Weight loss can be a loaded and confusing topic for women. So much of your self-image can be tied up in how you look and what you weigh. You are much more than a number on the scale, but carrying around excess weight can be detrimental to your health. It takes consistent effort to find the balance between accepting your body and doing the work to stay healthy. One way to find that balance is to choose a weight loss method that is healthy and sustainable. Nutrition, workout routine, and movement throughout the day are all areas that women need to focus on in order to lose weight.
Create a calorie deficit
In order to lose excess weight, it is essential for you to create a calorie deficit. This information probably does not come as a surprise – especially if you have been researching options for weight loss. Basically, you must burn more calories than you consume. One way to ensure that this happens is by controlling to amount and type of food you consume. There are a number of different ways to approach creating a calorie deficit. You can take the typical approach and learn the number of calories you need to create a deficit and then count your calories to ensure you stay under that number. Calorie counting can work but many people tire of the process after a while. Another way to approach creating a calorie deficit is with intuitive nutrition. Intuitive nutrition is focused on finding which eating plan works best for you. The exact balance of carbs, fats, and proteins that make you feel your best is unique to you. You can use the Intuitive Nutrition Guide to find the eating plan that is sustainable and helps you lose weight. There are some elements that all high-quality eating plans have in common and those include avoiding heavily processed foods, making plant consumption a priority, and avoiding the overconsumption of food.
Incorporate weight training into your workout routine
Incorporating weight training into your workout routine can help with the process of weight loss. Many women balk at the idea of weight training being part of a weight loss program. The reality is, however, that weight training will help you reach your goals more quickly and make it easier to keep the weight off. When you lift weights regularly, you will start to build muscle. The more muscle you have, the more calories you burn while at rest. This means that your metabolism will start to increase as you build muscle. A higher metabolism will ultimately result in more weight loss and longer lasting results.
Ramp up your non-exercise activity thermogenesis (NEAT)
Non-exercise activity thermogenesis (NEAT) is the movement that you do throughout the day that is not exercise. Taking the stairs, walking through a parking lot, cleaning around the house, or standing up while you work can all be considered NEAT. Ramping up your NEAT can help you lose weight over time by increasing the calories that you burn throughout the day. Moving more throughout the day – combined with your efforts with nutrition and working out – is a key part of losing weight.
Focusing on the steps outlined above will help women (and men) lose weight. You can learn more about intuitive eating, weight training, and NEAT on the Mind Pump Media blog.
