How to Lose Weight and Not Your Mind?

How to Lose Weight and Not Your Mind

There are numerous weight loss programs to get you going if you want to lose those extra pounds.

However, losing weight is challenging, and not everyone that starts the journey finishes it. How can you lose weight successfully without losing your mind?

Weight loss programs include purely dieting ones and lifestyle-based routines.

If you do not commit yourself to any dietary programs or lifestyle-based routines, you will end up disappointed and feel like you wasted too much time.

However, weight loss is possible, and the following tips will help you lose weight without losing anything else like your mind.

1. Remind Yourself Of The Reason For Wanting To Lose Weight

Before you get into any dietary programs or lifestyle changes, you should ask yourself why you want to lose weight.

If you are doing it for all the wrong reasons, like someone asking you to lose some extra fat, you might lose your mind mid-way through the program.

If you are doing it for the benefit of your health or want to be fit to play with your children, you might have a chance of sticking with the program without losing your mind.

Even then, it is not going to be easy.

2. Do Not Starve Yourself But Be Careful About What You Eat

Some people believe that the less you eat, the more weight you lose. While that might work, it might also lead to you starving yourself, and that is the surest way of losing your mind.

What can you eat or not eat during your weight loss journey? Many weight loss programs advise you to do away with pastries, sweets, and processed foods from your diet.

The programs are not wrong but going cold turkey on your favorite foods can make you lose your mind.

Start by eliminating the foods gradually until you no longer need them in your diet.

Remember that the more junk food such as pizzas, donuts, fries, or ice creams you eat, the more your cravings for the same growth.

Replace processed foods, sweets, and pastries with foods that do not trigger addictive tendencies in your mind.

As you get used to the following weight-loss diets, you will slowly break your cravings and addictions to food that add more weight.

Animal-based and plant-based Proteins

How To Lose Weight and Not Your Mind – Animal-based and plant-based Proteins

When reducing weight, it is critical to consume the required protein to maintain good health and muscle mass.

The amount of protein consumed positively affects cardiovascular disease risk variables, hunger, and weight management.

Diets containing suitable amounts of protein can also lessen your food cravings and excessive thoughts about food.

They also make you feel fuller for longer, which reduces binge eating or snacking in between meals. The best weight loss proteins are

Low fat and lean beef
Skinless chicken
Lean pork
Lamb
Shrimp
Salmon
Trout
Other low-fat fish and seafood
Whole eggs with yolks
Beans
Legumes
Tempeh
Tofu

Grains

Grains

Grains are the best foods to keep your hunger pangs from messing up with your mind when on a weight loss program.

Whole grains are also nutritious, rich in dietary fiber and promote calorie loss by reducing calorie retention during digestion. Moreover, they also help to boost metabolism. The best whole grains to include in your diet are:

Quinoa
Brown rice
Whole wheat
Buckwheat
Barley
Finger millet

Vegetables and Fruits

Include vegetables and fruits in your weight loss diet. The two are nutritious, rich in fiber, minerals, vitamins and other nutrients that improve body metabolism and aid indigestion.

Here is a list of the top choices of veggies and fruits Veggies

Leafy greens such as spinach, kale, lettuce
Mushrooms
Cauliflower
Broccoli
Green chili
Pumpkin
Cucumber
Asparagus
Carrots
Tomatoes
Brussels sprouts
Swiss chard

Fruits

Fruits

Melons
Kiwi
Grapefruit
Berries
Rhubarb
Apples
Stone fruits such as plums, cherries, apricots, peaches, and nectarines
Oranges
Avocado
Bananas
Passion fruit

Healthy Fats and Oils

Contrary to popular belief, healthy fats and oils will not increase your body weight. Your body needs fats to balance blood sugar levels.

High blood sugar affects the insulin levels in your body, which can lead to cravings.

Healthy fats and oils keep you feeling fuller, regulate your appetite, and keep you healthy throughout your weight loss journey. The most appropriate healthy fats and oils are:

Olive oil
Avocado oil
Canola oil
Flaxseed oil
Sunflower oil
Grapeseed oil
Sesame oil
Walnut oil

Besides the above food types, you can include nuts and seeds, low-fat milk, and low-fat dairy products in your weight loss diet.

Stay Hydrated

Stay Hydrated

Dehydration is another factor that can make you lose your mind during your weight loss journey. Stay hydrated at all times by drinking at least 2 liters or eight glasses of water every day.

Staying hydrated flushes toxins out of your system decreases appetite, reduces fluid retention, and, most importantly, keeps you more alert, focused, and energized.

Exercise

How To Lose Weight and Not Your Mind – Exercise

Eating healthy and staying hydrated is not enough to lose weight without losing your mind. If you want better results, occasional workouts will help.

Exercise helps to burn body fat; improve your metabolism and heart rate. You only need to put aside about 20 minutes in your weight loss program for exercise.

Stop Weighing Yourself Every Day

One of the things that can make you lose your mind during your weight loss journey is stepping on the weighing machine only to discover that your weight is the same as it was the previous day.

If you want peace of mind, stop weighing yourself every day as it will erode your confidence, drive you into a panic mode, and maybe even tears.

Instead of weighing yourself daily, gauge your progress with a piece of clothing that you could not fit into before your weight loss program.

Doing this will save you the agony of dwelling on the number on the scale and instead focus more on healthy eating for better results.

Show Yourself Some Love

How To Lose Weight and Not Your Mind – Show Yourself Some Love

Lastly, love yourself. Eating unhealthy foods is not self-love. You are abusing your health. On the other hand, eating healthy is one way to say that you love yourself too much to get into destructive and unhealthy eating habits.

Once you decide to love yourself, you will manage the weight loss journey without losing your mind because you know what you want and why you want it.

Final Thoughts

Weight loss is, without a doubt, one of the most challenging journeys to take. Some people give up after a few days because they cannot stand the torture of staying off their favorite foods.

However, suppose you commit to fixing yourself by eliminating one meal at a time, exercising, eating foods that do your body good, and loving yourself.

In that case, nothing will prevent you from achieving your goal. Do not forget to stay away from the weighing machine.

You can also check our weight loss diets to help you with the recipes and food lists you need for your journey.