Did you enjoy the holiday season? With the aroma of tasty treats and delicious delicacies in the air, it’s hard not to munch on all the cuisines that make us feel so jolly! However, indulging in gluttonous cravings can only last so long, or we’ll notice a couple of inches added to our waistline.
Then again, losing excess pounds is easier said than done. It’s a common struggle many of us face at some point in our lives. The good news is that we had the brilliant opportunity to connect with physician Dr. Alexandre Scheer from Scheer Medical Wellness, who enlightened us with great tips to not only lose weight but keep it off!
It’s About the Mindset
Dr. Scheer explained people looking to lose weight do not pursue the goal with a compassionate mindset, and end up disappointing themselves with unattainable objectives.
Stating, “One fundamental piece of advice I tell all my patients is to set realistic and achievable goals. Often people set ambitious resolutions that are not aligned with their current lifestyle or capabilities, leading to feelings of failure and disappointment when they cannot meet their high standards.”
There are psychological or medical reasons why a person may have trouble slimming down. Most apparently, breaking habit patterns is challenging, “neurologically, habits form through repeated actions that create neutral pathways in the brain. These pathways become the brain’s default for certain activities, making it challenging to break old habits.” says Dr. Scheer.
By having a positive attitude and developing a beneficial routine that incorporates wellness practices that go beyond usual exercise, such as yoga and meditation, we can rewire our brains successfully for health and wellness. YouTube and other fitness apps are great tools to find virtual sessions to relax.
Exercise and Challenge Yourself!
For effective results, planning and undergoing a structured regime at the gym or home is key. It should comprise several exercises ranging from cardiovascular, flexibility, and strength training.
We all understand it can be difficult to follow through with a plan of action, but, by spicing it up with motivational activities, you can stick to it! One actionable pursuit would be online health challenges, such as virtual races or walkathons.
You can find them on fitness apps or other online platforms. These types of online events imitate real-world ones and provide the space to record your progress, like running distance. With the spirit of competition, you can stay motivated and keep yourself on track while having fun in the process!
Dr. Sheer further made clear that “This boosts confidence and reinforces positive behavior. Moreover, participating in challenges can foster a sense of community and support, as many challenges are social in nature.”
Use Fitness Apps
Fitness apps can work to your advantage, so why not try them out? You can create and edit your workout routines, record and track your progress, learn new exercises, and connect with others.
Strive for an app with great personalization options that best align with your fitness goals. Dr. Scheer elaborated “Customizability is key; the app should allow users to tailor programs to their individual needs, taking into account factors like fitness level, available equipment, and time constraints.”.
If you don’t know where to start, he told us about some fitness apps that can work for all kinds of people:
- MyFitnessPal– Great for keeping track of exercise and nutrition
- Nike Training Club– Contains various workouts for different athletic ranks
- Strava– Tracks training and has an online community
- Glo– Yoga classes
Cook Your Meals
Preparing nutritious meals at home is important for weight loss and comes with many benefits. For starters, cooking food gives you the power to use top-notch ingredients and understand precisely what is composing your meal. Make sure to incorporate a fair portion of fruits, veggies, whole grains, and lean proteins into your everyday courses. Plus, you can save a pretty penny dining in rather than eating out.
Let’s not forget that cooking can be a positive experience for you and your loved ones, “[cooking] serves as an excellent opportunity for family bonding, as preparing meals together can be a fun, engaging activity that fosters stronger relationships and creates lasting memories.” he expressed.
There are various resources and tools to help with your meal prep. Thankfully, Dr. Scheer provided us with several helpful recommendations, most of them being conveniently on your mobile. He explained, “Nutrition apps like MyFitnessPal and Yummly can help in planning balanced meals and tracking nutritional intake, making them a great tool for those conscious about their diet.”
YouTube channels like Tasty and Bon Appétit are great options, as they provide guided tutorials that assist with advanced meal preparation. If you are more of a reader, consider immersing yourself in the world of cooking blogs for recipe ideas. He suggested Smitten Kitchen and Minimalist Baker, which keep up with culinary trends.
You can also join online social communities on platforms like Facebook and Pinterest, where people share their recipes and tips for others to enjoy. Of course, you can’t go wrong with a classic cookbook!
Eat Mindfully
When enjoying your meal, it’s important to slow down and take more conscious bites. This approach to food is called Mindful Eating, where you focus on the food and pay attention to its aspects, like the taste, smell, and texture of it. By eating in this way, you can fully appreciate the meal and enjoy the experience.
Simultaneously, you can better differentiate actual hunger from overeating and emotional eating. “By tuning into the body’s natural signals, individuals learn to recognize when they are genuinely hungry and when they have had enough to eat, leading to a more harmonious relationship with food,” said Dr. Scheer.
Reach out for Professional Assistance
With expertise in nutrition and the ability to professionally advise, Nutritionists can provide effective guidance to lose pounds. These individuals will teach you about healthy eating and help you carve out a nutritious customized meal plan, “They educate clients about the importance of macro and micronutrients, helping them understand what their body needs for optimal functioning and healthy weight loss.” he said.
If you’re interested in seeking help from a Nutritionist, Dr. Scheer shared many ways you can find them:
- Apps and other online platforms
- As a staff member in your local healthcare center
- Be referred to one by a primary care physician
- Community health centers
- Gyms and wellness centers
- Seminars or workshops hosted by Nutritionists
We hope you found Dr. Scheer’s weight loss tips illuminating as much as we did! It was a pleasure communicating with him to gather these insights, and we wish you luck on your weight loss venture!
XOXO,
Your Fashion Bestie
