How to Lose Weight Safely

Make a Weight Loss Plan

You’ve probably heard the saying, “calories in, calories out” — as in, you just need to burn more calories than you eat and drink.

But it’s not that simple, as many people can tell you from their own experience.

Nutrition and exercise are both important when trying to lose weight. Eating fewer calories has a bigger immediate impact, but staying active will help you keep the pounds off. And, of course, exercise has major benefits for your body and mind whether you’re trying to lose weight or not.

Your metabolism — how well your body turns calories into fuel — matters, too.  If you cut too many calories, you not only skimp on nutrients, you slow down your metabolism, making weight loss even harder in the long run.

There are many ways you can safely start losing weight without cutting calories too much. You could:

• Cut back on portions.
• Figure out how many calories you get in a usual day, and trim back a bit.
• Read food labels to know how many calories are in each serving.
• Drink more water, so you’re not so hungry.

Whatever method you use, you’ll need to favor good-for-you foods like vegetables, fruits, whole grains, and lean protein. But there’s no one-size-fits all plan for healthy eating. Working with a dietitian is a good idea so you make a plan that covers your specific needs. And when you make a healthy weight loss plan, it’s important to stick with it. To get healthy and stay that way, the trend has to continue — not just for a week or a month, but for the long term.

Weight Loss Support

Many apps can help you track your eating. Since you probably have your smartphone with you all the time, you can use it to keep up with your plan. Or keep a pen-and-paper food journal of what you ate and when.

You’ll also want to have people on your side to help you stay motivated and to cheer you on. So ask your family and friends to support your efforts to lose weight.

You might also want to join a weight loss group where you can talk about how it’s going with people who can relate. Or talk with someone you know who’s lost weight in a healthy way. Their encouragement is contagious, in a good way.

Eating Habits for Weight Loss

At the most basic level, food is fuel. It gives you energy to do things. But very few people eat just for that reason. Food is at every social gathering. And it’s where a lot of us turn when we have a rough day.

You’ll need to know what makes you want to eat when you’re not hungry and have a plan for those moments. You’ll also want to develop some of the other habits proven to help weight loss.

Find out what drives you to eat

What are your triggers? Do stress, anger, anxiety, or depression make you want to eat? Or is food your main reward when something good happens?

Try to notice when those feelings come up, and have a plan ready to do something other than eating. Could you take a walk? Text a friend?

Reward yourself for making better choices

Get yourself a bouquet of flowers or indulge in a weeknight movie. Just don’t use food as the reward.

Eat more often

This might seem backwards, but if you eat 5-6 times a day, it could keep hunger at bay. You could split your calories equally across all of those mini-meals, or make some bigger than others. You will need to plan portions so that you don’t end up eating more than you bargained for.

Eat more mindfully

Savor your food. Notice how it smells and tastes and feels in your mouth. Notice when you start to feel full. Just being aware of your food in this way may help you lose weight — and make eating more pleasurable to boot.

Limit portion sizes

If you eat a lot of restaurant meals or are used to heaping plates of food at home, you might be surprised to learn what’s considered a portion size by dietitians. For example, a portion of protein, like a hamburger patty or chicken breast, should be the size of a deck of cards. A serving of cooked pasta is half a cup. Sticking to modest portions like these can help you lose weight.

Use smaller plates

One way to make small portions look bigger is to serve them on smaller plates. Some, but not all, studies suggest this is a helpful weight loss strategy.

Eat more slowly

Research shows slow eaters consume fewer calories and are less likely than fast eaters to have obesity.

Avoid eating late at night

People who regularly eat late at night are more prone to obesity. Some research suggests that eating at night can slow calorie burn, increase fat storage, and make you feel hungrier all day.

Credit: webmd

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