Paleo Diet Tips for Losing Weight
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If you want to drop those stubborn pounds and improve your health and well-being in the process, why not try the paleo diet? Though the diet is not designed primarily with weight loss in mind, one of the added bonuses of the paleo diet is the fact that it does help people to burn off considerable amounts of weight at the same time. Following the paleo diet isn’t as simple or as straight forward as you may have thought, and some people unfortunately wind up gaining weight on the diet because they haven’t been following it properly. The diet isn’t just a diet at all, it is actually a lifestyle. Because of this, paleo dieters are constantly learning new things about what they should eat and drink, and how to get the most from their diets. If you’re new to paleo and want to achieve maximum results when it comes to losing weight, check out these useful tips we’ve compiled for you. Here are six paleo diet tips for losing weight.
Invest in a slow-cooker/crockpot
Many of the primary foods you consume on paleo will be meat-based. To help you save time and to create healthy and nutritious meals that you can enjoy around the clock, we recommend that you invest in a slow-cooker/crockpot. These inventions are great because you can just throw everything into the pot, switch it on, and then go about your day. A lot of people will add their meat, vegetables, and seasonings, switch the cooker on low, go to bed, and wake up the next morning to tender meat and a delicious broth/stew/casserole that can be enjoyed around the clock. If you want something convenient that is rich in protein and nutrients, a slow-cooker could be one of the best purchases you will ever make on paleo.
Vary your protein sources
We all have our most favourite and least favourite meats, and while there’s nothing wrong with that, to ensure you stick to your diet, you need to switch things up and vary protein sources a little. If you enjoy steak, by all means eat steak a few times per week, but don’t make it your only protein source. Eventually you will grow sick of it, and besides, if you are only eating one protein source, you’re missing out on the health benefits of others. Turkey for example, is rich in protein like steak, but it contains different amino acids and nutrients. For example, it contains tryptophan, which is good for your mood and good for rest. Fish and seafood should also be consumed, especially oily fish, as fish oils are packed full of essential omega-3 fatty acids, which are extremely good for you.
Remember that cavemen were active
Paleo is basically a diet that is very similar to that followed by cavemen. It is sometimes known as the caveman diet. Basically, if the food couldn’t be found, foraged, or killed, it wouldn’t be eaten. Cavemen were also very active, which means that you should be too. It’s no good tucking into your 16-oz steak and veggies and then sitting on your backside for the rest of the day several nights of the week. If you want to lose weight, paleo or not, you need to get moving and become physically active. If you’re going to eat like a caveman, you should also try to be as much like a caveman as possible, although we don’t recommend living in an actual cave or eating raw meat. To help shed the pounds and get more from your diet, try to exercise at least three times per week and get physically active. How you exercise is entirely down to you, but as long as you’re moving and doing something, you will soon reap the rewards.
Eat more veggies
A lot of people see paleo as an excuse to eat as much meat as possible, and not much else. After all, there aren’t many diets out there that actively encourage you to stock up on fatty red meat and to have your fill. Meat is acceptable, healthy fats are acceptable, but that doesn’t mean that you can ignore your veggies. Vegetables are loaded full of fibre, vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and other nutrients which are critical for optimal health and well-being. If you don’t eat enough of them, your immune system will suffer, your health will suffer, and you will suffer. Some vegetables on paleo you will need to be wary of consuming too many, especially the starchy ones. Others however, you can consume as many as you like. Get into the habit of eating vegetables with virtually all of your meals, and make sure you always have plenty in the fridge/cupboards.
Don’t cut fruit out completely
On paleo, you should be wary of too many simple sugars. That doesn’t mean that all simple sugars are off-limits. Fruit is high in fructose sugar, which can be bad for you, but as long as you don’t consume too much, you will get all of the benefits with no drawbacks. Fruit, despite being rich in sugars and calories, is also packed full of vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. We need these to function correctly. A serving of fruit each day will give you a much-needed antioxidant boost, it will increase your nutrient intakes, and it will also help to provide you with something sweet. A little sweetness each day will help to curb your sugar cravings and satisfy your cravings for sugar. From a weight loss perspective, not craving sugar is actually hugely beneficial, as it means you’ll be far less likely to cheat on your diet.
Listen to your body
On paleo, you aren’t counting calories, but that doesn’t mean you should stuff your face until you feel full during every meal. If you are hungry, your body is telling you it needs energy, so listen to it. If you feel full however, don’t eat for the sake of eating, even if you normally do around this time. Listen to your body and try to understand what it is telling you.
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