Five Tips for How to Lose Weight the Healthy Way

Eat veggies at every meal to aid healthy weight loss

Here are five tips for how to lose weight the healthy way. Start making incremental changes and remain consistent with these five tips to lose weight. You will soon find you are well on your way to achieving your weight loss goals.

1. Limit your portion sizes. Use smaller plates or smaller food-prep containers. If you put a small amount of food on a big plate, you might feel like you are missing out. Trick your brain with smaller plates and containers. You will be amazed at how satisfied you are with smaller portions when the container you are using is full.

2. Eat vegetables at every meal. Yes, even at breakfast. Try starting your day with scrambled eggs for protein and stir in some frozen spinach or collard greens. The fiber will help fill you up, and you will be getting more nutrients right off the bat. These nutrients will signal to your body that it is getting what it needs and it will be less likely to trigger a binge response that often accompanies attempts to lose weight.

3. Stay hydrated. The rule of thumb is to drink 8 oz. of water for every 20 pounds of body weight. If you are morbidly obese this may seem like a gargantuan task, and if it doesn't feel right for you definitely consult your doctor for recommendations. In general, though, just start drinking more water than you are drinking now. Among the benefits, drinking more water helps your food digest and get out of your body quicker.

4. Walk. This is seriously the best thing you can do for your body no matter your weight. Even if you cannot walk easily, get out there and do it for five minutes a day. If you can do more, do more. Park at the edge of the parking lot instead of in front of the door. Walk around up and down every aisle of Wal Mart just to get in the steps. Go to the local park, or just walk around the block. Your core will thank you as you begin burning fat more efficiently.

5. Create an accountability network. It is easier to lose weight when others are on the journey with you. Whether it is a health coach, coworkers, family members, or folks from church, you will find that sharing your struggles as well as your successes with others will make losing weight easier than if you simply go it alone.

Good luck! I'm on this journey with you. Stay tuned for more.