When it comes to weight loss, diet, and exercise are top priorities. But there are other habits that can contribute to long-term weight control. These five healthy weight loss habits can help you reach your goals without deprivation or feeling overwhelmed.
- Meal Planning: Meal planning helps save time and money while supporting healthy eating habits. Set aside a day or two each week to plan meals that include lean proteins, complex carbohydrates, fruits, and vegetables, as well as healthy fats like olive oil and avocado. When you have quick meal ideas ready to go, it’s easier to resist the temptation of unhealthy food options when you’re short on time or energy.
- Eating Mindfully: Pay attention to what you eat by engaging all senses when preparing a meal or snack. Notice the colors, smells, flavors, and textures of the food as well as how it makes you feel before, during, and after eating it. This practice will help prevent overeating because you’ll be more aware of what’s going into your body instead of mindlessly snacking throughout the day without being conscious about what foods are providing fuel for your body versus empty calories with no nutritional value at all.
- Drinking Water: Staying hydrated is important for overall health but also plays an important role in weight management because thirst can be mistaken for hunger cravings if not properly managed through drinking water regularly throughout the day. Aim for 8 glasses per day, but increase your intake if exercising frequently or in hot climates.
- Getting Enough Sleep: A lack of sleep has been linked to increased levels of obesity due to hormonal changes caused by sleep deprivation which increases appetite levels leading people to consume more calories than necessary. Aim for 7-9 hours per night, create a bedtime ritual such as taking a warm bath prior to sleeping, and turn off electronics one hour before going to bed so your body has time to relax naturally.
- Get Moving: Exercise doesn’t always mean hitting the gym hardcore simply adding movement into everyday life can make a big difference in reaching those weight goals! Take breaks from sitting every 30 minutes, walk around during phone calls, take stairs instead elevators whenever possible, and park further away from stores when going shopping. All these small decisions add up over time!
Overall, implementing these five simple habits into our daily routine will support us in effectively achieving our desired outcomes around healthily losing weight!