With all the hype surrounding the newest and “best” weight loss methods, it’s hard to know which of them are safe and which are not. While you may be looking for a quick fix weight loss solution, there is no magic bullet when it comes to shedding pounds. There are very few ways to lose weight safely, and anything offering fast results without any lifestyle changes is taking you for a ride.
Exercise
If you want to drop those extra pounds, you HAVE TO exercise more. There is no escaping it, there is no denying it. You won’t lose a significant amount of weight until you get active in some way. This doesn’t mean that you should hit the gym hard if you don’t want to. You can make many small changes in your daily activities that will help you get started. You could park farther away from your office or stores, take the stairs instead of the elevator, and so on.
Calorie Control
Another of the few safe weight loss methods is calorie control. Cutting back on high calorie foods and controlling portions is a sure way to lose weight, but it won’t happen overnight. It is also important to combine calorie restriction with exercise, because you want to improve the ratio of your caloric intake to what you burn as well as reducing your intake. When you combine calorie control, not diets, with exercise you will see better results than with either alone.
Eat Frequently
If you’re skipping meals to lose weight, cut it out! Not only does skipping meals make you cranky and tired, it slows your metabolism. Eat three healthy meals a day, with high protein snacks in between to keep you full, and watch the pounds melt away.
Drink Water
When you’re dehydrated, your body can’t function properly and the weight will stay where it is. Drinking plenty of water helps clean out your system, especially when you start behaving in a healthy way. Forget about juice cleanses and other gimmicks, good old water is just what a healthy body needs. You’ll lose weight, have better skin and feel better in general if you drink enough water every day.
Reduce Carb and Sugar Intake
When you cut some carbohydrates out of your diet, you could notice a vast improvement in your weight. This does not mean you should eliminate carbs entirely, but watch your carb and sugar intake carefully, and your body will eventually begin to burn fat as an energy source instead of carbs.
Risks
There are risks involved in any weight loss plan, but you can mitigate those risks with careful planning. The options listed above are the only truly safe ways to lose weight; not crash or fad diets, not pills or drinks, not complicated meal plans or invasive surgeries. This is not to say that the weight loss methods above are 100 percent safe. It is possible to develop an eating disorder or other body dysmorphia because of taking any of these things too seriously. Remember that safe weight loss is a journey with no short cuts, so be patient.