Simple Ways To Lose Weight – Watching What You Eat

There is no question that obesity is a big problem in the United States and other Western nations, and it’s not showing any signs of going away soon. If you have been looking for simple ways to lose weight, then chances are you have stumbled across a few fad diets, perhaps you have even tried a few. But there is only one way to shed those extra pounds: you have to burn more calories than you take in. One way to decrease how many calories you take in is by controlling your portions. Here are some tips to help you do just that.

The first thing you need to know is what a normal portion is for most of the foods you eat. You may be quite shocked to find out that you have been regularly eating three to four times the normal portion. For example, a serving of meat is considered to be 3 ounces, that works out to be about the same dimensions as a deck of cards. A serving of ice cream is a half cup, so if you eat a pint you will have consumed four servings. And that’s just the tip of the proverbial iceberg.

Most of us will mindlessly fill our entire plate when we sit down to eat. We don’t really think about what we put on the plate, we just know that it should be full. Therefore, you can trick yourself into eating less by using smaller plates, cups and bowls when you eat. That way there will be less plate to fill.

You can also look to tricks used by restaurants to make your plate look fuller. A favorite is to use garnishes like thinly slice fruit, raw kale and fresh parsley. These aren’t normally eaten, but they take up extra room and give the illusion of having more food on your plate.

If you put the healthiest foods on your plate first, then you will automatically limit how much of the less-than-healthy food you’ll have room for. For example, if you start by putting veggies on your plate, then a small salad, you will be forcing yourself to take a smaller portion of meat.

Did you know that the type of glass you put your beverages in makes a difference? This is nothing more than an illusion, but it ranks as one of the simple ways to lose weight. Taller, thinner glasses look like they hold more, so use those. If you’re having a cold drink, then fill the glass with ice first, then pour in your beverage. Yes, restaurants use this trick, too.

Only cook what you’ll eat. A lot of recipes are designed to feed a family of four, but if there are only two of you, or you’re on your own, then reducing those recipes will help to keep your portions under control. After all, you can’t eat more of a certain dish if there isn’t more there for you to eat.

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While some of the details remain sketchy, it is believed that the Chinese first cultivated green tea some 4,000 years ago. To this day, the Chinese are noted for their ability to use herbal and other natural remedies to treat all kinds of medical conditions. Now, that’s not to say they, or other Eastern cultures are addicted to green tea, but they certainly know a good thing when they see it. Tea is one of the most popular beverages in the world, but is has only recently started to gain any real popularity in the United States.

This is likely due to all of the various medical and scientific studies that have, time and again, pointed to some amazing benefit of green tea. It seems as though there isn’t anything this wonder plant can’t do. Now, it probably comes as no surprise that obesity is a growing problem–literally–in the U.S. So, what does that have to do with green tea? Well, the effects of green tea weight loss are simply astounding, as you will see.

William Rumpler is a noted physiologist who is looking into some of the potential benefits of green tea. To be specific, he is investigating the oxidation of fat and energy expenditure in the body when green tea is present. To put it in more simple terms, he’s looking to see how it burns fat and increases metabolism. As of now, the only component that they are 100% sure of (as far as green tea weight loss goes) is caffeine. Subjects drinking green tea had positive effects on their fat oxidation levels and metabolism. However, those who drank plain, caffeinated water did not experience the same results.

So, what is really going on is anyone’s guess. But one thing is for sure, green tea can help people to lose weight. The good news is that Rumpler’s study is only the beginning. His study has spurred many other researchers to look into how tea helps people get rid of their extra pounds. As of now, it’s safe to say that drinking green tea should be able to help most people lose some weight.

Green tea may also assist in weight loss by inhibiting the absorption of fat, cholesterol and carbohydrates. Therefore, if the body takes in calories, but not all of them are absorbed, then the net effect is to take in fewer calories. Also, green tea helps people to feel more full so they put less food into their mouths in the first place.

As if the weight loss aspect weren’t enough, green tea also has plenty of other health benefits, too. It helps to cleanse the liver, prevents cavities, lowers bad cholesterol, controls high blood pressure, and decreases the risks of several forms of cancer. All it takes to get all of these potential benefits, and the green tea weight loss benefits to is to drink one or two cups of tea each day.

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If you are among the millions of Americans who consistently battle weight issues then you probably know by now how truly frustrating it can be trying to lose weight. There are literally hundreds of different diets, programs, products, supplements and medications that are designed to help a person lose weight.

The problem is every person is different and there body is unique. Basically this means that the same product may not produce the same results for every person. For this reason it is often necessary for a person to try several different methods before finding a weight loss method that works well for them.

Moral support is one thing that is very important for anyone that is trying to lose weight. This is especially true when a person needs to lose large amounts of weight such as those who struggle with extreme obesity. This support can come from many different sources.

The most logical source of course is family. If you know your family is behind you and believes in you then this makes it easier for you to believe in yourself. Not everyone has this type of family support but those who do often have much higher success rates when it comes to taking off the pounds.

If you don’t have family support then there are other places that support can be found from people in similar situations. Support groups often consist of individuals who are facing many of the same issues that you may also be facing. Aside from just offering support these individuals may sometimes even be able to offer tips, suggestions, strategies or insights that you may not have yet thought of yourself.

Many weight loss attempts fail simply because a person does not have the proper moral support. Most people do not realize how vitally important this one seemingly simple thing can be. Without some type of support a person has no one to believe in them and without someone to believe in you how can you believe in yourself. Just having someone behind you cheering you on telling you that you can do it can make all the difference in the world.

Other key factors to successful weight loss include desire and determination. The first step is you have to want to lose weight. If you don’t truly want it then chances are you wont have much luck regardless of which methods you use. Second you have to have determination. Once you make the decision that you really want to lose the weight you have to set your mind to it and be determined to succeed.

Weight loss is not easy but if you have the support of family and friends, the true desire and a fierce determination it can be accomplished. Many people lack this determination and give up because they do not see results quickly. The important thing to remember is that weight loss is not a fast process. It takes lots of time and lots of hard work but if you keep the end goal in sight you can be successful.

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Well, you may be thinking Here we are again. Where can I find out how to lose belly fat? My friend you are not alone. The CDC reported that in 2007-2008 about 1/3 of US citizens are obese and that number has increased 1.1% since 2007.

It is a fact; obesity is steadily becoming a world wide epidemic. In 2007-2008 over 72 billion citizens, world wide, were obese and again that number is climbing.

Overweight individuals are more prone to serious health problems such as cardiovascular disease, high blood pressure, stroke, diabetes, depression etc Health problems, that are a direct result of overweight, cost billions and billions of dollars each year. Need I mention the emotional damage and social stigmatization that is a result of overweight? I think not.

So, back to our original question, How to lose belly fat. It doesnt take rocket science to figure out that you have to cut back on your eating. It is essential that the calories taken in are less than the calories burned. If not, then you guessed it, weight gain!

Reducing the amount of calories you consume is essential. All pre-packaged food comes with a nutritional label. Take note of the calories, fat grams, carbohydrates etc in everything you eat. Also pay close attention to serving size.

Another tip on how to lose belly fat or any fat, for that matter; cut out the alcohol! Beer is loaded with calories that have no nutritional value. Not to mention the other detrimental effects alcohol has on your body. Alcohol causes liver damage; it causes inflammation of the pancreas. So, beware!

Sugar is not your friend. Be aware of the carbohydrate content in food or drinks. Look at how much sugar is in soda. Just cutting out soda alone will save you quite a bit of calories. If you take in too much sugar and dont burn it then weight gain ensues.

Weight loss is more than physical work. It involves mental and emotional dedication as well. You must make a commitment to attaining better health. It is also helpful to have a support system. After all you will be in this for the long haul.

Daily exercise is key to losing weight. After all, muscle burns fat and in order to build muscle you must use it! A high cardiovascular workout is a big help in losing weight. Examples of high cardio workouts are using the treadmill, circuit training, stair climbing, etc.

Cardiovascular exercise helps to speed up the metabolism. But is you really want to whittle down your belly, add strength training to your routine. You will be amazed at the results.

I wont lie to you; it is a long hard road. But your hard work will pay off. You will feel better physically and emotionally. And there is nothing more important than your health. So, what are you waiting for? Lose the tummy fat!

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