The fact that weight loss is described as a journey tells us that losing and maintaining weight isn’t easy. It takes strong will and determination, and consistency in whatever you’re doing to succeed. And the plethora of information regarding weight loss doesn’t make it easier. On the opposite, people who want to lose weight often feel overwhelmed by the many diets and plans claimed to work.
Maintaining a healthy weight is an important goal for our general well-being. Being obese and overweight is often connected to many health problems, such as type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular diseases. On the other hand, diet culture also has its dark sides. It often encourages weight cycling and yoyo dieting. This means that some people are caught in the never-ending circle of losing and gaining weight, and this too has its potential health risks, both on mental and physical health. And it negatively impacts body image. So, how can you find the right balance?
Whether you want to lose a few or many kilos or maintain the same weight after a significant weight loss, know that it’s achievable. There are some natural and sustainable ways to lose and maintain a particular weight goal. When appropriately implemented, these suggestions can take your weight loss journey to another level, turning it into a lifestyle.
Add Protein to Your Diet
A healthy and balanced diet should include all the primary nutrients from various foods like fruits, vegetables, grains, dairy and lean protein. This means carbohydrates, protein and fats, and vitamins and minerals are equally crucial for our organisms to function properly.
However, when it comes to weight loss, protein proves to be the king of nutrients. A high-protein diet can boost your metabolism by up to 100 calories per day. When your body digests and metabolises the protein you take, it burns calories. Increasing your daily protein intake can also make you feel fuller and reduce your appetite. Simply adding protein to your diet can make you lose weight naturally.
If you think your diet already contains a lot of protein, there are some creative ways to add some more to boost your metabolism. Having a high-protein breakfast and replacing your cereals with eggs is a great start. But not so many people know that snacking on cheese instead of chips and choosing Greek over regular yoghurt can significantly enhance your protein intake. Consider adding a whey protein to your smoothie or shake every time you’re worried that you’re not taking enough protein.
Natural Weight Loss Supplements
When most people hear the word supplements in the same context as weight loss, they instantly think of a magic pill that will help them cut weight off. As we all know, magic pills don’t exist. Many people wonder if weight loss products work. When combined with a healthy diet and exercise regimen, natural weight loss supplements are a powerful ally for losing weight.
There are three main mechanisms of how weight loss products work:
- Appetite suppressants reduce appetite and make you feel fuller. When you feel full, you’re more likely to eat fewer calories;
- Other products reduce the absorption of certain nutrients to make you take in fewer calories;
- Fat burners make you burn more calories by increasing fat burning.
Wondering which is the best supplement for weight loss? These are some of the favourites on the market.
Garcinia Cambogia Extract
Garcinia cambogia is a small, pumpkin-like fruit in green and yellow colour. Garcinia cambogia supplements are made of an extract of the fruit’s peel, which contains hydrohicitic acid (HCA). This active substance is known to have some weight loss properties. These supplements are trendy worldwide. They’ve become extremely popular after being featured in the Dr Oz show in 2012.
The supplements work in 2 main ways: they reduce your appetite and block fat production, which leads to reduced belly fat.
The mechanism they work on isn’t fully known, but studies suggest that taking garcinia cambogia supplements boosts the bloodstream’s serotonin levels. Higher serotonin levels suppress the appetite and make people feel fuller and eat less. They also affect the inhibition of an enzyme called citrate lyase, which plays a vital role in fat production. Other studies have shown that garcinia cambogia has anti-diabetes effects, including decreased insulin levels and improved blood sugar controls.
Supplementing with garcinia cambogia can bring many benefits to your overall health, even if weight loss isn’t your main goal.
Raspberry Ketones
This substance found in raspberries is responsible for their distinct smell. Its synthetic version is sold as a weight-loss supplement. Raspberry Ketones are available as ketone shots that can help boost your body’s thermogenesis, which can help you burn unwanted fat and look great. These weight loss supplements work to increase the breakdown of fat and increase levels of a hormone called adiponectin, believed to be related to weight loss. You can transform your water into a delicious fat-burning by adding the shots or enjoying them straight up as a delicious shot.
Move Your Body
When people hear this advice, they immediately think of doing exercise. While cardio exercise and lifting weight are exceptionally effective for weight loss, they’re not the only way to move your body. This is big news for people that don’t like exercising. You can start moving your body with simple activities like walking, swimming, or dancing if this is you. This will encourage weight loss, but it can have many side benefits, such as improved posture and mood. Once you get used to being active daily and see the many benefits on your body, you can increase activity or try something more challenging.
People that exercise regularly say they’re addicted to it. This makes perfect logic as exercise enhances the serotonin levels in the bloodstream. These are the happy hormones, and once you get used to their high levels, your body craves more.
To Sum Up
Being overweight and obese is related to many health issues. On the other side, so is diet culture. Finding ways to lose weight naturally and taking baby steps can be crucial for your weight loss journey. Once you see the first results of losing weight for your body, you’ll feel motivated to keep up, embracing a healthy lifestyle.
