9 Ways to Lose Weight Forever

Introduction

While the path to losing weight may differ from person to person, we can benefit from several changes (not just hiring a personal trainer in Denver :)). I've dissected the recent article "56 Ways to Lose Weight Forever, According to Science" and found nine ways you should incorporate immediately.

1. EAT A BIG BREAKFAST

Yeah, yeah--you've heard a million times that you must start your day with a balanced breakfast. This advice bears repeating, however.

An Imperial College London study found that when people skipped breakfast, the reward centers in their brains lit up when they were shown pictures of high-calorie foods. That means if you skip breakfast, you'll be more tempted by bad-for-you snacks later in the day.

What's more, a 2013 study found that women who enjoyed a large morning meal had a larger drop in ghrelin, the hunger hormone, than those who ate a small breakfast.

Personal Trainer Wisdom: I love psychology, but am I convinced that your brain will light up like the circus if you don't eat breakfast? Anything is possible. Maybe it's our body's natural need to minimize any nutritional deficiency...an absolute signal you shouldn't ignore. Without a doubt, your body will do whatever it can to protect itself. You better believe this reaction may negatively affect your blood sugar levels and weight. Proper fuel equals an efficient machine (contrary to your favorite diet program claim).

2. EAT 30 GRAMS OF FIBER A DAY

Try upping your fiber intake--it may work just as well as following a strict diet.

In an American Heart Association study, one group was instructed to follow a diet with strict nutrient goals and limits on calories, sugar, and saturated fat, while the other group was given one goal: consume 30 grams of fiber a day.

At the end of the 3-month study, both groups lose weight and improved their heart health, showing that losing weight may be as easy as filling up on more fiber.

Personal Trainer Wisdom: Whether you're trying to lose weight or not, fiber is necessary for healthy living. It helps maintain bowel health, lowers cholesterol levels, and helps control blood sugar levels. A big plus: It will make you feel full (because you'll be full of nutrients!). I guess there's no room for potato chips.

3. WEAN YOURSELF OFF ANY BEVERAGE THAT'S NOT WATER, TEA, OR COFFEE

Sodas and juices are essentially liquid candy: They contain up to 18 teaspoons of sugar and upwards of 240 calories per 20-ounce serving, and provide zero nutritional value.

Experts point to soda as one of the top contributors to the obesity epidemic. Diet drinkers aren't off the hook, either. A study in the journal Obesity found that diet soda drinkers were more likely to have a high percentage of fat in their bellies. Researchers believe diet drinkers may overestimate the calories "saved," and then overeat.

Personal Trainer Wisdom: Many drinks provide the extra calories, fat, and sugar you don't want in your diet. Recently, a personal training client only cut the sugar in her coffee by half and still lost 8 lbs in 4 weeks. It's time to make a change. A product may say "Diet" on the label, but it doesn't mean it's healthy.

4. STOCK YOUR FREEZER WITH VEGGIES

Fresh, in-season produce gives you the biggest nutritional boost, but frozen veggies come in a close second. Very shortly after being picked, these fully ripe veggies are frozen, allowing them to lock in many of their nutrients. Having a stash of veggies in your icebox makes healthy eating on the fly oh-so-easy--and reduces the chance you'll order in a pizza.

Personal Trainer Wisdom: Stock up the freezer; you'll always have healthy options. Ice cream doesn't count.

5. REDUCE YOUR MEAT INTAKE

Vegetarians are generally thinner and healthier than meat-eaters, according to a 2013 study published in the American Journal of Nutrition and Dietetics.

While going totally vegetarian may not be realistic for you, one way to slim down your meals is to replace some meat with plant protein. Black beans, for example, give you 15 grams of protein per serving, and mushrooms are rich in umami flavor, and can be used to replace half the ground beef in most recipes.

Personal Trainer Wisdom: "But my paleo diet..." say too many people. A plant-based diet will undoubtedly help you live a longer, healthier life. I'm not asking you to completely remove the cow from the plate—just minimize it. I'm talking to you, Dad!

6. HAVE SOUP BEFORE YOUR SANDWICH

In a 2007 study published in Appetite, people who ate soup before the rest of their lunch reduced their total calorie intake by 20%. The type of soup didn't matter in the study--all kinds led to consuming fewer calories. That said, your best bet is a broth-based, veggie-heavy soup for an extra dose of fiber.

Personal Trainer Wisdom: Cream-based soups don't count.

7. LEARN HOW SUGAR'S DISGUISED

A food label may not have the word "sugar" on it anywhere, but that doesn't mean the sweet stuff isn't there. High fructose corn syrup, invert sugar, molasses, sucrose (or any word ending in "- ose"), brown rice syrup, honey, and maple syrup are all just sneaky names for sugar.

Personal Trainer Wisdom: Most people will be surprised by including honey on this list. Like all sugars, honey spikes blood sugar levels and eventually converts them to fat.

8. PORTION OUT PACKAGED SNACKS

You should largely avoid snacks that come in a bag or box. When you do want to indulge, measure out a serving rather than eating out of the package. Researchers from Cornell University found that people ate 50% more chips when they were given no visual cues to how large a portion should be.

Personal Trainer Wisdom: A great book on a similar topic is Mindful Eating by Brian Wansink. He wonderfully (and surprisingly) illustrates how the environment and the products we buy steer our eating habits more than we know.

9. BE REALISTIC ABOUT YOUR CALORIE BURN

You may feel ready for a diet splurge after an intense exercise class. Sadly, you can easily undo an hour of hard work within minutes if you make poor post-workout eating choices. The average woman burns 550 calories in an hour of circuit training. Treating yourself to a big smoothie, cookie, or cup of froyo cancels out more than half your work.

Personal Trainer Wisdom: If you haven't learned yet, most of your weight loss results from your nutritional choices. One Snickers bar will wipe out that sweaty workout you just finished. Enough said. If you eat it, enjoy it for its worth, but don't convince yourself that the session gives you the freedom to eat whatever you want.

Which strategies have you used recently to lose body fat?

Picture Credit:
msn.com-Is honey a practical option for losing body fat?