So you’ve decided you want to lose weight, but with so many trends and fads being thrown in your face daily, you aren’t sure which tips are actually healthy and effective. You’re not alone! It is important to employ common sense. If it seems too good to be true, chances are, it isn’t true at all. There is no “quick fix” to losing weight; it takes time and dedication. Let’s face it, the extra pounds didn’t turn up overnight, so they aren’t going to vanish that quickly either.

That being said, there are some useful tips for losing weight, in addition to “eat right and exercise”. Green tea, like the kind made with matcha powder, for example, has been proven to help speed up the metabolism. Your metabolism is how your body turns the food you eat into usable energy.

Approach

Like any new venture, in order to be successful, you have to have the right mindset for your approach. Make sure you understand that what you are undertaking is a lifestyle change; it will require work and dedication. Know going in that you will struggle and become discouraged at some point in your journey; it is at that point you need to focus on your goals and allow them to motivate you to get back on track.

Recognize when you are hungry; properly hungry – not stressed, bored or thirsty. Don’t carry snacks “just in case”. Listen to your body and only eat when you are truly hungry. What you eat is also immensely important; not all calories carry the same weight. Calories from refined sugars and/or saturated fats are counterproductive and will leave you feeling hungry, which will, in turn, cause you to overeat. Instead, focus your diet on proteins and vegetables; they will fill you up and you will feel satisfied when you are finished.

Resist Temptation

As alluring as it may sound, for fast weight loss results, to indulge in fads such as sporadic fasting or drinking meal replacements, resist the temptation. Not only will you save yourself the disappointment of it not working (or if it does work, those results only being short term) but you also risk losing muscle instead of what you want to lose, fat. This illustrates how important it is to modify what you eat, and being cognizant of how much you eat, in order to make a change to your diet will be beneficial for the long haul.

Knowing that there is a direct correlation with what you consume and how that affects your weight may not be the top and the bottom of taking a healthy approach to your diet. Enjoy your food! Make the effort to stop multitasking and concentrate on the meal you are eating. Sit at the table, turn off the television, close the laptop and set down your phone. Enjoy one forkful at a time; take the time to savor each bite before taking your next. Distracted eating is mindless eating and will leave you feeling less satisfied.

Rest Easy

You always hear about the importance of a good night’s sleep, but do you understand why and how that impacts your diet? When you don’t get enough sleep (or are stressed out) your body produces a hormone called cortisol; this is responsible for carb cravings.

All in all, there is no one change that is necessary in order to lose weight the safe and healthy way. Remember, your body is a complex piece of equipment and its maintenance requires more than one aspect to be finely turned in order to perform at its highest capabilities. Arm yourself with the knowledge necessary to properly take care of yourself and you will be amazed at the results.