If you’re struggling with stubborn weight that just won’t seem to shift, no matter what you do, it can be easy to succumb to frustration. You may even feel that no diet or exercise plan will ever make any difference and that you will never be free of those stubborn pounds.
However, the good news is that there are a number of weight loss tips and tricks that you may not have tried yet which could help to make all the difference.
Using these new techniques, hopefully, over time, you will find yourself bidding farewell to those stubborn pounds and stepping into a new healthier, and fitter future.
Eat More Protein
Did you know that protein is an essential component of effective weight loss? Research has revealed that, if you don’t eat enough protein on a daily basis, your body will keep sending you signals to eat more – which means you will probably consume more calories as a result. Over time, this will contribute to your weight gain.
A great way to help your body feel fuller faster, then, is to try and make sure that you’re getting enough protein for your particular weight. Experts recommend consuming 1.2g of protein for each kilogram that you weigh.
Not sure how to incorporate that extra protein into your diet? There are plenty of healthy and delicious ways to eat more protein, such as upping your intake of protein-rich yoghurt and cottage cheese; eating meals that feature tuna, chickpeas, and chicken breast; and trying out these assorted high-protein snacks.
Tackle Those Tricky Cravings
Battling persistent cravings is one of the biggest battles that many of us face on our weight loss journeys. Whether it’s a hankering for a particular food or drink, or just a general desire to eat, these cravings can make it even more difficult to avoid giving in to temptation and eating outside our meal plans.
Fortunately, there is a new medical solution available to help combat those pesky and pernicious cravings in dieters with a BMI of 30 or above. You can buy Wegovy, a weight-loss medication that you can inject once a week in order to regulate your appetite. It works by reducing the speed at which your body absorbs glucose, which helps reduce cravings and means you feel fuller for longer.
You can buy Wegovy in the UK with the help of Chemist4U, following a consultation with a healthcare professional to make sure it’s the right fit for your body.
Make Smaller And More Sustainable Lifestyle Changes
Sometimes it’s not what you’re eating or how much you’re exercising that is holding you back from shifting that stubborn weight gain – taking the wrong approach could be to blame.
For instance, if you regularly embark on a range of strict diet or exercise regimes (particularly those that require a significant lifestyle change), you may find that you lose weight quickly, to begin with. However, these extreme routines will probably grow wearisome or even depressing over time, making them impossible to stick to, as you simply won’t be able to maintain the motivation to keep them up.
From a psychological perspective, then, it’s probably a better idea to make a series of smaller and simpler changes to your diet and exercise routine. These more subtle alterations will be easier for you to stomach – in more ways than one – which will improve your chances of succeeding at your weight loss goals.
Boost Your Microbiome
You may not realise it, but in your gut, there lives a thriving community of microbes – including assorted ‘good’ bacteria and fungi – that play a vital role in your health and well-being, not to mention your ability to lose weight.
This microbiome – which is unique to every individual – can be improved by a number of simple techniques that will help to optimise your gut’s health-boosting powers (including regulating your appetite, warding off disease, and even affecting your mood).
Here’s how to help your microbiome flourish:
- Eat at least 40g of fibre a day.
- Consume as many polyphenols as you can (which you can find in everything from coffee and green tea, to brassicas, nuts and seeds).
- Lengthen the gaps between your meals, so your microbes don’t get ‘overworked’.
- Eat fermented foods such as kim chi, and drink fermented drinks like kefir; these contain microbes of their own, which can boost your gut’s population.
A healthy and fully functioning gut microbiome can work wonders when it comes to helping you shed those stubborn pounds.
Keep A Food Journal
Because there is a strong psychological component involved in losing weight, it can be helpful to use techniques that help you stay motivated – such as keeping a food journal.
A recent study has shown that keeping a food log, that you fill in at least twice a day, can make you significantly more successful at losing weight than people who don’t keep a food journal. What’s more, the study participants who filled in their journals the most often were the most successful at shedding pounds.
So, what are you waiting for? Start recording your daily meals and snacks, and you could just see a significant improvement in your weight loss journey!