Weight Loss Tips for Foodies

Friday, January 27, 2012
Having a strong passion for food, I often face problems on losing the excess weight. Some people may still see me as quite petite, but don't let the vertical stripes on my lose top fool you. With eating out almost every day, who would not gain tons of unwanted weight? If you're a fellow foodie who loves to pig out on carb and sugar-loaded dishes, I bet you are also becoming more conscious not only with how you look but also with your overall health and well-being. Yes boys and girls, although eating good food is orgasmic, more often than not, it comes with a consequence we have to deal with sooner or later.

Most people I know who want to lose weight resort to either crash dieting or use of weight loss products. Some who wanted to take more extreme measures even opt for both invasive and non-invasive weight loss procedures. However, I don't believe these are permanent solutions. Like old folks, I believe that you reap what you sow -- the faster you lost weight, the quicker you'll gain it back. So although I'm not a health expert, let me share with you some weight loss tips that I personally follow, tips which I learned both through research and experience.

1. Eat a well-balanced diet
I have a lot of friends who go through a no-rice diet or zero-carbs diet to lose the excess weight. However although it may seem effective, it will just put your health in jeopardy. Our body needs carbohydrates as these provide us energy. The bad thing though, excess carbohydrates which our body does not use up will be merely stored, increasing water retention that makes our arms, thighs and abdomen flabby. What you'll probably need is to cut back, not cut off, carbs from your diet and add more vegetables and fruits since they have lighter calorie contents.

2. Cut back on portion sizes
A proper diet does not call for cutting off something entirely. You can still eat a creamy pasta dish or your favorite milk chocolate, but the key to not packing on the unwanted weight is to eat in smaller portions. Instead of having two or three cups of rice every meal, why not try cutting it down to one? And instead of hoarding all the popcorn, share it with a friend or two. I'm sure not only will your friends thank you for being generous, but your body as well.

3. Lessen sugar, salt and alcohol intake
Most unforgettable dishes for a foodie are probably filled with sugar, salt or alcohol. I understand, these three always take any food up a notch. Bad news though 'cause they are known to increase water retention in the body as well. If you haven't heard of water retention yet, it's what makes us feel bloated. Our bodies are composed of 50, even to 60 percent of water which makes us heavier. (Yes, our weight is mostly because of water not just fats.) And if you want to shed off some pounds, monitoring your water retention is a quick way since it's easier to lose as compared to fat.

4. Drink more water
I know I've mentioned how water retention is unwanted, but drinking more water is good when you want to lose weight. How? Well, water speeds up the metabolism. And if we consume less water than what our body needs, water will be stored in certain areas of our body. However if we consume more water, our system will realize that it has a sustainable supply which will stop our body from storing more of it.

5. Get active, exercise
Eating right will avoid our body from gaining more weight. However, only exercise can burn up the fat we've previously packed on. If you are geared up on seriously losing weight, understand that it takes time, effort and determination. Getting a healthier and fitter body can never be done very easily and overnight, but the benefits of exercising to your overall well-being is definitely greater than what weight loss shortcuts can offer.

For starters, walking for at least 30 minutes a day in a moderate to fast pace can already give a subtle physical activity. But of course, if you want to challenge yourself more, go out for a 20 minute jog every other day. However if you also want a leaner and more toned body, a combination workout is your best bet. Do some strength training, cardio and ab exercises since these will not only give you a maximum calorie burnout but will also help you sculpt your way to a good muscular form. I don't go to the gym, but I follow the workout plan in Jillian Michaels' 30-Day Shred and Ripped in 30.

6. Prepare yourself for a lifestyle change
Understand that in order to lose weight, you need to change your lifestyle for the better. Following these tips but eventually going back to your old ways will only make you gain back the weight and the frustration. The weight loss journey is not just a project but a continuous road to living healthier. These tips are not actually just for weight loss, but a quick guide to eating and living better as well.

7. Commit now
If you're ready for everything, make a commitment and do not turn back. We gain more weight and unwanted inches every single day. Delay your weight loss strategy for one more day and you'll have to strive harder to lose more.

I know I'm no expert in this field, but I'm sure these tips will be helpful to some. I don't consider myself physically fit especially with the amount of junk I eat every day, and with the delaying tactic I fool myself with to procrastinate on exercising. However, I want to live healthier and enjoy a longer life. I think you do too. So although it will be a lot of work, let us try harder to become not just fit but generally healthier.

And if you're wondering.. No, this is not a sponsored or paid post. This is me being concerned on my fitness, health and well-being. This is me sharing what I know so we can still enjoy the food that we love so much, while maintaining not only a good figure, but also a good health.

59 comments:

  1. very nice steps in gaining less weight . i should try it some time.

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  2. haha I really need this na but my problem is self discipline.

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  3. so far i am lucky that i am having no problems on extra pounds, i can pig out anytime i want to, but i chose not to, i moderate what i eat to stay fabulously fit ehehe

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  4. i will go on eat on small portion and less sugar .it is effective to me. But even if i try to gain more weight ,it is hard for me to do so .if only you can give me those excess fat .i'll be more than happy to accept some of it.

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  5. have a problem with extra pounds and to get rid of it, i run an hour at the park during TTH and join fun runs on the weekends.

    but thanks for sharing this. this will help me if i try this and same time do my run thing.

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  6. Losing or reducing weight tips are almost common. Yours is a basic one. These things are well recommended by a physician to let everyone stay fit and have a healthy heart. In doing all these things, discipline is foremost. Without it, you're putting all these things to the waste bin.

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  7. this is lovely and informative post. like you, i'm trying to live healthy and avoid junk foods. =)

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  8. I don't have a problem with weight. I can eat huge without getting excess weight. Di ako tumataba. :(

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  9. thanks for sharing this dear.. I have a hard time losing weight but I am doing my best to maintain my figure. Pero struggling much talaga.. I hope I can be more determined to exercise.

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  10. How do you intend to follow this Sumi? When you and your BF always eat out? haha That's my dilemma as a food blogger! So my solution is simple: exercise! I've started running again, and am currently doing yoga as well.

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  11. i believe your last tip is the greatest.
    commitment either in weight reduction program or with anything and anybody else puts everything in proper order. yun lang sapat na mag cut down on weight. and i don't have that as of the moment. my commitment rests on my family and my work. :D (read : lazy to exercise and happy with who i am).

    PS: daig mo pa ako sumi, you give advice on health issues. my posts aren't related to my profession. cest la vie.

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  12. Very helpful and sensible advice. Plus one for water. Actually, I think the biggest culprit in weight gain are the beverages, not much food intake. Most restos now offer "bottomless" iced tea. You can only imagine how much sugar a glass has! Sodas are also loaded with it. But yeah, I still can't totally resist them, not I make it point to drink them in moderation. Still better to just drink good ole H2O.

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  13. I'm still in the process of loosing the pregnancy pounds. A little frustrating but I'm trying not to be too obsesses with it. =)

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  14. Yes. It's frustrating to loose weight especially for someone like me who prepares the meal at home..haha. but I will try my best to follow your tips.. *crossfingers* and walk more.. :D

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  15. Thank you so much for your advice! :) This is just what I need! I've been wanting to lose weight because some of my clothes doesn't fit me anymore! :O
    I didn't know that water helps speeds up metabolism! I should drink more! Konti pa naman ako uminom ng tubig araw-araw. Lol! Now I know! :) Thanks again! :D
    I'm your newest follower, by the way! ♥


    xoxo,
    http://spoonfulofstories.blogspot.com/

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  16. Haha tugmang-tugma naman for me. When I was younger (gosh parang sobrang tanda ko na) Di ako tumataba before Kahit na Anong kainin ko, noon yun.. Hehe. I need to be serious about this now, Dapat talaga "commit now"!

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  17. Love your list! Been on it for almost 3 weeks now. I'll post results in my The Challenge page mga 1st week of Feb! thumbs up for your #7.. it's just really about commitment!!!thanksss!

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  18. Water and veggies always work ... lots of veggies ... and drink a glass of water before and after a meal ... busog!

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  19. Hi Sumi, Nice post. I agree with "What you'll probably need is to cut back, not cut off, carbs from your diet and add more vegetables and fruits since they have lighter calorie contents" yon na nga ang ginagawa ko ngayon as you read nga sa blog ko. I make sure to consume more veges and fruits. Mahirap sa akin yong no#5 (he!he!he!) exercise ba? I confess I'm too lazy for that (ito na nga alam mo ba ang dami ko na yatang exercise DVD...kaso pinapanood ko lang (^_^) he!he!he! I'll try to walk or jog during weekend....Thanks for sharing this Sumi. Good day :)

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  20. Hello Sumi! I agree to all your self-help insights. But for the readers like me, I think the bottom line here is discipline to success and discipline is not as common as common sense.:))

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  21. i really need this, i'm trying to loose weight...from the list i really am cutting on portion sizes and sugars...

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  22. Number 7 is where everybody fails. He he he!

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  23. For me, easier said than done. I can't seem to make myself commit to any of this. It may be bad but I need so pushing do all those weight loss tips. It's really hard to be a foodie!

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  24. always eat on time, don't skip meals.. hehehe

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  25. That pair of dumbbells on the photo above looks really familiar. I have a pair of blue :D

    Anyway, I'm on a no-rice diet myself but I make sure I won't run out of its alternatives - mostly potatoes and pasta and never had a hard time dealing with that changes. I also do workout at least 3-5 times a week.

    Discipline plus determination = success.

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  26. Thanks for sharing your tips. I think kailangan ko na rin ito since i am not getting younger anymore...

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  27. My weight loss measures range from healthy to crazy. Depends on my mood.

    Thanks for the helpful article. :) I still think you're skinny and I envy you for that. If I am no workaholic, I'd probably look like Flubber.

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  28. my quick and easy diet tip is avoiding sodas when dining... i always ask for water instead :) mura pa diba haahha ;))

    btw, i made the tikoy with cheese! ang sarap <3

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  29. as of now I am not that fat but I am afraid that I am nearing to it, committing is the best thing to do to keep on track on my weight

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  30. Naku kailangan ko yan! Thanks for the tips! Ang tamad ko naman kasi talaga mag exercise! hayzzz!

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  31. Haha very good insights :) I prescribe to the most fundamental methods for weight loss: Basically make sure you use up more energy than you take in. So it is about eating the freshest foods in moderation, and always exercise. It helps in metabolism, too :)

    Foodies like us have to work hard to maintain our figures, too :P

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  32. Thanks for this post Sumi! Very helpful! :D

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  33. Ouch! Argh! Your post hit me on the nape, bulls eye! ha ha ha! I really need to lose a lot of weight! How I wish I have determination and courage to lose all this excess weight!

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  34. Drink more water...yan lagi sinasabi ng nanay ko sa akin. Exercise? Hope di ako tamarin gaya ng mga nakaraang taon. :)

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  35. My family and I love eating! We normally dine out on weekends. Fortunately, we do not easily gain weight so no worries on the section. =)

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  36. I never thought I would gain weight when I grow older kasi dati ang payat-payat ko and really eat a lot. Inggit yung mga friends ko kasi kahit gaano karami kinakain ko, d daw ako tumaba but when I reached 30, I just noticed na tumaba na ako at ang hirap to loose the extra weight. Your post really is a help especially #7.:) without #7, the rest would be difficult to follow.:)

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  37. "although eating good food is orgasmic" (LOL). diet? correct information and discipline/commitment. that's the answer. Yahweh bless.

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  38. Informative and helpful post. Thank you. :)

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  39. I totally agree on #2 and #5. I'm a big junkie when it comes to sweets. And to add, I like to bake too. Starting this month, I'm walking more and do yoga if I have extra time.

    Cheers to foodies like us! :)

    avagabondmom.blogspot.com

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  40. Nice tips! And I agree, just eat a balanced diet and exercise. Its okay to have cheat days as long as you're ready to sweat those out.

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  41. This is all true. Although, me and my wife haven't committed yet, it's something we have to get through. But we have done it before and it feels good overall. It's just that our work eats up too much of our time, that if we exercise, we won't have time to appreciate any rest for the day. Hopefully, the lifestyle change that we are looking forward to do in the next few months will allow us to have more time to commit.

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  42. not all food bloggers are concious about their weight - kaya good for you kasi as early as now ayaw mong pabayaan ang weight mo. hehe
    good job. asan na ang video ko? =)

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  43. Very very great post! I am addicted to trying to keep some weight off. I am not a health or diet junkie but I really want to try and eat healthy. Also, I will try that eating in portion tip. Any other tip for keeping a flat tummy but not have to work out like hard core or do sit ups? :)))

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  44. Thanks Sumi for this wonderful post! :) Sabi ko nga sa journal ko, sa feb 2 na ang diet.. haha.. oh well.. start now! Thanks again for reminding me.. <3 your post!

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  45. very nice! great tips...:) been wanting to lose weight pero until now wala paring pagbabago...ang sarap kayang kumain lalo na pag winter...nyahaha...:) buti kapa sis even if you eat out almost everyday, maintain mo parin yung curvy figure mo...good for you!

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  46. And a bunch of will power and discipline to drive you to your goal.

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  47. i found it hard to "COMMIT NOW"..hahhha

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  48. I hope your post could help people who's on diet mode now! Haha Nice tips! :)

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  49. Excellent post! I love your honesty. You're right - we can't change our past mistakes, but it is up to us to determine what to do with them. Thanks for the reminder! Fitness Health

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  50. I found some great information in your blog. This blog is very useful and helpful to me. Thank you for sharing this information with us informative .. I love your blog

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  51. Losing or reducing weight tips are almost common. These things are well recommended by a physician to let everyone stay fit and have a healthy heart. In doing all these things, discipline is foremost. Without it, you're putting all these things to the waste bin. Best of Luck.

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  53. Physicians will usually recommend that their overweight patients combine a reduction of processed foods and caloric content of the diet with an increase in physical activity. Thanks.
    Regards,

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  55. Astig. Thanks for sharing @SumiGo. Keep up the good work.. :) More Power!

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  56. This very helpful and great tips. Thanks a lot!

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