Weight Loss Tips for Foodies

Having a strong passion for food, I often face problems on losing the excess weight. Some people may still see me as quite petite, but don't let the vertical stripes on my lose top fool you. With eating out almost every day, who would not gain tons of unwanted weight? If you're a fellow foodie who loves to pig out on carb and sugar-loaded dishes, I bet you are also becoming more conscious not only with how you look but also with your overall health and well-being. Yes boys and girls, although eating good food is orgasmic, more often than not, it comes with a consequence we have to deal with sooner or later.

Most people I know who want to lose weight resort to either crash dieting or use of weight loss products. Some who wanted to take more extreme measures even opt for both invasive and non-invasive weight loss procedures. However, I don't believe these are permanent solutions. Like old folks, I believe that you reap what you sow -- the faster you lost weight, the quicker you'll gain it back. So although I'm not a health expert, let me share with you some weight loss tips that I personally follow, tips which I learned both through research and experience.

1. Eat a well-balanced diet
I have a lot of friends who go through a no-rice diet or zero-carbs diet to lose the excess weight. However although it may seem effective, it will just put your health in jeopardy. Our body needs carbohydrates as these provide us energy. The bad thing though, excess carbohydrates which our body does not use up will be merely stored, increasing water retention that makes our arms, thighs and abdomen flabby. What you'll probably need is to cut back, not cut off, carbs from your diet and add more vegetables and fruits since they have lighter calorie contents.

2. Cut back on portion sizes
A proper diet does not call for cutting off something entirely. You can still eat a creamy pasta dish or your favorite milk chocolate, but the key to not packing on the unwanted weight is to eat in smaller portions. Instead of having two or three cups of rice every meal, why not try cutting it down to one? And instead of hoarding all the popcorn, share it with a friend or two. I'm sure not only will your friends thank you for being generous, but your body as well.

3. Lessen sugar, salt and alcohol intake
Most unforgettable dishes for a foodie are probably filled with sugar, salt or alcohol. I understand, these three always take any food up a notch. Bad news though 'cause they are known to increase water retention in the body as well. If you haven't heard of water retention yet, it's what makes us feel bloated. Our bodies are composed of 50, even to 60 percent of water which makes us heavier. (Yes, our weight is mostly because of water not just fats.) And if you want to shed off some pounds, monitoring your water retention is a quick way since it's easier to lose as compared to fat.

4. Drink more water
I know I've mentioned how water retention is unwanted, but drinking more water is good when you want to lose weight. How? Well, water speeds up the metabolism. And if we consume less water than what our body needs, water will be stored in certain areas of our body. However if we consume more water, our system will realize that it has a sustainable supply which will stop our body from storing more of it.

5. Get active, exercise
Eating right will avoid our body from gaining more weight. However, only exercise can burn up the fat we've previously packed on. If you are geared up on seriously losing weight, understand that it takes time, effort and determination. Getting a healthier and fitter body can never be done very easily and overnight, but the benefits of exercising to your overall well-being is definitely greater than what weight loss shortcuts can offer.

For starters, walking for at least 30 minutes a day in a moderate to fast pace can already give a subtle physical activity. But of course, if you want to challenge yourself more, go out for a 20 minute jog every other day. However if you also want a leaner and more toned body, a combination workout is your best bet. Do some strength training, cardio and ab exercises since these will not only give you a maximum calorie burnout but will also help you sculpt your way to a good muscular form. I don't go to the gym, but I follow the workout plan in Jillian Michaels' 30-Day Shred and Ripped in 30.

6. Prepare yourself for a lifestyle change
Understand that in order to lose weight, you need to change your lifestyle for the better. Following these tips but eventually going back to your old ways will only make you gain back the weight and the frustration. The weight loss journey is not just a project but a continuous road to living healthier. These tips are not actually just for weight loss, but a quick guide to eating and living better as well.

7. Commit now
If you're ready for everything, make a commitment and do not turn back. We gain more weight and unwanted inches every single day. Delay your weight loss strategy for one more day and you'll have to strive harder to lose more.

I know I'm no expert in this field, but I'm sure these tips will be helpful to some. I don't consider myself physically fit especially with the amount of junk I eat every day, and with the delaying tactic I fool myself with to procrastinate on exercising. However, I want to live healthier and enjoy a longer life. I think you do too. So although it will be a lot of work, let us try harder to become not just fit but generally healthier.

And if you're wondering.. No, this is not a sponsored or paid post. This is me being concerned on my fitness, health and well-being. This is me sharing what I know so we can still enjoy the food that we love so much, while maintaining not only a good figure, but also a good health.