Losing weight is not an easy task. You need to avoid social outings , work out twice a day, stay away from junk and eat mostly diet foods for at least 16 weeks to see some visible results. Losing weight takes time, but if you eat one bad meal, it will show on your body and face in the form of bloating. Does that mean you have to eat clean your entire life and avoid your favourite foods? This used to be true, but with the introduction of flexible eating, one can eat whatever they want and still stay in shape.
So, if you want to lose weight or are tired of running on the treadmill for fat loss, let's start by understanding what flexible eating is and tips on how you can reintroduce your trigger food.
What Is Flexible Eating?
If you scroll through your Instagram feed, you will see millions of posts promoting flexible eating. As the name says flexibility, you are allowed to eat whatever you want as long as it fits within your daily calorie intake. There is no mention of carbs, protein, or portion control; the only requirement is that your maintenance calories should not exceed. So, if your maintenance calories are 2,100 and you want a 1,000-calorie pizza, you can only have it if you have 1,000 calories in your bank.
Tips To Enjoy Your Favourite Foods
1) Move More
The trick to avoiding weight gain is to burn the extra calories you've consumed. One of the best ways to burn off those extra calories is to move more. Cardio exercises, such as running, jogging, swimming, and cycling, help burn the most calories, so it's critical that you do them.
Also Read: The Longevity Diet For Weight Loss: What It Is & Should You Do It
Pro Tip
Post-workout is the time when our bodies are most depleted and require food for recovery. Engaging in a cheat meal or your favourite meal after an hour of exercise is also another way to minimise the effect of extra calories.
2) Avoid Overeating
Weight loss is a calorie game, so your goal should be to avoid overeating, because overeating increases calorie intake. How can one avoid overeating? Firstly, practice portion control by serving yourself less food. Secondly, eat no more than 70 per cent of your hunger. Finally, consume some protein to help with satiety.
3) Eat One Thing At A Time
Remember, fitness is a long-term game, so you must be consistent and grind every day. When you eat both pasta and pizza, you not only increase your daily calorie intake but also slow down your metabolism. You should ideally eat one thing at a time because different foods digest at different times in the body, causing indigestion, bloating, and weight gain. So, the next time you go out to eat, order one meal and save the rest for later.
Also Read: How To Lose Weight With A Simple But Scientific Method: Benefits Of A Calorie-Deficit Diet
Bottom Line
Flexible eating is not a diet plan in the same way that keto or ayurvedic diets are. It's an eating pattern that advises people that they can be flexible while still losing weight. It is important to note that it is a tool that should only be used on specific days and that at other times you should try to stick to your diet and eat clean.
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