Diet and exercise are tried and true ways to lose weight and get fit. The weight loss formula is universal: burn more calories than you consume and you will lose weight. Exercise and you will burn calories and build muscle.
Having said that, it’s time to understand exactly what will work for you, because what may have worked well for me may be totally out of sync for you. After all, we are all different! Different likes and dislikes, different shapes and sizes, etc… etc…
So now, let’s start building our personal plan by laying down some universal ground rules.
DIET: First start by understanding which foods are good for you and which are not. (A double cheeseburger with bacon, special sauce, large fries, and a giant soda probably isn’t your best bet.) A small portion of lean meat, fresh vegetables, garden salad and lemon water would be a much better option. Common sense must prevail. So some simple rules to live by.
1. Eat fresh: Fresh vegetables, fruits, grains and lean meats. Don’t take this step lightly; Even if you’re eating fast food, you can still make good choices and benefit from it.
2. Eat Light: Smaller portions, smaller portions, and smaller portions! This is probably the biggest mistake we can make and we do it over and over again. It is better to eat less more often than to overeat eating three times a day.
3. Eat smart – By eating fresh and light foods we are eating smart, but you can take your diet to the next level by including smart foods or thermogenic foods as they are known. These are foods that actually burn fat by kick-starting your metabolism. Foods like; Hot peppers, garlic, ginger, parsley, berries, cabbage, lemons, Brussels sprouts, cauliflower, broccoli, mustard, green tea, cinnamon, vinegar, apple cider, water, and skinny coffee. Include them regularly in your diet and you’ll really pick up the pace.
Exercise: If you’ve been a couch potato, now would be a good time to take action. The bottom line here is to do something. Eating well and incorporating thermogenic foods and drinks into your diet will burn fat and lose weight without even exercising, but even a little exercise will provide more benefits than you think.
Common sense and sensible medical precautions must prevail here and understand that if I have made it sound easy it is because it really is. Eat fresh, eat light, eat smart and start exercising (with doctor’s approval if needed) and start losing 5, 10, 50 pounds or more. You can do it.