It is a time-honored tradition to make resolutions at this time of year. If your resolution is to lose weight – and keep it off – then keep reading! Here are six simple tips that will have you losing weight in a balanced and healthy way.
1) Lose weight with water
Water is essential for everybody – it is also the key to losing weight. If you haven’t been drinking enough filtered water, your body will have developed a pattern of storing water. This water retention equals extra unwanted weight. By drinking more water, you are not only flushing out toxins, you are also teaching your body that it no longer needs to store water. Drink at least 60 ounces of water (about eight glasses) a day. Filter your own water with a high quality water filter like the one from Aquasana, add sliced lemons and drink this throughout the day to help with fluid retention. If you are still not sold on the merits of water, try this on for size: Water is a natural appetite suppressant.
2) Soup up your weight loss program
A simple dietary change will have you shedding pounds: Eat a bowl of soup at least once a day. Nutritious, low-salt soups will nourish you as they flush waste from your body. People who eat a serving of soup daily lose more weight than those who eat the same amount of calories, but don’t eat soup. Go for homemade soup whenever possible, as canned soups are typically loaded with salt and chemicals.
Homemade soups are simple to make: Fill a stock pot with filtered water, chop up seasonal vegetables like kale and winter squash, put in dried beans and legumes like black beans and lentils, and add aromatic herbs and spices like lemongrass, leeks, and onions bring it to a boil and simmer for a couple of hours. Season to taste if preferred.
3) Eat early to keep weight off
The human body follows a circadian rhythm, which means that the same foods eaten at breakfast and lunch are processed differently than when eaten at dinner. Studies show that when you eat your daily protein and fat at breakfast you tends to lose weight and have more energy; however, eating the same things at dinner tend to increase weight gain. I suggest that you eat your last meal of the day by 7 p.m. And if you get hungry later on have a bowl of frozen mixed berries.
4) Seek a little help from nature
Taking herbs with your meals can naturally help speed up your weight loss and suppress your appetite. Herbs like lotus leaf, white mulberry, and chrysanthemum flower gently eliminate toxins and water retention while hawthorn and Job’s tears support healthy digestion. Green tea naturally stimulates metabolism. These and other herbs make up our herbal formula B-Slim which is a completely natural dietary supplement designed to be part of a sensible overall weight management program. In our clinical trials using B-Slim, a healthy diet and exercise program, those patients who completed the three-month weight management program at the Tao of Wellness lost an average of 19.3 pounds. Of course, your actual weight loss may be different and will depend on many factors. Check with your doctor before beginning any weight loss program.
5) Adopt a balanced approach to your diet
Most of the fad diet programs out there nowadays are extreme in a few recommended foods, or deprive the body of food altogether. This works in opposition to our metabolism and the results usually don’t last, producing a yoyo effect that depresses your metabolic function – not to mention your self-esteem. We are natural beings that need a balance of nutrition from all sources.
Your diet should consist of a balance of organic sources of lean protein, complex carbohydrates, whole grains, legumes, nuts, fruits, and vegetables. Instead of white rice and pasta, opt for brown rice, bulgur, millet, or buckwheat. Eat more green, chlorophyll-rich foods such as broccoli, kale, spinach, and asparagus.
Eliminate candy, sugar, soda, and all simple sugars from your diet. Excess sugar ends up being stored as fat in your body, which results in weight gain. Also, keep dairy to a minimum because most dairy products are high in saturated fat. Avoid fatty, processed, or fried foods.
I hope this article helps you shed some pounds and add on the years! You can find B-Slim and Aquasana water filters at The Wellness Store. Sign up for our Cleansing and Detox Retreat at www.taoofwellness.com
May you Live Long, Live Strong, and Live Happy!
Dr. Mao Shing Ni, best known as Dr. Mao, is a bestselling author, doctor of Oriental Medicine and board certified anti-aging expert. He practices acupuncture, nutrition and Chinese medicine with his associates at the Tao of Wellness in Santa Monica, a Wellness Medicine group that won the “L.A.’s Best” Award. Dr. Mao and his brother, Dr. Daoshing Ni founded Tao of Wellness in Santa Monica over 25 years ago. In addition, he is the cofounder and Chancellor of Yo San University in Venice/Marina del Rey. To subscribe to a free newsletter please visit www.taoofwellness.com To make an appointment for evaluation and treatment please call 310-917-2200 or you can email Dr. Mao at contact@taoofwellness.com
