Weight gain is a very common concern in my office. There are many potential underlying causes to weight gain. Hormones, vitamin and mineral deficiencies, and food sensitivities can be important to discover before embarking on any weight loss plan. Recently, my patients have had some great success with weight loss and there are a few keys to their success. Here are a few tips:
- Practice conscious eating. We really don’t need as much food as we think. Food is associated with emotions and some tend to overindulge with stress. If we decide to eat when we are hungry and foods that support our mental and physical health, we eat more nutritious foods and are satisfied with less. Research has shown that when dining out, those that asked to have half of their meal boxed up PRIOR to the plate arriving at the table, were able to continue to eat out (without changing ordering habits) and lose weight. Their portion was controlled and they felt emotionally satisfied by eating what they loved.
- Let go of old patterns. What has not worked in the past, has not worked for a reason. Fad diets usually don’t lead to long term success. The key is to find the nutritional formula that is unique to your physiology that allows you to be free of cravings and feelings of deprivation!
- Just eat real food! Real food means unprocessed food as close to it’s natural form as possible. Ditch packaged foods, meal “bars,” and microwave meals.
- Hydration! I am sure you have heard this before…staying hydrated can help with weight loss. Thirst is often mistaken for hunger, so try to have a glass of water and busy yourself with another activity for 10-15 minutes. Then decide if you are still hungry and need a snack.
Sure, there is more to losing weight than these tips, but it’s a start! Begin your practice today.
