scientific studies have correlated sleep time with weight. It turns out that people with weight problems are also those who sleep too little. So, go to bed early and you'll be full of energy for exercising the next morning!
