One of the top tips to lose weight is to focus on your diet and make better food choices which will not only be healthier for you but which can also help you lose weight. Some people think making healthier food choices is going to cost an arm and a leg and while most unhealthy foods are cheaper, there are still ways to cut corners so that you are able to eat healthy and lose weight without spending too much.
Tips to lose weight on a budget
1. Say bye bye to junk food
Because most junk food is cheap, most people end up spending a portion of their paycheck on daily or weekly runs to fast food restaurants. This is not only unhealthy but is the fastest way to add pounds to your frame so eliminate junk food starting today but you also need to change your thinking about junk food in order to stop craving it.
While it may seem quick and cheap, the health costs that result from becoming unhealthy from your fast food consumption can be huge including diabetes management costs, high cholesterol management, high blood pressure management, etc.
Anything that increases your risk of developing these diseases should be off the menu. With every bite that you take of fast food, imagine that each bite is getting you closer to developing one or more of the above diseases and conditions.
Junk food is not only available at these restaurants but can be found at grocery stores too, so avoid shopping on an empty stomach and shop alone since children and spouses can pressure you into buying junk food for yourself and for them.
While junk food may seem cheap today, it will cost you so much more in the future when your health is affected so in a sense it is much cheaper to buy healthier foods today since they keep you healthy and help prevent you from developing chronic diseases that are expensive to treat.
2. Water instead of soft drinks
Choose water instead of sodas or coffee. Water is so much healthier for you. You will not only save money that you would otherwise spend on sodas and coffee, but you will also be healthier. Drinking a glass of water before a meal can help to reduce your hunger pangs which can help to reduce the amount of food you end up eating.
Anytime you feel hungry, instead of reaching for a fattening snack, drink a glass of water and it will help fill up your stomach and make you less hungry which is why drinking 8 to 10 or more eight ounce glasses of water is one of the best tips to lose weight.
Water also helps your body get rid of waste and toxins so drink up to keep your body well hydrated.
It is best to avoid drinking tap water and to avoid the expense of bottled water, simply invest in a water filter. This is an investment you will not regret as it will help you avoid the chlorine and other chemicals present in tap water.
Also fill up on high water content fruits and vegetables such as watermelon, salads, etc.
3. Fruits and vegetables
Eating more fruits and vegetables is another of the best tips to lose weight fast. Fruits and vegetables not only help you get the essential nutrients that your body needs but they also contain fiber which is the best way to lose weight naturally because fiber helps you feel fuller faster which ensures that you will end up eating less food as well as less in-between meal snacks which leads to weight loss.
It is best to buy in season fruits and vegetables. Farmers markets are great places to buy your fruits and vegetables. You can also buy fruits in bulk and freeze them to prevent them from spoiling and being a waste of money. Wash them thoroughly and dry them before freezing them in plastic zipper bags. Some may need to be peeled and cut up so do so before freezing them. All kinds of fruits can be frozen such as bananas, strawberries, mangoes, papaya, pineapples, berries, etc.
There are so many vegetables that do not cost more than a dollar so in addition to helping you eat healthier, they can also help you lose weight because they are very filling because of their fiber content and have very few calories so you can eat as much as you want. Nutrient rich vegetables that don't cost more than $1 include kale, collard greens, butternut squash, rutabaga, etc. In addition, buy loose fruits and vegetables that you can wash yourself and not pre-packaged and washed fruits and veggies which cost more.
4. Beans
One of the best tips to lose weight is to incorporate beans into your diet. They not only contain vital nutrients but are an extremely rich source of fiber especially soluble fiber which helps to slow digestion which can not only help prevent diseases like diabetes but which can also help with weight loss. This soluble fiber is not only great for slowing down digestion but is also important to eliminate waste from your body in a timely manner.
Beans are also a great source of protein which is necessary for building lean muscle if you also exercise as building lean muscle is the best way to increase your metabolism which helps to burn more calories. Select dry beans and not canned beans in order to avoid the high sodium content found in most canned beans. Beans are extremely cheap so there is not reason why they should not be in your diet.
To avoid the extreme gas from eating beans, soak the beans overnight first. Dump the water in the morning and add to a pot that you fill with water. Cook for 30 minutes and then dump this water out. Add more water and cook for another thirty minutes and dump this water out for the last time. After this, add more water and continue cooking the beans until done.
5. Meat and poultry
Limit or avoid consumption of red meat as it contains saturated fats which are bad for your health. Choose poultry instead and if you are on a budget, turkey is one of the cheapest and healthiest poultry choices. Turkey will more than adequately take care of your daily protein needs as well as containing other nutrients.
If you are on a budget, frozen ground turkey is the better alternative to fresh while still containing all the nutrients that you need. In addition, buy boneless poultry that still contains the fat and trim this yourself. You will find that this is cheaper.
Lastly, you will find it cost effective if you purchase meat and poultry products that are close to the "sell by" date and simply freeze them.
6. Salmon
Another of the best tips to lose weight is to eat more salmon which is also a great alternative to meat. Salmon is extremely healthy for you because it contains omega-3 fatty acids which are not only good for your health and well-being but eating more of these healthy fats can help you body release more of its unhealthy fat reserves which helps with weight loss as well as eliminating belly fat.
Salmon can be expensive but thankfully, canned salmon contains these fatty acids including many other nutrients which makes this a great option for those on a budget who want to eat healthy and still lose weight.
7. Eggs
Eggs are also another cheap and healthier alternative to meat and egg whites make some of the best weight loss foods. Eggs from free range birds are healthier as these birds were not fed various antibiotics, steroids and many other harmful chemicals that will find their way into the eggs and into your body.
8. Packaged foods
If you love pasta but still want to lose weight, one of the best tips to lose weight while still eating pasta is to look for Jerusalem artichoke pasta which is low in calories but still high in vitamins and minerals.
Healthier bread choices include looking for those made with whole grains. For hamburger buns, if you buy whole grain buns, this will not only help you eat healthier, but will be a great tool for portion control which will help with weight loss.
9. Peanut butter
This is not only cheap but is a great source of various nutrients including protein and it is important to note that peanuts are the only complete source of the protein that you will find. You can add them to sandwiches, smoothies, etc. This is also a great healthy snack but do not eat too much because although this is a great source of healthy fats, these fats are present in high amounts in peanuts which will defeat your weight loss goals if you eat too much.
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