The Perfect Balance of Healthy Eating and Exercise 

Losing weight and getting in shape as a woman can seem like an impossible task at times, but it’s not as difficult as you might think. In fact, if you can find the right balance of healthy eating and exercise, you’ll be well on your way to reaching your goals, burning fat, and feeling great about yourself. This post will provide you with some tips and tricks to help you lose weight while staying fit and active and ensuring that your body doesn’t suffer any long-term consequences of drastic weight loss techniques or crash diets.

Create a routine that works for you

If you’re looking to lose weight, the key is finding a routine that works for you. That means finding a balance between healthy eating and exercise that you can stick to. And it doesn’t have to be all or nothing – even making small changes can lead to big results.

Start Your Day with Breakfast

You’ve probably heard it a million times before, but breakfast really is the most important meal of the day – especially when you’re trying to lose weight. Eating breakfast jumpstarts your metabolism and helps to control hunger throughout the day. And, when it comes to weight loss, there’s no better way to start your day than with a healthy breakfast.

Protein shakes are an amazing way to get a healthy breakfast quickly.  Many protein shakes have the nutrients needed to get your morning started off right.  Making your own healthy protein shakes at home is easy if you have the right equipment.  JuicingJournal has put together a handy list of the best blenders for protein shakes that can be found here.

Try Intermittent Fasting

Many people have found success in losing weight by introducing intermittent fasting to their breakfast routine.  Intermittent fasting consists of limiting food consumption to set hours during the day.  Many people will aim to have a 10-14 hour fasting window.  This means that you will not eat for 10-14 hours.  Healthy food and beverage can be consumed during the non-fasting eating window.

It is important to note that most people have to work their way up to a 14 or 16-hour fasting window. Going from a regular breakfast schedule to a delayed eating window may be uncomfortable at first.  Aim to begin with a 10-hour fasting window and increase the fast by an hour every week or two.  Easing into intermittent fasting can help to avoid side effects such as headaches, dizziness, and general irritability.

Stay Hydrated

Drinking plenty of water is essential for overall health, but it’s especially important when you’re trying to lose weight. Why? Because water helps to fill you up, so you eat less. It also flushes out your system, helping to rid your body of excess water weight. And when you’re well-hydrated, your body can more efficiently burn fat. So, drink up!

Aim for eight glasses a day, or more if you exercise frequently or are sweating due to hot weather. And be sure to spread your water intake throughout the day – don’t guzzle down four glasses right before bed. Try carrying a water bottle with you throughout the day so you can take sips whenever you feel thirsty.

It is important to enjoy alcohol in moderation while trying to lose weight. Most alcohols come along with excess processed sugar, which is terrible for you.  Many mixes are packed with calories and high fructose corn syrup. Alcohol consumption also increases cravings for food and can even dehydrate you.  If you are going to enjoy an alcoholic beverage, be sure to do it in moderation.

Eat in Moderation

Whenever you’re trying to lose weight, it’s important to find a balance between healthy eating and exercise. Registered dietician Nicole Hopsecger says that the best way to control your hunger is by eating higher protein, high-fiber meals. Protein and fiber are two nutrients that are especially filling, she explains. They help you feel satisfied after eating, so you’re less likely to overeat. Hopsecger recommends incorporating protein-rich foods like eggs, nuts, and beans into your diet, as well as high-fiber foods like fruits, vegetables, and whole grains. Never severely cut the amount of nutrition that you consume in a day. Starving never works as a long-term weight loss solution.  Undereating is dangerous and can be counterproductive.

Get Sweaty Every Day

To lose weight, you need to be in a calorie deficit, which means you’re burning more calories than you’re eating. One way to do this is to make sure you’re getting sweaty every day. Many people find weight loss success by engaging in high-intensity interval training routines. High-intensity interval training workouts can be completed in as little as thirty minutes, making them perfect for people with busy schedules or parents.

Don’t Forget to Stretch

Before you even think about starting to run or working out at the gym, it is important that you take the time to stretch. Stretching helps to warm up your muscles and prepare your body for physical activity. It also decreases your risk of injury. Aim to spend 5-10 minutes stretching before you begin any type of exercise.  Take the time to analyze what areas of the body you will be exercising and focus stretching those parts.  Nothing can derail an exercise routine faster than in injury.  Proper stretching is well worth the time.

Keep Moving Forward

As a woman, it’s important to maintain a healthy weight for our overall health and wellbeing. A big part of achieving and maintaining a healthy weight is finding the perfect balance between healthy eating and exercise. You don’t have to give up your favorite foods in order to lose weight or eat healthier. Moderation is key! That means you can indulge in your favorite desserts from time-to-time without any guilt. It also means that if you eat fast food once a week, you should work out twice as hard on the other days of the week so that you still have an even caloric intake throughout the week.

If you’re a woman who wants to lose weight, you need to find the perfect balance between healthy eating and exercise. Eating too much or too little will sabotage your efforts, so it’s important to find a middle ground. And while there are no shortcuts to weight loss, following these simple tips can help you achieve your goals.