19/11/2014
Eating to lose body fat isn't particularly complicated, but it can be difficult.
If you find it difficult, DO NOT take this as a reflection of your capabilities as a person - in many ways, fat loss goes against what your body naturally wants you to do...
Below I have listed a few ways of making things easier if you have a goal of losing fat.
1) include foods you enjoy in your diet as much as possible. Typically when people start a diet, they assume certain foods are "bad" and restrict themselves. Naturally, if we tell ourselves we can't do something, we want to do it ! This will very rarely lead to long term, sustainable results. Instead, this will probably result in binge eating, feeling like you have "ruined" your diet and reduced confidence in your ability to lose fat.
2) minimise stress. Stressful situations sap our energy and reduce will power, making it difficult to keep control over what we eat. Aim to get 8 hours sleep a night, plan your days and try to find time to relax and switch off.
3) plan diet breaks. Dieting for a long time can become laborious and draining. Instead of throwing the toys out of the pram when things get hard and ditching the diet altogether, schedule days every few weeks to stop tracking your food and eat whatever you fancy. This will give you a mental break from the process, allow you satisfy any cravings you might have and make your results far more maintainable in the long term.
