For quite some time, I've been a lurker on this subreddit. Despite considering myself a healthy person who is both physically active and eats fairly well, I was not happy with the way I gained weight in my gap year and then during the first year of uni. I was 63kg (139lbs) when I came back home and weighed myself in June 2020. That summer I lost 5kg without really thinking about it. It was just the fact that my summers are usually quite active. During the academic year of 2020-2021, I lost 3kg more and now I am 55kg (121lbs) (by being more mindful about what I ate). However, this is not the end yet. I don't like the way I look because I know that I can look better and feel better too. The problem is that losing these last few kg is soooo difficult.
To solve this problem, I went on a quest to research as many posts as I could because everyone knows that Reddit is the most reliable source of universally true knowledge :P In any case, I did find a pattern and was particularly interested in the posts about things redditors noticed their skinny friends doing. I made a list and I am determined to make these practices my own habits. I don't want to be dieting and constantly stressing about how I can't seem to lose weight or control myself. I don't want to control myself! I want this "skinny" lifestyle to be sustainable, and to make it sustainable, it should be made of habits that, at some point, I will be able to perform unconsciously.
Excuse me for the lengthy introduction, but I felt like sharing (especially considering this is not something I do often). Here are four tips you need to follow to lead a "skinny" lifestyle (and what each of these tips means):
- Eat When Hungry, Stop When Satisfied: Sounds pretty simple and everyone has heard this before, but there are so many aspects to this practice. You need to actually control portions and teach yourself to put less on your plate than you are used to (if you are used to eating big portions). Ask yourself whether you are actually hungry or just want to eat - and eat only when hungry. It's okay to skip meals if you aren't hungry (you had a snack or a big meal before that, for example). When eating, try to do it slowly (more on this in the next tip). Don't get seconds and be okay with leaving food on the plate. If you feel guilty about throwing something out (which I am), pack it away for later. You can do this whether you are at a restaurant or at home - it doesn't matter, just pack it away and eat it later.
- Think About What You Eat: It's difficult to eat slowly and chew for lengthy periods of time which is why this tip exists. You should either be very focused on your food and enjoy it by thinking about every flavor you can taste or get distracted in a conversation in a way that you forget about food and get satisfied before you finish the meal. Another thing to keep in mind is that you shouldn't eat what you don't like (with exceptions depending on your personal situation). And while you should avoid the food you don't like, you should actually get satisfied with the food you like. One cookie is not enough? Eat two more, just don't eat the whole box. And enjoy every piece!
- Drink Plenty of Water/Tea: Some people don't like tea, so there is the alternative of water (or going on a quest to find the flavor you will enjoy; as a tea enthusiast, I can pledge to the fact that there is a flavor for everyone cause there are sooo many options). My personal favorite is hibiscus tea which is actually very sour in taste and can be perfect for those who want a strong flavor instead of just drinking "water that smells like flowers". Another thing you can try is adding different flavors and aromas to the tea without adding calories (e.g. lemon, lime, cinnamon, ginger). There are also other low-calorie options (e.g. carbonated water). Drink before, during, after, and in-between meals. This will keep you hydrated, prevent you from feeling hungry, help you feel full, and allow you to eat slower.
- Get Physical on Every Occasion: A regular workout routine goes a long way, but it's important to get physical on every occasion you get i.e. move during the day. Walk/run/cycle to the place you need to get to. Instead of driving to get the groceries, walk/cycle. Use the stairs. Go for walks in the evening. Go cycling/hiking/etc. during the weekends. Even using public transport can be more beneficial than driving a car. It's not always easy to find these occasions, especially if you live in an area where getting to places by car is the only option, but it's important to look for such opportunities.
I'd say this is the most extensive list that is also very basic and easy to remember. Even if you can't do all of these at once, try to integrate them one by one into your daily routine until they become habits. I sure as hell will. I also want to start doing more things I enjoy that I don't feel will be wasting my time (e.g. read a book instead of going on Instagram/Twitter) because I know this will help my mental health get better and I think mental health is directly related to physical health. June is an exam month for me, so I am mostly focused on my studies, but I want to spend this first month of summer getting myself in shape by changing my lifestyle. I hope these tips help someone else too and I will try to update this post at the end of the month with my results. I'd also be glad to read about anyone else's experiences!
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source https://www.reddit.com/r/loseit/comments/nu6ldi/heres_everything_i_learned_from_reading_what_my/
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