lose those inches without starving yourselves with blogaberry foo
After I wrote a fun article on the weird incidents that helped me remain in shape, many of you hoped that there would be steps on how to lose weight, too. Some of you even messaged me asking how you could lose those inches without starving yourselves. Despite the generic blog that I wrote a few years ago ‘Nothing is Impossible’, where I listed all what you could enjoy if you were planning to lose weight, I decided to write another one because I’ve tweaked my regular diet a wee bit since then. Not because the previous one wasn’t working but because I just grew 6 years older. 😉
Firstly, let me remind you that controlling what you eat only depends on you, no one else. There are several types of people who want to lose weight. But, only if you have the determination to lose those pounds, you will. Otherwise, your body fat will just keep accumulating while you blame it on age, routine, family, time, work, etc. And annoying ailments will follow, such as Varicose Veins, backaches, knee pain, etc. So, only if you have the guts to lose that excess fat, read on…
And no, I don’t believe in crash diets or any famous diets.
I love the summers, not because it is hot but because it’s the fruit season! You will find various fruits that you can enjoy in the mornings like dragon fruit, mango, jackfruit, ice apples, java plum (jamun), grapes, watermelon, etc.
During the other months, there are bananas, apples, oranges, etc. So, eat as much as you need to fill yourself up.
Or latest by 13 30 hours. Yes, eating on time is very, very important. And make sure you don’t munch on nonsensical items between breakfast and lunch.
For lunch, you can merely replace rice and chappati with millet grains. Yes, they are quite boring in taste so I try to enhance the flavour by mixing them with cauliflower/broccoli rice. I avoid adding too much salt (as that is also bad for health) to it but I add an extra pinch of freshly ground pepper. You can add other herbs that you like and enjoy this with your vegetables and curries.
Avoid eating even a piece of chocolate after lunch. You can satisfy your sweet cravings once you have lost weight. For now, make sure you don’t think ‘nothing will happen with one bite’ and have all the junk items in the world. Control – is the word to remember!
I don’t drink tea or coffee but I love having a glass of unsweetened almond milk (the best I’ve tasted for far is the one by Borges Natura). I plan to try the one by Epigamia next. Or you can just enjoy some fruits, nuts or seeds.
Dinner can be light, provided you sleep by 22 00 or 22 30 hours. Staying awake late at night will surely lead to you consuming unwanted food items.
For dinner, I either have sandwiches with brown/wheat bread, soups, eggs or lean meats/fish. I sometimes enjoy a bowl full of salad. You can also try some of these smoothies that can fill you up without letting those inches increase.
As I have mentioned umpteen times before, sleep is very important. Only when your body rests for a minimum of 8 hours a day, can you expect to have the least number of ailments.
The five steps to living a healthy life are to EAT RIGHT, KEEP ALL YOUR LIMBS ACTIVE, DRINK WATER REGULARLY, DO THINGS THAT BRING YOU PEACE and SLEEP WELL.
Staying healthy does not depend only on your workouts. You can walk miles but eat junk. Also, being thin and fitting into size ‘S’ does not always mean you are healthy. Even slim people get heart attacks. And sleeping well does not mean sleeping all day.
Hope this helps at least a few of you to lead a healthy lifestyle and not chase crash diets or starve yourselves. In case you have issues with the will-power to take care of yourself, you can always contact Swati Narshana (Clinical Nutritionist and Sports Dietician) to help you get on the right track.
All the best!
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51 Comments
Very practical advice.
Thanks for sharing these valuable tips . These tips are so doable and I’m glad I’m already following most of these
You are right that maintaing a routine is very vital in weight management. And liked the idea of having fruits at breakfast that will automatically reduce salt in one meal.
I cant stay hungry and want to lose inches. These tips that you have shared are so doable. And I am going to try them.
I have to curb my sweet cravings after lunch/dinner. This is a real struggle for me… but I am committed to work towards it. Thanks for the nudge!
I am currently on my weight loss journey and lost a good 15 kgs by bringing simple changes. eating on time and eating the right things at the real mantra to weight loss.
Wow that’s awesome, Hansa!
I love how detailed and easy to follow these steps are. I have been on a fitness journey myself so I will surely be trying out these tips soon.
Great tips for losing inches with utmost logic and rationality. I am so against following those fashionable crash diets blindly; which of no means if you are not going to stick by it all your life
You know what Cindy, for the last 1 month I started following the same routine and can’t say about my weight but inside I am feeling happy and refreshed.
That’s great, Ruchi! Keep it up!
I always say that weightloss starts with making small changes in our lifestyle. Meal times, an active life and rested sleep are a must to lose those inches.
High five, Varsha!
I like that you have simplified the who lose weight which has an entire industry around it, and new concepts and products coming up every other day, into the basic 5 steps. It makes sense that if these 5 are your core, your health will improve. I know that sleep makes such a difference to our health and quality of every day life.
True! Ishieta, I see people making money out of people who don’t have any will power, so thought I could help out of my own experience. Do forward this to people who could be helped.
Great tips Cindy and I also feel that timing is most important along with correct choice of food. if we follow these two simple thing than we can maintain a healthy weight easily. skipping meal or crush dieting may give result for first few weeks but it is not a good idea for long term .
True, Surbhi. Glad you agree with me!
I am definitely going to inculcate these tips
Well. Imo, it looks easy but it’s not. I can exercise all I want but in the end I need my butter chicken to end my day.
Hahaha! Raghav, yes that’s why I said determination is the key!
Not giving excuses is the first step towards any kind of discipline. Luckily, I never had weight related issues. Not that my body the is like the but because I always had a disciplined lifestyle. And I enjoy it. I do not starve myself. I enjoy my favorite food but along with that I have a routine. And that helps me to keep those numbers on the weighing scale on track.
Cindy these tips are so doable and I’m glad I’m already following most of these
Yup, it’s simple, Sindhu! All the best!
Thanks for the amazing tips Cindy ☺️…I have put on so much and badly needed some tips to reduce few pounds.
I’m glad it will help you, Smita! Let me know!
Thank you for the tips, Cindy! It’s been a while I’ve been trying to get my schedule in order. This looks like a fresh new reason to start.
You’re welcome, Kashish. All the best!
These tips actually should be a part of our regular lifestyle and shouldn’t feel like something special. I agree, consistency is the key here. One can only follow these if we really want to keep a healthy lifestlye for ourselves.
True, Kavita, it’s more of a lifestyle than a diet course.
The hundred hours reminded me of the good old times. You are absolutely right about fad diets. They do more damage. You can lose weight with balanced diet and regular exercise.
True, Madhu. Tried and tested! 🙂
These are some great tips and doable too. I agree with right food it is equally important to eat on right time. I need to add more healthy good in my routine.
This is a great blog! Was looking for some simple and doable tips for the same and this helped. Thanks!
That’s great, Meetali. All the best.
You’re bang on! These five points are the most important to losing weight healthily. It’s not enough to lose it but we need to maintain too and I’m sure these five are the best for maintaining it too!
Yes they are, Brinda!
The timings you have written in the diet plan are perfect for lunch and dinner. Eating dinner early gives more time for digestion and speeds up metabolism before sleep.
True, Shail!
It’s a good timetable even my doctor suggests that but with a hectic schedule I find it hard.
You come before your schedule, Moni! Try it!
Love your funda of life, Cindy. The tips you gave are the best. Just with a little moderation and discipline, we can control our weight. The best was willpower. Without controlling ourselves we cannot achieve any weight loss goals or even stick to the ones we have. The cauliflower and broccoli are grated and used as rice? Like we use it in a keto diet?
I don’t know about keto diet, Harjeet, but you can click on the link and get the recipe on how to go about it.
I can’t do any kind of diet. I am bhuukkad 😆person can’t starve. Till I am not overweight but yes after this year will surely follow your tips. Like your tips but I don’t think mera pet bharega😃.
I can’t skip my morning tea though I start my day with fruit.
Hahaha, you have time, Neeta! Take care of yourself. 🙂
I follow some of those points, but staying away from sweets is a little difficult. As you said, I keep telling myself, ek piece se kya hoga. No wonder all the long walks and yoga go for a toss. Thanks for putting this up. Reality check for me.
Hahaha, you’re welcome, Sonia! Take care!
‘You are what you eat’ they say and food is by far the most imp aspect of our health, fitness and wellbeing.
Everything you’ve written is bang-on Cindy. 🙌
Thanks, Kaveri!
U hv the most amazing solutions when it comes to weight loss and mast look
Hahaha, try some of them and then say they are amazing, Flavia! ;P
Absolutely agree with you. Starving may be the quickest way to lose weight but it is not sustainable. And people underestimate the power of a good night’s sleep.
Seriously, Ritu, I think that people just make life so complicated that they find it difficult to take care of themselves in the process.