Chapter 3 (Part 2): How to lose weight? First, ask yourself how you want to lose weight.
How to lose weight? First, ask yourself how you want to lose weight.
Don't rush to lose weight; find the right method before you start.
Once you decide to lose weight, don't rush into action. Don't blindly copy other people's weight loss experiences. Choose a method that you can stick to. There's no need to treat your weight loss journey like an ascetic. A happy and enjoyable weight loss experience makes success much easier!
Undoubtedly, the core of weight loss is to eat less and exercise more, but would you rather eat less or exercise more?
Personally, I'd rather eat less than do sports I don't enjoy. Some might say, "I dislike both, I'm unwilling to eat less, and I'm too lazy to exercise. What should I do?" The old saying still applies: if you're unwilling to endure hardship, don't bother trying to lose weight. There's nothing wrong with being a happy, chubby person; just be mindful of your health.
Weight Loss Methods: Eat Less
While adhering to the principle of eating less, we should still follow our own interests. If we eat less, then we should eat better and more refined foods.
First, think about what you like to eat most, but you can only list one or two categories of foods that are indispensable to your life. For example, I love drinking yogurt, and I feel like my day isn't complete without it for breakfast. I know that no matter how little I eat, yogurt will never disappear from my food list, so it's listed as an indispensable food for me even when I'm trying to lose weight.
And what about those foods that weren't chosen as your "irreplaceable favorites"? Unfortunately, you'll have to learn to gradually let them go. Since you don't love them to the point of being inseparable, why let them ruin your weight loss plan? If you crave them occasionally, OK, no problem, take a bite, but after tasting it, it's best not to swallow it; just spit it out. Do foods that taste mediocre even deserve to enter your stomach? Slowly, you'll find that while enjoying your favorite foods, you're also enjoying noticeable weight loss results.
Weight Loss Methods: The Active Version
The word "exercise" sounds rather boring, so let's understand it as "things you love to do that require movement." So what are these "things you love to do that require movement"? For example, I love shopping. Looking at the dazzling array of goods, I never feel tired no matter how long I shop. When I was studying abroad, I could even shop until 3 a.m., and I went through three different groups of friends shopping with me. So, shopping became a form of exercise I chose for weight loss.
For example, many people unconsciously sway their bodies while listening to music, and I'm one of them. So every day after I get home, I turn on the DVD player, put on my favorite upbeat songs, and dance a bit. Or, I listen to my favorite songs while running, focusing my attention on appreciating the music, and unknowingly lose weight.
Many people complain that they don't have time to exercise. Actually, there are plenty of opportunities to exercise in life, and I'll also tell you a secret: active people are more popular, because the way to be a popular person is simple: help those around you with things.
At home, Mom always cooks, and you just wait to eat? Well, from now on you'll be the head chef! Cook more dishes; it'll be a great way to build arm strength.
Are you always asking your colleagues to get this or hand that to you in the office? Then you'll become the one helping others. Delivering documents to your colleagues is a good way to exercise your leg muscles.
Do you always have your husband or boyfriend carry your bag when you go shopping? Then just carry it yourself and tell him you're worried about him getting too tired and that you'll feel bad for him. Actually, you're doing it to lose weight.
For those of you who prefer to be more active, make a list of "things you love to do that require movement." Unlike the group that just mentioned eating less, the more "things you love to do that require movement," the better. Varying the types of exercise makes it easier to stick to the routine.
These excuses are so far-fetched!
After choosing a weight loss method, most people start implementing it with unwavering determination. However, after a while, various excuses will surface. I've compiled a few of the most common excuses I've heard to share with you. If you have any of these excuses, please shut up after reading this, because an excuse is just an excuse and it doesn't hold water.
Can you lose weight while working? Of course!
"You can't lose weight while working." This statement surprised me greatly, because I actually managed to lose weight during my workday. While recording the TV show "Beauty and the Beast," the director asked me to share with the audience how to lose weight while working. After talking with some friends who gave up on dieting because of work, I discovered that their excuses were truly bizarre.
Reason 1: I chose to lose weight through dieting, but I didn't have the energy to work if I wasn't full every day, so I gave up losing weight for work.
Indeed, excessive dieting can cause adverse reactions such as palpitations and dizziness, but why don't you control your diet within a healthier range?
During my weight loss diet, I never let myself get so hungry that I felt anxious or fainted, but I often maintained a state of "slight hunger." I believe that dieting within reasonable limits not only doesn't affect work, but can actually promote it. Have you ever felt lazy or sleepy after eating too much? Yes, right? Therefore, if you don't eat too much, you'll find it easier to concentrate on your work.
Therefore, the reason that dieting affects work is terrible!
Reason 2: I chose to lose weight through exercise, but I don't have time to exercise because of work, so I gave up on losing weight.
As I mentioned before, the exercise we are referring to here is not limited to machine exercises that can only be done in the gym, but rather to "things you love to do and that involve movement".
For example, getting off the bus or train a little earlier on your way to work and walking an extra stop; skipping lunch breaks and taking a walk instead of chatting with colleagues in the office; brisk walking in your neighborhood after get off work... These are all great opportunities for exercise, and they're effortless to do. Just change your bad habits and shake off your laziness; incorporating exercise into your workday is really not difficult at all.
Therefore, the argument that exercising to lose weight will affect work is invalid!
Can you lose weight while going to school? Of course you can!
Occasionally, on my Weibo, student friends will ask me: "Amanda, I want to lose weight, but I am still a student and have a lot of academic pressure, so I am very distressed."
When faced with such questions, I usually ask their age. If they are still growing, I encourage them that this period is not because they are gaining weight, but because they are going through puberty and their bodies need a little more energy. They don't need to deliberately diet or spend a lot of time exercising. Just don't eat too much every day and try to be active in their spare time.
But for those classmates who have long since passed puberty, I won't be so polite. Since you've already completed your physical development and are very dissatisfied with your body shape, then please try your best to lose weight.
Even if you're busy with your studies, I believe you still have time to rest every day. Instead of using that time to play computer games, why not engage in physical exercise? Even if you're so diligent that you don't have any rest time, you still have to do exercises every day and have at least two or three physical education classes every week. So please make the most of your time and try to get some physical activity. Even if your personal time is completely taken up by tutoring classes, at least you can choose to walk to the tutoring class, or walk a few stops further. You can use that time to think about your math problems, memorize English, or analyze historical events, and the results will be much better than cramming.
Eat proper meals every day, stop eating as soon as you feel full, don't eat any snacks, and take every opportunity to exercise. You'll find that your health and studies will improve together.
Too busy taking care of your kids to lose weight? Don't use your kids as an excuse!
When mothers say things like, "I'm completely devoted to my child now, I don't have time to lose weight," do they feel like they're doing something great? But I find it very hypocritical.
I don't have children myself, but observing the mothers around me who do, although it's tough, they certainly don't have no personal time at all. Every day, watching your child grow while you become increasingly disheveled, aren't you afraid your child will look down on you when they grow up?
Therefore, strong-willed mothers must juggle childcare and weight loss. The period requiring focused childcare typically occurs from birth until the child starts kindergarten, which is the most exhausting time. I believe dieting is a suitable weight loss method for mothers, but only after the breastfeeding period. During this time, children are in their hyperactive phase, and mothers are constantly running around with these little rascals, cleaning up their messes, and taking them to the park to explore the world. Therefore, mothers during this period are not lacking in physical activity.
As the old saying goes, don't put yourself through the wringer all at once; take it one step at a time and explore gradually.
Taking care of children is hard work, plus the need to control one's diet. Who says being a hot mom is difficult!