13 Weight Loss Secrets For 2013

1. Eat some carbs

Diet and Nutrition (Photo credit: fantasyhealthball)

Weight Loss is an easier goal to achieve when you know the difference between good and bad carbs. Good carbs are ones full of fiber and are absorbed slowly into our systems so that high glucose levels may be avoided, like beans, fruits, whole grain, and vegetables. Bad carbs are refined and processed foods, like junk food, white rice, and white bread.

2. Don't count calories

A calorie is merely a value of energy obtained from food being translated to your physical activities. Your body's pace of metabolism doesn't depend on calories, but on your fat intake (which must be low), and the chemicals there are in your food.

3. Why an energy bar isn't a friend

Weight loss enthusiasts have always encouraged energy bars as snacks instead of cupcakes, brownies, or chips. The downside is, energy bars contain just as much sugar as chocolate bars like Snickers. Energy bars are called as they are because they're fuel for your workout, but not handy for your diet. Eat a banana instead; it has a healthy mix of potassium, vitamins, antioxidants, and carbohydrates.

4. Why dark chocolate IS a friend

Dark chocolate has antioxidants and helps you feel fuller for a long time, fighting off urges of hunger

5. Drink at least 8 glasses or 1 liter of water a day

This is not a shocker, but this tip definitely aids weight loss.

6. Set specific goals of exercise and increase the intensity moderately

Getting yourself to lose weight is not easy during the early stages. Allow your body to adjust to different paces. Scientific studies show that those who are able to control their workout have more chances to achieve a successful workout, than those who mindlessly exert too much effort but end up at a plateau stage. Always dare to achieve more. Start a month's workout and weight loss plan by having walking briskly for 30 minutes. During the next month, increase the goal by mixing briskwalk exercise and jogging for 40 minutes.

7. Weight loss is achieved more easily when exercising rigorously for short periods of time than when exercising with small-moderate effort for longer periods of time.

8. Spice up your life

Spicy foods are known to be potent fat fighters. Spicy food will also make you consume less portions of food. One example is the turmeric which is widely used in Malaysia.

9. Remember there's an alternative for every unhealthy choice you make.

Don't deprive yourself of cravings, deprive yourself of unhealthy habits instead. When shopping, there are many products with low-fat options. It also makes a difference when you eat smaller portions than the amount you regularly take. When you're about to eat dark meat, remember white meat is healthier. Even when you're craving pizza, there are always pizzas with healthier ingredients aside from the meaty and fatty ones.

10. Fit is greater than fad

Weight loss can only get uglier with fad diets. Once you follow a fad diet, you can expect to lose some weight - and then gain some more. For example, fruit juice cleansing varies the insulin levels in your body - it skyrockets, and then crashes. You will also lose muscle mass, which causes translation to fat from the food you eat once you get back to your regular eating habits. Fad diets are made for lazy people. Weight loss is a lifestyle of fitness, not just some fad.

11. Superfoods that guarantee a super you

Superfoods are foods that when consumed more of will help you successfully achieve weight loss:

Blueberries, eggplant, sweet potatoes, brown rice, wine, broccoli, pears, grapefruit, almonds, kidney beans, green tea, bananas, lentils, eggs, oranges, dark chocolate, pine nuts, potatoes, white beans, cheese (fresh goat cheese and feta), low-fat milk, garbanzo beans, plantains, quinoa, pearl barley, black beans, oats, avocados, salmon

12. Think positively

The way you think greatly affects the way you act. By thinking positively, you will be able to unblock obstacles that distract your way to achieving a perfect body. Celebrities who've had weight loss like Jamie Lee Curtis and Sandra Bullock were known to be optimistic and grateful for the chance to take care of their bodies - and this kept them moving forward.

13. Don't starve yourself

Weight loss is supposed to make you feel good, and starving yourself won't help. It will actually worsen the way you think about dieting. When you starve yourself, your body's metabolism will slow down. Worse, you will end up getting hungrier and eventually overindulge with food until you bloat. To keep yourself from getting hungry with a good diet system, eat frequently, for every 3 to 4 hours a day. This will also keep your metabolism fired up.

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