Healthy weight loss - another ten free tips

Healthy weight loss over forty needs commitment and dedication. This is the second in our series of free healthy weight loss tips to give you practical help and support in your battle with the flab.

The slowing of metabolic processes as you get older can make it difficult to reach and maintain a target weight and there’s nothing more aging, nor more unheathly, than flab in the wrong places.

To achieve your healthy weight loss goal you’ll need a bit of help. Expending more energy than you take in may sound simple, but it’s a different matter in practice. Here’s another ten healthy weight loss tips to help you along the way:

1. Avoid trans fats and high fructose corn syrup . You’ll see these things in a lot of commonly available foods. They contribute to weight gain - as well as many other health problems. Steer clear and pick up a healthy option - fresh fruit, vegetables, salad and lean meat.
2. Remember - comparisons are odiousYour body is different from anyone else’s and you will lose and gain weight in different ways. Two people following the same program won’t have the same results, so don’t get discouraged if you can’t lose weight as easily as a friend.
3. Men and women lose weight differently. If you’re dieting with your male partner, he may (annoyingly) shed weight more quickly. This is because men generally drop weight more easily than women, who are biologically programmed to retain fat - particularly around areas like hips and thighs.
4. Avoid diet pills, crash diets, and gimmicks There’s no such thing as a magic solution. These commercial products and plans are out to get your money. They only work when combined with a proper diet and exercise – which are what help you to lose weight anyway.
5. Up your intake of vitamins A multi-vitamin supplements can improve your health overall and help you to lose weight a little faster.
6. Target your ideal weight Find out what your ideal weight is (based on your BMI) and target that as your end goal. The ideal healthy weight is the one where you will be the healthiest, and it’s important not to try to drop below it - thinner is not always better.
7. Go ‘cold turkey’ on fast food It’s bad for you, and it comes in portions that will make you gain, rather than drop pounds. Convenience is not worth the extra fat it makes you put on. Go for permanent weight loss and switch to healthier fresher food and you’ll look younger and feel fitter almost instantly.
8. Don’t develop an unhealthy relationship with the bathroom scales Weigh yourself regularly but don’t obsess. Hiding from the scale will make you want to ignore the problem. Remember that your weight fluctuates throughout the day and that your weight on a given day might not be related to your current food consumption. Keep your eye on the trend, not the daily number.
9. Think long term You’re aiming for permanent weight loss. Remind yourself of your goal. If you’re tempted to put another dollop of mayonnaise on your sandwich, be sure to think first about whether it will sabotage your diet changes. Priorities are vital in weight loss.
10. Exercise regularly For healthy weight loss go for aerobic exercise. Without regular aerobic exercise you might lose muscle before you lose fat - not what you want. Muscle mass raises your metabolic rate and helps you burn fat - if you lose muscle your metabolic rate will plummet and it will be even more difficult to achieve your weight loss goals.

So - keep going - progress will be slow but that’s no bad thing. Crash dieting will guarantee a return of the pounds very quickly. Don’t forget your weight loss goal is in sight - you’ll soon look younger and feel fitter than you have in years!

Related articles:

• Ten tips for healthy weight loss
• Vitamin C aids healthy weight loss
• Lose weight easily: just stop trying