With the new year comes a host of New Year’s Resolutions. People start diets, hit the gym, and promise themselves that this year “it’ll be different.” But will it? ….
Knowing whether you’re making progress on your diet, however, can be a challenge. How much weight should you be losing? And how fast?
If you want to know the answers to these questions plus learn more about what influences weight loss, then read on…
Aim For Two Pounds Per Week
If you weigh two hundred pounds, then shedding two pounds per week doesn’t sound like a lot. It means that you’re losing about one percent of your body weight every seven days – hardly game-changing.
Unfortunately, losing weight is a slow and steady process, even if you try radical solutions, such as Tonic Weight Loss Surgery. It takes time for your body to burn the fat stored around your organs and under your skin.
Slow and steady, however, really does win the race when it comes to weight loss.
The reasons for this are simple. First, if you lose weight too rapidly, you may make yourself feel terrible and begin associating healthy lifestyles with negative feelings – the opposite of what should be the case.
Second, if you lose weight too rapidly, you won’t give your skin the time that it needs to shrink back to its regular size and distribution. You could lose a lot of weight, but if you’re left with loose skin, it could be a pyrrhic victory.
Finally, losing weight rapidly can put your body into starvation mode, dramatically increasing the chances that you’ll eventually binge when you finally give in to hunger, putting all the weight you lost back on and possibly more.
Try to get back to the weight you were as a Teenager.
While this might sound like a lofty goal, there’s a lot of science behind it.
It turns out that the weight that most people achieve by the time that they get to their late teens is their ideal body weight. Going above that can lead to the onset of metabolic problems, such as obesity and diabetes.
Remember, there are a whole host of factors that can affect the rate at which you lose weight.
Top of the list is your lifestyle. Even if you hit the gym five times per week in an attempt to lose weight, you won’t get very far if you’re living off French fries the rest of the time.
Try, if possible, to fill yourself up on things like whole grains, legumes, and vegetables. These foods contain factors that signal to your body that you’re full.
You also need to look after your hormonal health. People who experience a high level of stress can have elevated cortisol, which reduces insulin sensitivity and makes people believe that they need more food than they do. It’s why people who are studying for exams tend to eat a lot more. Stress makes you hungry.
Don’t forget: your genes play a role too — experiment with consuming different foods to see which work best for you.
Good Luck if you are looking to lose weight in 2020 – I hope these tips help!
