Is it just us, or does dieting suck? Cravings, calorie counting, low-carb everything, portion control, weigh-ins – we're so OVER IT. But to live a healthy and active lifestyle (something we're definitely NOT over), what you eat plays a massive role.
So, it looks like we're stuck consuming broccoli over potato chips from now until forever...
Kidding.
But really, shedding a few pounds or losing body fat doesn't have to be torture! You most certainly do NOT need to starve yourself, eat at certain times of the day, drink bottles-on-bottles of apple cider vinegar, or even deprive yourself of the tasty stuff.
So how can you keep up with your diet in a healthy an efficient manner? Just follow these simple day-to-day tips for staying on track with your diet/routine or exercise plan, and ultimately, lose weight.
1. Hydrate, hydrate, hydrate!
It's the body's natural reaction to reach for a snack or stomach filler when they feel hungry. But it turns out, the body can confuse thirst with hunger, and you'll end up eating things that are unhealthy or high in calorie that leave you feeling "blah" later on. Try reaching for a glass of water instead. We like to zest ours up with lemon or cucumber!
2. Mini-meals over big meals
Here's a little diet secret, or diet rule of thumb: If you eat fewer calories than you burn, you'll lose weight. People who eat 4-5 light meals or snacks per day can control their appetite and weight. This also helps with over-eating and portion control. No need to ever feel guilty about snacking!
3. Keep your kitchen stocked with healthy foods
Sometimes we find the fridge empty after a hard gym session, and end up ordering take-out or heading to a restaurant – which makes the entire workout pretty pointless. Having healthy, easy to make meals ready at all times is key!
Some essentials we like to keep on-hand are vegetables/salad greens, fruit, yogurt, whole-grain pasta, organic pasta sauce, and pre-cooked grilled chicken breast.
4. Sleep, sleep, sleep!
When the body is under-going anything and everything – from dieting to stress, to injury recovery, to sickness – sleep is the number one best thing to do! If you're sleep-deprived, your body is craving energy. And since it's not getting it from resting, your body will try to gain that energy from food by overproduces the appetite-stimulating hormone causing you to eat more. That being said, getting enough sleep every night (7-8hrs) will keep you from doing any unnecessary snacking.
5. Get creative!
A big reason why people often quit their diet is because it can be boring on the taste buds. There's a lot of monotonous meals, sugar-free this, and gluten-free that. But when it comes to dieting, it's essential to get creative with your meals. Pick up a new healthy cookbook and try out some new recipes. Invite a few friends over for a healthy-meal pot luck. Whatever you need to do to keep dieting fun will help you stay on track and gain the body you desire!
