Do you ever feel like there is conflicting advice about just how to lose weight? I know I do! Sometimes I read about how you should cut carbs, then it's cut sugar, then it's fat, then it's, "Oh wait, fat isn't as bad as we think." It can be really, really frustrating figuring out the advice that's actually going to help you and the one that's just the diet-fad-of-the-week.
This morning, after reading more conflicting reports on how to lose weight, my head was spinning once more. That is, until I figured out that beneath all of the research that has been done on weight loss and health there IS actually one foolproof plan that will help ANY Latina to finally lose the weight. Let me tell you the secret after the jump!
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Here's the thing: You've probably already heard that you need to eat healthy and exercise to lose weight. Well, after countless of studies, it is absolutely positively the most important thing to do for weight loss. Here's your full-proof plan for losing weight:
1. According to recent studies, sticking to a low-calorie diet is the best way to lose weight. Generally, this means eating healthier by incorporating more whole grains, lean meats and ESPECIALLY more vegetables into your diet. Personally, I divide my plate into 1/2 fruits and vegetables (with a heavy emphasis on dark leafy greens like kale, collard greens or spinach), 1/4 lean protein (chicken, fish, beans or lentils) and 1/4 whole grains (brown rice or quinoa, which is also a protein). Start by drinking a glass of water, then eating the veggies first slowly. If you fill up before you get through much of the meat and grains, then that's OKAY. Put down the fork and count your calories with one of these calorie-tracking apps.
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2. Although cutting calories is the number 1 to lose weight, you also need to exercise. While most types of exercise will help you lose weight if you do them for long enough (and burn enough calories), another study has proven that the best way to reduce body fat is through aerobic activity. That's right, put on those sneakers and start speed walking, running or biking (or, if you prefer, swimming!). You can even sign up for sports as long as whatever you do gets your heart rate up.
Basically, the only foolproof way to make sure that you lose weight is to cut your calories and burn some off. After all of the fad diets that might have you dropping 5 pounds one week only to regain 10 pounds the week after that, this is the method that actually works to drop the pounds AND keep them off. It's about lifestyle changes, though. You can't run plan to four miles a day for four days a week and lose 30 pounds in six months and then just stop doing the good you're doing either.
My motto is to just keep going. Take one healthy step at a time and never give up. Pick yourself up after the days that don't go so well and remember that lifelong weight loss can only last if you make healthy choices for your whole life.
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