Planning to lose weight? by Muzzafar Hussain Zaman

LONDON - May 20, 2016 - PRLog -- Losing weight is not easy and even the most dedicated effort can still be an uphill struggle. Careful planning and a strategy you can stick to will make it less of a battle and will bring rewarding results.


PLAN YOUR MEALS
Decide your meals for the week ahead and keep to the plan when you do your shopping. Use a pocket diary to write in your meals for each day so you can plan more easily. Invest in a couple of healthy meal cookbooks, go to the library or look online for interesting ideas.
Supermarkets are full of temptations and bargains and it's all too easy to shop spontaneously and slip unhealthy foods and treats into the trolley. Stick to your meal plan and you'll not only begin eating more healthily, you'll be saving money on all those fatty, unhealthy products that your body doesn't need.

CALORIE COUNTING
Sounds dull, right? However, counting calories doesn't mean your meals have to be boring or come in small portions which leave you craving a large pudding. Compare foods you enjoy with healthier alternatives, such as using turkey mince instead of beef mince, or couscous instead of rice or noodles.


Introduce more fish or leaner cuts of meat into your diet and pack out meals with lots of different vegetables. Fried dishes and sugary foods are the enemy of weight loss and can be hard to give up. Homemade chips can be oven-cooked rather than fried and use a very small amount of oil. Baked onions and peppers would be an ever better alternative.
Carbohydrate and protein-rich foods will make you feel fuller for longer and homemade soups are a quick and delicious way to beat the hunger. Blitz up potatoes, onions, squashes and add chopped leeks, sweetcorn and finely diced ham, anything you fancy - you can freeze batches and it's cheaper than buying protein shakes, too.

TREAT YOURSELF
Don't deprive yourself completely. Instead of crisps, tuck into crunchy, raw veg, pitta breads or breadsticks with tasty low-calorie dips. To satisfy a sweet tooth, mixed fresh or dried fruit into plain or low-calorie yoghurts, make your own smoothies with sweet, seasonal fruits or have cereal or a slice of toast instead of snacking on cakes and biscuits.

With determination you'll soon start to feel and look noticeably healthier. Be strong and go for it!

By Muzzafar Hussain Zaman

Visit my website - http://muzzafarzaman.weebly.com/