Many people around the world are struggling to lose weight and are constantly on the lookout for the next trendy weight loss program. There are so many of these diet plans available, promising guaranteed results, and many jump from one diet to another, trying to find the best meal plan for them. Some have a success story to tell, while others fail miserably every time they try. But did you know that every successful weight loss diet has one universal principle - calorie deficit? There is no magic to any trending diet plan out there and you should not be fooled into thinking otherwise.
Instead of becoming a fan of fad diets, why not cut calories from your regular diet to create a calorie deficit. Doing this does not require you to sacrifice a lot of your eating habits (providing you are not indulging in junk food every day). There are simple practices you can adopt to reduce your calorie intake to lose weight and maintain it — and calorie counting is not even needed. Here are practical ways on how to limit your calorie intake:
Make Home-Cooked Meals
Making your own home-cooked meals is a great way to decrease calorie intake because you are in full control of your ingredients and portion sizes. You can substitute some ingredients into low-calorie options or include more vegetables in your meals to create a longer-lasting sense of fullness and reduce the urge to overeat due to fibers. You can even look into healthier cooking methods like boiling or poaching, grilling, steaming, and broiling to cut back on calories.
Drink A Glass Of Water Before A Meal
Water does not contain any calories. Aside from that, it is an appetite suppressant that can make you feel fuller; therefore, try drinking water before meals to reduce the amount of food you eat, limiting calorie intake.
Eat More Fruits
Fruits are an excellent addition to your diet as they are rich in antioxidants, minerals, vitamins, and fiber. Their fiber content boosts fullness that can prevent overeating. Most fruits are also low in calories, which is helpful if you are trying to limit your caloric intake.
Avoid Liquid Calories
If you regularly drink sodas, fruit juices, and specialty coffee drinks, it's time to reduce your consumption. In doing this causes you will likely eliminate several hundred extra calories from your diet. These drinks are high in sugar and fat, and they don't provide fullness that solid foods do. Read our blog on Liquid Calories for more information.
Cut Back On Processed Foods
Highly processed foods like sugary drinks, sweets, processed meats, fast foods, and bakery products should not be a part of healthy eating habits. Because their sugar, fat, and salt contents make them highly palatable and encourage excessive eating. And the amount of sugar and saturated fat in these foods is also high that it can add to your calorie intake.
Regardless of your exercise or weight loss programs, the goal should always be the same - to burn more calories than you consume. Losing weight is not as hard as you think if you concentrate on adopting a healthier lifestyle rather than counting calories. And remember doing exercise supports your weight loss journey and provides a whole host of other benefits.
