You start a diet, you see some success after a week, you feel happy. And then…
You get tempted by some cookies at the store or some that your coworker brought in. Or the cravings for pizza hit you hard.
Yep, I’ve been there myself. The cravings. They’re annoying.
So how do you even overcome this?
Well, thankfully, it’s not as hard as it seems. In fact, you just need to change a few bad habits and put the good ones in place. And then you’re all set. The system of good habits are in place and you can grow your healthy lifestyle more and more.
So, ready to destroy that overwhelm? 🙂
Quick Side Note: If you have have any weight loss tips that have PERSONALLY worked for you, let me know in the comments down below! I’d love to hear about them!
1. Try 2 Cheat Days Instead
I used to do a cheat day and then stuff myself SICK. It was pretty dumb. 😅
In fact, I would notice a weight gain after just that one day. So I feel that it’s important to spread it out over 2 days instead and eat some unhealthy meals moderately. I don’t mean you have to eat unhealthy food for each meal of the day. But pick a few things you want to eat on those day and stick to them.
I feel that psychologically, not limiting yourself to just 1 day, helps you not go overboard and makes you feel more satisfied with things.
Because when it’s just 1 day, you think, “Oh gosh! I need to fit everything into this one day, or I’ll miss out!” And then you overdo it and there’s no limit.
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2. You Don’t Have to Starve Yourself
Yes, going on a calorie deficit is one of the quickest ways to see results. But you don’t have to put yourself down to 500 or 600 calories a day to lose weight. I would definitely do some research to see what would be best for your body and even talk to a doctor before taking any of my advice.
Also, it’s just a known fact that if you starve yourself, you’re more likely to want to overeat later on and ruin any results you would have had.
Lastly, it’s easy finding out what your healthy weight is by using this adult BMI calculator here.
3. Your Water Intake
Yes yes, I know. You’ve already heard about how you need to drink water to lose weight. And the minimum would be around 8 glasses a day.
BUT, here’s a nice hack. 🙂
Get a 2 quart or a gallon jug and pour water from it throughout the day. It’s up to you how big you want your water intake to be, but this is just a great way to make sure you don’t lose count and you have a small goal to reach each day.
And for simple math, here’s how many cups are in each:
2 Quart Jug: 8 cups
1 Gallon Jug: 16 cups
4. Pick the Right Exercises to Do Regularly
It’s important to do some sort of exercise each day, and it does NOT have to start off as a 30 or 40 minute exercise. You could do as little as 5 or 10 minutes and call it good. That’s honestly a great way to work your way up.
But what’s really important is that you pick the right exercises for you. Ones that YOU like.
Don’t pick ones that will make you want to give up quickly. Pick ones that make you want to do them. Things like…
- Bicycling
- Swimming
- Dance party
- Ultimate Frisbee
- Hiking
- Play Catch
- Sports
- Kayaking
5. Casual Carbs?
Casual carbs is a name my husband and I had given to carbs that we eat with meals that don’t really excite us.
They’re basically fillers for meals. Things like rice or potatoes.
So our goal is to cut out any “casual carbs” for the most part, so that we can lose weight more quickly.
And I’m NOT saying you can never have them, but try to cut them out for the most part and put in things like greens or chickpeas.
6. Avoid Self-Hate
Beating yourself up does 2 things:
- If you’re not seeing results quick enough, beating yourself up with unkind words and thoughts can make you want to give up.
- It makes you still feel dissatisfied with yourself even after you’ve reached your goal. Your mind is still used to looking for the negative aspects in yourself.
So it’s a good idea to start giving yourself love now and work on seeing yourself as attractive. Because once you get to the weight you’ve been aiming for, you’ll have a better appreciation for yourself that doesn’t come from weight loss.
7. Finding the RIGHT Substitutes
I HATE it when someone says, “Oh, it tastes JUST like {insert some unhealthy food},” because I know it almost always means that it does not taste like that.
So that’s why it’s so important to find the right healthy substitutes for your cravings.
You need to be willing to test and try different things until you find something that actually satisfies you. Your desires are important and so are your goals, so you need to do whatever you can to make sure you reach them and don’t give up because you find the process unfulfilling.
8. Alcohol
A lot of people don’t like to think about it, but drinking alcohol is a great way to take in empty calories and gain weight. So try finding healthier options that’ll help keep you on the path to your weight loss goal.
Losing weight isn’t always the most fun, but in the long run, it’s definitely worth looking after your health! So give some of these habits a try and see how your body thanks you!
And lastly, if you’re not a fan of BMI, we have other calculators you can use to discover your healthy weight, such as our BAI (Body Adiposity Index) Calculator here.
PS – If you have have any weight loss tips that have PERSONALLY worked for you, let me know in the comments down below! I’d love to hear about them!
Chasing Foxes was started in 2016 as a way for Grace and her husband, Silas, to start traveling. However, they started to realize that they had a passion for improving themselves, and wanted to help others level up their lives as well. So whether it's with cooking, travel, or staying healthy, they want to help you better your life bit by bit, as they do the same.
I always try to do it a better way, Finally, I lose 7 KG in 3 months. More to go
Great article, thank you. Sometimes we have to be reminded to use common sense because we love to smack ourselves around for over eating or eating bad food (even though it tastes great). I already have good habits but it’s great to get other tips. I find it helps to plan what you are going to eat every day as it helps me to make healthier choices.
I’m so glad my tips could help you Michelle. 🙂
I tried countless diets and weight loss shakes- it works until you hit the inevitable plateau because your body gets used to the foods that you’re eating. I eventually decided that I would eat what I wanted but always try to make better choices (salad over French fries), however I do get my French fries when I want them, I just eat everything in moderation. I don’t count calories or carbs- I have learned to listen to my body and have learned when to stop eating something.
That is so smart Nicole! 🙂
Choosing snacks throughout the day that are higher in protein & fiber helps you stay feeling fuller longer and will help even out blood sugar levels. Even if you’re not diabetic, it’s important to watch your sugar intake… too much sugar will cause a sudden spike in blood sugar levels & a sudden drop right after, which leads to a feeling of hunger. I’m not a dietitian, but I’vecalways been interested in nutrition. I’m a 42 yr old female & still weigh the same amount I did in high school. I also try to speed walk for 30 minutes 4 days a week. (I hate running ).
I try to not eat anything past 7:00 at night. Plus when I finish my meal I brush my teeth. So if I eat anything more it tastes funny and I remember then not to eat it! Also if it is cold I try not to bundle up as much letting my body work to stay warm, hence using up my body fat.
Such sensible advice. I congratulate you. One tip that has helped me over the years: only try to lose one pound or kilo at a time. Sounds silly, right? But it can be depressing to look at how much weight a person might want to lose. Just think “one at a time”, and it doesn’t seem so difficult to achieve. A little mind trick.
Also, some years ago, my husband was on an assignment to review 18 restaurants in the city where we live for a guide book — and I didn’t want to miss one of them. We didn’t just go and have a main meal and a dessert each. We got to try all the best dishes each restaurant could show us, so it wasn’t going to be a normal meal x 18. I was determined not to miss a thing, but not to put on any weight either. The trick I made up could be helpful for anyone who finds themselves eating out a lot. I promised myself I wouldn’t eat more than two teaspoons of any dish we were offered, and I kept to it very seriously. Result? I got to enjoy every single dish, but I didn’t put on an ounce.
Brilliant advice, Jill!
Very interesting and helpful article
I’m always slim, and I’m both happy and surprised that these tips here are part of my daily life… I love gaining weight though!
You validated what I am doing and where my weight is currently. I didn’t realize I am at a healthy, acceptable weight. Starving myself does make me binge. Thank you for the reminder to not go overboard on those days when I feel it’s okay to have a treat. Portion control is also very helpful in maintaining.
Glad you found this information helpful. 🙂
I’m slim and I don’t do any of this
Well I understand that there are plenty of slim girls who don’t, but I also know that there are plenty of slim girls who do. That’s why I’m careful not saying “every slim girl does this” or “all slim girls do this.” Hope that makes sense! ^_^
Regarding point #1, I learned long ago that eating small amounts of food throughout the day keeps the body’s engine running. When we don’t eat often, our body’s tend hang on to the calories we do consume. While I’m not a diabetic, I’ve used Eli Lily’s 1500 calorie meal planning guide for diabetics and it’s an excellent resource. Noting in the plan that isn’t in the typical refrigerator or pantry. That plan calls for three meals a day (breakfast, lunch and dinner) and two snacks and it’s free!
Very cool, thanks Nick! 🙂
Inspirational article.,
Things I need, need to do, or would be nice if I did.
Wow, thx for the tips. They’re simple and yet seem to be more effective. I must try them-out.
All of this is true!
All of this is so true!