fat, fitness, workout, gym Man shows off fat after a workout, Image: Pexels
Losing fat is one of the processes in which we enter more frequently. Especially in the summer, when we return from vacation and have eaten more than necessary or exercised little.
However, we all know that having such a goal can be frustrating, feeling that we are depriving ourselves of the things that make us happy.
In a world where options are endless, walking away from foods like chocolate, chips, or cookies can be tricky. Many of us lose our sense of control when it comes to consuming foods that could be considered less healthy, despite being aware of the importance of eating well to lose fat.
We must assume that there are certain periods of the year, such as the summer or Christmas holidays, in which it is normal not to be able to take care of what we eat, or that there are no options that adapt to our usual diet.
And nothing happens. If we are invited to a wedding or go to a dinner with friends, we only have to worry about enjoying ourselves, not wondering if we should skip dessert so as not to gain weight.
In situations like this, the logical thing is to let yourself go, eat all the varieties of food that are on the table. In short, enjoy without depriving yourself of anything. However, in a recent study, it was shown that consumers tend to refrain from the pleasure of food when there are no healthy options on hand.
In another study, carried out with 100 students, some were asked about their goals in the world of fitness and others were not. When offered appetizers, they all chose unhealthy options ; but, it was observed that those who had been asked about their physical objectives, chose less variety.
This is because many think that in order to lose fat, one must abstain from pleasure. By eating less of a variety of these foods, they have the feeling that they are eating less, even though they really are not.
What many do not know is that many studies have shown that if we focus on pleasure and enjoying our way, we can be more consistent in achieving our goals, which will make it more likely to achieve them. Restricting our diet too much, in the end, can end up being counterproductive.
By rejecting these foods that make us so happy, fat loss becomes more difficult, because forbidding ourselves from certain food groups can lead to great frustration. With it, a cycle begins in which there are phases of restriction and, later, phases of binge eating can occur.
This not only sabotages our fat loss goals, it also plays a trick on how our bodies function and can obviously have serious consequences on our mental health.
It is not a matter of all or nothing. It consists of finding a certain balance, a good relationship with food, through which we eat a healthy and varied diet most of the time , but in which we also find moments to include foods that may have less nutritional value, but that will make us feel good when we feel like it.
Losing weight means reducing the calories we consume, but with the fat lost, the little things that brighten our day don't have to disappear as well. Normally, taking care of our diet and leading an active lifestyle is usually enough. Achieving these types of objectives must be done in a sustainable way over time, so that they are lasting.
And, after all, who doesn't like a good ice cream in summer or a good ounce of chocolate for dessert?
[ Via GQ Spain]
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