If losing weight is your goal this year then there are a few tips and tricks you should be aware of. It is not that simple to shake off a few pounds – it takes hard work and dedication for it all to happen. Going to the gym is not good enough, you need to live a healthy life as well! What I mean by this is exercise correctly, eat right and sleep enough.

Here are a few tips that you can use to help you achieve your goal:

1. Eat Carbs

About a year ago my mother decided it is time that she goes on a diet, which is never a bad idea. My mom’s diet consists of high fat, no starch, no sugar and lots of water. It seemed very simple and they lost a few Kg, this diet was called banting. We didn’t cut out carbs we just made it up with other foods like fruits. Your body needs carbohydrates to function correctly – this is the bodies main source of fuel. The secret behind it is not to overeat on carbs.

There are 2 types of carbs:

1. Simple carbohydrates are sugar, they are the type of carbs you say NO to. They are low in fiber and rapidly absorbed into the bloodstream. This will lead to high spikes in your blood levels.
2. Complex carbohydrates – these are the good type of carbs. These type of carbs are high in fiber and takes longer to break down. Complex carbs help to reenergize the body.

2. Get that protein in

We just discussed carbs : now it’s time to discuss protein. This is an important nutrient if you want to lose weight. Did you know if you eat 25% – 30% protein in relation to your carbs your metabolism speeds up to 80 -100 calories per day? With that being said you will automatically eat more calories a day? Eat a breakfast which contains a high portion of protein as it helps you stay fuller longer and reduces the cravings you get during the day.

3. DO NOT Starve yourself

Please guys, this is not even an option! How can your body function properly when you are not eating anything? You will feel tired and you will have a lack of energy. Females need about 1200 calories per day for her to function naturally and a man roughly needs 1500 calories per day. Not only that but when you decide to starve yourself your body goes into survival mode, meaning it stores fat and breaks down your muscle to use as fuel. AND isn’t that the exact opposite of what we want? After starving yourself and getting your desired look you will lose it within days after eating again, along with some health issues.
POINT IS DO NOT STARVE YOURSELF!!

4. Keep track of what you are eating

We are all about eating here the training is still coming. Be aware of how much you are eating; I too am guilty of this because I snack hear and there but this is dangerous as it a may lead to gaining weight and not losing weight.

5. Eat BREAKFAST!

We have all heard the term that breakfast is the most important meal of the day. You know when you wake up you need some coffee, it’s the same effect on your body. Let’s put it this way – breakfast is like coffee for your body it wakes you up and it energizes every cell in your body. Studies have shown that people who skip breakfast are most likely to be obese. Make sure this is a healthy breakfast otherwise you can just leave it as it will not have an effect on your body!

6. Too much cardio

Do not get me wrong cardio is important, but too much of one thing is always bad. Try to divide your gym session into 3 categories:
1. Stretch
2. Cardio
3. Strength
This would be a perfect workout. Cardio is important for your health and to lose weight, it helps boost our metabolism and helps us to get fit. BUT if you over do it on your cardio routine it can have the opposite reaction, your body starts to use your lean muscles to fuel your body. Using your lean muscles as body fat will lower metabolism which result in no burning of fat. Not the goal is it? Weight training is extremely important to anyone, building up your lean muscles means that calories burning will increase even if you are not exercising. How COOL is that?

7. Get enough sleep

This is a healthy habit to learn not only for your body but for your mind as well. Adults should get between 7 – 9 hours of sleep in. Lack of sleep can lead to gaining weight. If you do not get enough sleep, your metabolism tends to slow down and increase your cortisol levels, which leads to overeating. I know sometimes it’s hard to get a good night’s sleep, so here are a few tips that can help you shut down from the world:

• Put all electronics away

• Set time to go to bed and stick to it

• Have a good supportive mattress and pillow

8. Too much alcohol

If you are a party animal, but you are trying to lose weight then you are on the wrong path. Beer is not the best option if losing weight is your goal, it’s best to stay with a spirit like Vodka mixed with a zero-calorie drink. Keep it moderate as it is still acceptable, but heavy drinking leads to weight gain.