Anyone who wants to lose weight thinks that all they have to do is cut calories and they will achieve their goal. The problem is that this approach is not effective for a number of people. This is because many of them feel deprived and tend to eat later for getting the sustenance they missed out on during the day. The key to losing weight without feeling hungry is to create a calorie deficit. This can be done by burning more calories via exercise, or eating less.
Outlined below are some simple tips you can use for creating a calorie deficit.
Track your calories
First and foremost, you need to track your calories. This means not just the number, but also the kind of calories. If you are eating a lot of refined carbs, sugar and processed foods, it is best to cut them out of your diet. Rather than eating three meals a day, it is smarter to have five to six meals that can keep your metabolism high to help you burn more calories.You can use an app or a fitness journal for keeping track of your calories.
Get rid of empty calories
Foods that provide you no nutrients and only energy are empty calories. They tend to be high in sugar and fat, such as candy, soft drinks, cookies and sugary snacks. These foods are low in protein and fiber, which means you are going to end up feeling hungry not long after you eat them. Rather than reducing your overall food intake, which is how you create a calorie deficit, it is a better idea to first eliminate these empty calories to ensure you do not feel hungry or too deprived.
Reduce portion sizes
There is a possibility that you eat more than you need to. When you want to reduce your calorie intake, it is better to reduce your portion sizes rather than skipping meals. This way, your meals will also be well-balanced and you would have plenty of minerals and vitamins. Portion control does not take a lot of time and effort, but can give you solid results.
Incorporate exercise into your routine
Exercise should always be part of your weight loss plan because it can help you burn calories and boost your metabolism, which again helps in burning calories. You should consider how much weight you want to lose as well as your fitness level to decide how much exercise you should do.
Drink water or juice
If you take sweetened coffee and tea, it is better to swap these with water or juice. Water does not have any calories and is actually good for your body because it helps you feel full. This saves you from consuming extra calories later. In addition, water is also helpful in digesting food and also benefits your hair and skin health. It is recommended that you drink water before every snack or meal because it prevents you from overeating and leads to less calorie consumption.
