6 Healthy Tips to Help You Lose Weight

Almost all of us will struggle with our weight at one point or another, trying out fad diets or taking part in the latest workout craze. Social media has bombarded us with images of “perfection” more than we’ve ever been exposed to before, putting added pressure on almost all of us to look our best – no matter what.

With so much misinformation out there, it can be hard to find healthy, authentic ways to help you both lose weight and keep it off, too. While everyone’s body is different, certain weight loss tips have remained tried and true, allowing you to lose weight at a healthy pace and feel energised and confident. Below are 6 weight-loss hacks that will help you reach your goals and have you looking and feeling your very best.

1. Weight loss shakes

Weight loss shakes are an easy, quick and healthy way to incorporate portion-controlled, convenient meals into your diet that are low-calorie and filled with important vitamins and nutrients. They’re especially great for beginners who are looking for simple and fuss-free ways to make changes to their diet and keep their calories down.

With a range of flavours that you can combine with your favourite milk or milk replacement, you can even turn it into a smoothie and blend in your favourite fruits or vegetables for a healthy, balanced meal.

2. Drink plenty of water

Staying hydrated is another easy way to help you lose weight, as people often mistake dehydration for hunger and then eat unnecessarily. Drinking water before or during a meal can help you to eat less by making you feel fuller, which can help you lose weight as well as keep it off.

3. Tracking your calories

Tracking your calories and macros is a great way to stay fully informed about what you’re putting into your body, as well as make sure that you’re getting enough nutrients. If you have a calorie goal for the day, keeping a close eye on every meal and snack you eat can help you to make informed decisions regarding what you eat next.

Many people also make the mistake of not eating enough while they’re trying to lose weight, denying themselves proper nutrition in the form of protein, carbohydrates and fibre. This can actually be detrimental to your weight loss journey, and tracking your food can help you make sure you’re reaching all your macronutrient goals.

4. Meal prep

In addition to weight loss shakes, getting in the habit of prepping your meals throughout the week will make it easier to eat healthily and stay on track with your diet. Set aside some time on the weekend to prepare your food for the week in meal-sized portions, and then place them in the freezer.

This will mean that you always have a healthy, low-calorie meal waiting for you and you won’t have an excuse to cheat and order takeaway or skip a meal.

5. Sleep

Believe it or not, getting enough sleep is one of the most important things you can do for your weight loss journey. A lack of proper sleep increases the production of the hunger hormone, ghrelin, which increases your cravings for sweet, salty, high-calorie foods.

A lack of sleep can also decrease the production of the satisfaction hormone, leptin, which can lead to binge eating. When we’re routinely well-rested, we’re in a better headspace to make better decisions for ourselves, including what we put in our bodies.

6. Don’t skip breakfast

Breakfast is a meal that many people skip while they’re trying to lose weight, deciding to wait for their appetite to kick in around lunchtime and keep the eating to a minimum before then. But people who skip breakfast tend to subconsciously eat more food throughout the rest of the day to make up for it, as their bodies are calling out to be fed.

Having a protein and fibre-filled meal for breakfast will help you manage your meals for the rest of the day and avoid binge eating late into the night.