“We first make our habits, then our habits make us”- John Dryden.
There is a lot to ponder about this quote as it clearly points out how habits could control us and our existences. There are always two sides to a coin. So instead of panicking at how habits could ruin us, a little bit of contemplation reveals that good habits if chosen intentionally could in fact effect a positive change.
Obesity is Linked to Habits
This is extremely important for folks who are struggling with excess body weight because majority of the cases of obesity reveal that poor dietary habits or morbid lifestyle habits or unhealthy exercise habits are the real culprits hiding behind the screen.
Instead of picking faults at the habits that have caused obesity, let us focus on learning few weight loss habits that have a potential to reverse the excess fat build-up in the body and restore it back to fitness. We will categorize them into 3 main groups for better understanding and also to tackle obesity from all possible sides.
Weight Loss Habits Concerning Food
Your food is directly linked to your body weight problems. It’s not just about what foods you eat, but also about how you eat them, when you eat and how much you eat. Following are some valuable weight loss habits that you must start immediately to see weight loss benefits.
- Say no to junk, oily, greasy and preserved food.
- Eat a healthy balanced meal.
- Include more of greens, fresh produce, fruits, nuts and seeds and cut back on condiments like salt, sugar and spices.
- Eat regular meals and always focus attentively on your food when you eat. Eating absentmindedly while you are mentally distracted will cause overeating and obesity.
- Chew your food properly, always eat while sitting down and take small portions at a time.
- Don’t skip breakfast and don’t snack after dinner.
Weight Loss Habits Concerning Drink
Just like your food, whatever you drink is also very crucial in affecting your body weight. Here are few golden rules to follow with regard to your drinking habits if you want to lose weight.
- Drink lots of clean, filtered water each day.
- Avoid mixing anything with water and restrict yourself to plain water as much as possible.
- Strictly cut back on sweetened, flavored and carbonated drinks.
- Avoid beverages like tea and coffee.
- Say no to alcohol as it adds nothing to your body but empty calories and a lot of body fat.
- Drink water before a meal to cut back on the amount of food eaten.
- It is better to prefer eating whole fruits over drinking fruit juice as juicing takes away a lot of the nutrients and fibers that is present in the whole fruits.
- Drinking green tea could bring about added weight loss benefits.
Weight Loss Habits Concerning Lifestyle
Your lifestyle can not only determine the level of fitness your body enjoys but also the state of health it is in. There is a whole range of chronic and possibly fatal health disorders labelled as lifestyle disorders so inculcating healthy lifestyle habits are a top priority for all of us irrespective of whether we want to lose weight or not.
- Avoid sedentary lifestyle.
- Exercise regularly.
- Avoid sitting for too long.
- Walk for at least 30 minutes daily at a moderately fast pace or alternatively take 10000 steps.
- Avoid skipping meals and binging later.
- Avoid staying up late at night; get at least 7-8 hours of restful sleep every night.
- Tackle stress with meditation, Yoga or relaxation techniques.
- Stay motivated and learn positive thinking techniques.