When it comes to losing weight there are hundreds of different diet plans out there. Each one of them will tell you how you will lose weight quickly and achieve your weight loss goals. However, most of the time these fad diets are simply not sustainable. You will lose some weight when you start them, but the diets are so restrictive that most people do not maintain them. The worst part about this is that the weight will come back and oftentimes a person will gain even more weight than what was initially lost.
When it comes down to it, the formula for losing weight is really quite simple. You need to burn more calories than you are taking in. While counting calories can be a pain, one of the simplest things that a person can do in order to lose weight and maintain a healthy lifestyle is to consider intermittent fasting.
What is Intermittent Fasting?
There are several ways a person can start intermittent fasting. One of the easiest ways is to simply limit the eating windows. To do this, choose six to eight hours a day that you will eat and then do not eat anything outside of this time frame. During the non-eating times you can and should drink plenty of water and may have herbal teas or black coffee as well. During the first stages of intermittent fasting it is common to feel hungry, tired, weak, have headaches, and possibly pain. After the first few days these symptoms will typically disappear.
Another option for intermittent fasting is to eat for five days each week and then fast for two days each week. A fasting day should be followed by an eating day when choosing this form.
What to Eat
When it comes to achieving weight loss, what you eat really matters. Many people that choose intermittent fasting believe that during their eating windows or days they can have whatever they would like. However, this is not the case. It is still important to maintain a healthy diet. Eating mostly vegetables and fruits is the best way to promote weight loss and your health overall. A plate should consist of ¾ plant-based foods and the other quarter proteins or other healthy meats.
Exercise
Moving is also important when trying to lose weight. It is possible to shed pounds without exercising. However, in order to maintain a healthy lifestyle and to keep your body in its best shape, exercise is a must. Low impact exercises such as walking or swimming are great for getting the blood pumping.
Conclusion
When it comes to ways to achieve weight loss, there are many different ways to go about it. The main problem with most diets is that they are simply not sustainable. The best way to lose weight and keep it off is to simply make changes to your diet and to move more. Eating mostly plant-based foods and exercising will help you achieve your weight loss goals and keep the weight off for good.