Our instructors recently compiled a list of the most commonly asked fitness questions they received in the gym and the overwhelming winner came from women asking how to lose weight fast and, more importantly, how to keep it off afterwards. Today we answer this with five simple yet extremely effective steps for you to apply.
The first thing to do if you've been trying and failing to lose fat for a while now is to change your mentality. We say this because once you get sucked into that awful celebrity magazine culture where results are promised instantaneously and without effort, it becomes easy to get addicted to the 'next big thing' in your quest for the miracle pill that doesn't exist. These rules will work, it's as simple as scientific fact.
You do not have to carry on being miserable about your weight. No matter what your goal is, it is certainly achievable. We know this because it's our job to do so.
The following five rules will help you get started right away:
1) A calorie deficit is necessary to lose weight but it must be done correctly or it will not work. This means cutting your daily calories by around 100-200 per day until you reach your target number each day as opposed to suddenly dropping your food by 50% and hoping for the best. The former will increase weight loss and make your diet far easier to stick to, whereas the latter will force your body into starvation mode where it stores fat. That's right, drop your calories too drastically and you'll be storing more fat even though you are eating way less. This step is where so many 'yo-yo' dieters and celebrity magazine followers go wrong.
2) Consume more protein to hang on to your muscle. You may be thinking 'but I want to lose weight, not build muscle', right? The truth is no matter what your goal is you certainly don't want to be losing muscle. When you cut your calories your body will look to do this, combat it by increasing protein as you drop fats and carbs.
3) Protein is perfect for a snack. When looking at carbohydrates, fats and protein you may be shocked to realize that protein has the least impact on fat storage of all three. That's right, so next time you fancy a snack you should look towards something lean with plenty of protein. Think fish, chicken, a quick meal replacement shake...
4) Pack your lunch. This is not perhaps what you'd expect but it will make sense and is a real favorite at the gym among those who get results. When you are out all day at the office there is huge temptation coming from the resident chocolate store or vending machine. We've all been there. Pack a few small tubs with 50 to 100 kcal meals and you'll beat this temptation. The snacks are too small to impact your daily diet anywhere near enough to make a significant difference and it will help you avoid fatty, bad foods.
5) A day off is not just important, it's essential! For two reasons. Firstly you don't want to become so distanced from any bad calories that your body cannot process them the next time you need to grab some fast food or chocolate, and secondly you do not need to punish yourself for wanting a better body. Having a day off usually helps you avoid the common mistake of believing that all your favorite foods are bad and crashing off your diet in spectacular fashion after a couple of weeks.
You are free to have a day off every single week. In fact we advise you to even if you don't want to, because it helps. Your moral goes up, it gives you a target if you are having a tough week at work or feel down, and you can also use it as a kind of reward for your hard work without worrying about eating bad calories. This helps you far more than it hinders you.
If you have ever heard somebody say that gradual weight loss is better than fast weight loss that's because it's absolutely true. The five rules we outlined today will help you to lay the foundations for your journey, go achieve your goals.
The first thing to do if you've been trying and failing to lose fat for a while now is to change your mentality. We say this because once you get sucked into that awful celebrity magazine culture where results are promised instantaneously and without effort, it becomes easy to get addicted to the 'next big thing' in your quest for the miracle pill that doesn't exist. These rules will work, it's as simple as scientific fact.
You do not have to carry on being miserable about your weight. No matter what your goal is, it is certainly achievable. We know this because it's our job to do so.
The following five rules will help you get started right away:
1) A calorie deficit is necessary to lose weight but it must be done correctly or it will not work. This means cutting your daily calories by around 100-200 per day until you reach your target number each day as opposed to suddenly dropping your food by 50% and hoping for the best. The former will increase weight loss and make your diet far easier to stick to, whereas the latter will force your body into starvation mode where it stores fat. That's right, drop your calories too drastically and you'll be storing more fat even though you are eating way less. This step is where so many 'yo-yo' dieters and celebrity magazine followers go wrong.
2) Consume more protein to hang on to your muscle. You may be thinking 'but I want to lose weight, not build muscle', right? The truth is no matter what your goal is you certainly don't want to be losing muscle. When you cut your calories your body will look to do this, combat it by increasing protein as you drop fats and carbs.
3) Protein is perfect for a snack. When looking at carbohydrates, fats and protein you may be shocked to realize that protein has the least impact on fat storage of all three. That's right, so next time you fancy a snack you should look towards something lean with plenty of protein. Think fish, chicken, a quick meal replacement shake...
4) Pack your lunch. This is not perhaps what you'd expect but it will make sense and is a real favorite at the gym among those who get results. When you are out all day at the office there is huge temptation coming from the resident chocolate store or vending machine. We've all been there. Pack a few small tubs with 50 to 100 kcal meals and you'll beat this temptation. The snacks are too small to impact your daily diet anywhere near enough to make a significant difference and it will help you avoid fatty, bad foods.
5) A day off is not just important, it's essential! For two reasons. Firstly you don't want to become so distanced from any bad calories that your body cannot process them the next time you need to grab some fast food or chocolate, and secondly you do not need to punish yourself for wanting a better body. Having a day off usually helps you avoid the common mistake of believing that all your favorite foods are bad and crashing off your diet in spectacular fashion after a couple of weeks.
You are free to have a day off every single week. In fact we advise you to even if you don't want to, because it helps. Your moral goes up, it gives you a target if you are having a tough week at work or feel down, and you can also use it as a kind of reward for your hard work without worrying about eating bad calories. This helps you far more than it hinders you.
If you have ever heard somebody say that gradual weight loss is better than fast weight loss that's because it's absolutely true. The five rules we outlined today will help you to lay the foundations for your journey, go achieve your goals.
About the Author:
Writer: Russ Howe is a certified and much followed Personal Trainer and Fitness Instructor. If you are lost with your diet, be sure to also watch our exclusive video step-by-step to how to lose weight today.
