5 Ways to lose one pound of fat

To lose one pound of fat you need to take a number of factors into account. First you need to understand the role of fat in the body, what it takes to lose fat and why fat is the cause of a number of diseases. There are many ways to do that and in this article we discuss the 5 most effective ways to lose one pound of fat.

What is fat?

Fat is unused energy stored in the body. This is a very simple explanation of fat but is enough to understand that fat is the result of excess energy (calories) consumed through food that is not burned in the body and as a result gets accumulated in the muscles and body organs. When we consume food our body processes it and takes the energy needed to carry out the normal body functions as well as give us energy to cope with our physical activities. When the calories we consume through food are too many and not used by the body as energy they are stored in the fat reserves.

Fat is not necessarily bad, on the contrary it is vital for the normal functioning of the body as it is used for building up cells, producing hormones and keeping the temperature of the body at normal levels. What is not needed is excess fat that is the cause of a number of cardiovascular diseases and the major cause of obesity.

How to lose fat?

How to lose one pound

In mathematical terms one pound of fat is about 3500 calories. In other words when you consume more calories than your body burns and this number is above 3500 you gain one pound, on the other hand when you consume 3500 calories more than you consume you lose one pound. It is a straightforward calculation and to lose one pound of fat you need to ensure that the number of calories burned are constantly more than you consume. For example if you can manage to create a 500 calorie deficit per day then in one week you will lose one pound. If your target is to lose 10 pounds in 2 months then you need to burn 580 calories more per day (10 pounds x 3500 calories = 35000 / 60 days). Have in mind that the minimum number of calories your body needs per day is about 1800-2000 so it is not recommended to go beyond this number. (see also calories to lose weight). Here are 5 of the best ways to lose one pound of fat.

1. Avoid full fat foods

Since the only source of energy is the foods and drinks we consume, by minimizing the calories we eat and drink we increase our chances of losing weight and fat. So, try to avoid full fat foods, processed foods or foods that contain sugars and artificial substances. Instead prefer low-fat foods, sugar free drinks and lots of fruits instead of snacks and sweets. Read carefully the food label of each food you consume and ensure that it is low in fats, calories and sugars. Organic and natural foods are by definition healthier and have less calories and fat than non-organic food items.

2. Prefer fat burning foods

Although there is no such thing as fat burning foods, you can give preference to foods that are fat friendly. For example low fat milk and low fat dairy products, almonds, fish, oats, whole grain, lean meat and green tea are foods that have minimum amount of fats and they are recommended for a healthy diet. Some of these can even help you burn more calories by eating them than the calories they contain and they usually called negative calorie foods.

3. Fiber, fruits and vegetables

Fruits and vegetables are full of fiber, vitamins and minerals; Fiber has the special characteristic of keeping you full for longer periods and is also wasted from the body without adding to the fat reserves. This is the reason that all diets and weight loss programs suggest that you eat 5-6 servings of fruits daily. With fruits you keep your stomach full and away from other full fat foods.

4. Cardio and fat burning exercises

Dieting is the best way to protect your body from consuming fat but the best way to lose the accumulated body fat is through exercise. Exercise is the only way to accelerate the fat burning process and burn more calories. Not all exercises are equal when it comes to fat loss since exercises that accelerate the heart beat rate generate better results. The most common form is cardio exercises (walking, running, aerobics, cycling, swimming, tennis, squash, climbing etc.). For even better results you can combine strength training exercises with cardio. Remember your goal is to increase your fat burning process so what is needed is less but more intense repetitions of the exercises (with minimum breaks) and not long repetitions with long breaks. Your goal is to push yourself to the limits so that the body will utilize the fat reserves for energy. This action is needed to actually lose more calories and in turn fat from the body. Exercising does not only make you weigh less but also look better.

5. Consistency is the key for fat loss

We mentioned above that in order to lose fat you need to constantly generate a calorie deficit between the amount of calories consumed and the amount of calories burned (remember 1 pounds = 3500 calories). The key for long term success is not to do that only once or a couple of days per week but to constantly keep the calories burned more than the calories consumed. So you need to create a diet and exercise plan and stick to that plan for some time (at least a couple of months). Make sure that you exercise 4-5 times per week for at least 45 minutes per session. Combine your cardio exercises with weight lifting and strength training exercises and ensure that you follow a healthy balanced diet with moderate consumption of fats and carbohydrates. If you do that consistently for a number of weeks you will notice results both when you weigh in and in your appearance.

How to lose weight in your thighs

Having more weight in the thighs area is a common problem both for men and women (especially women). The major cause of this problem is fat that accumulates in that area which also makes the body looks disproportional. How to lose weight in your thighs is a very challenging thing to do and it involves a combination of diet and exercise. Do not forget that what you need to do is not just losing weight, but also lose fat. This makes the situation more difficult and time consuming. In the post below you can get an idea of what you can do in order to lose weight in your thighs in a safe and healthy manner.

Stick to a balanced diet

According to the US National Health center a balanced diet is made up of: minimum consumption of saturated fats, high intake of fiber and proteins. This is very important because if your effort is to lose fat then you need to ensure that you will minimize the intake of fats from your daily diet. In addition fiber and protein will help you stay in good health and get the most of your exercise efforts.

The best way to find out a diet that will meet your needs and requirements is to analyze what you eat currently and then make those changes to your diet that will help you lose weight but will also suit your needs. What we mean is that you should not just follow any diet because it works for other people but you should follow a diet that will not make things too difficult for you. You can start by writing down everything you eat and drink for a period of 2 weeks. You can then take that list and calculate the amount of calories and fat you consume. The next step is to start playing with the list by adding / removing / replacing items so that you reduce the number of calories, sugars and fats you consume. Make sure not to make the diet too strict because you will get bored easily and quit.

How to lose weight in your thighs with exercise

Minimizing the consumption of fat is one thing and getting rid of fat is another thing. With a careful and balanced diet you will achieve not to increase the fat in your body. If you want to lose fat then there is only one way to do it and this is through exercise.

Jumping

Jumping is one of the best ways to lose weight in your thighs. You can use a jumping rope and do 10 minute sessions, 3 times per week. You can include this type of exercise in your daily schedule either at the start or at the end of your workout sessions. In case though you have problems with your joins you need to be careful because the traction caused by jumping may create more serious problems.

Aerobic exercises

Aerobic exercises are great ways of losing weight in your thighs. There are various options like walking, jogging, running, cycling, swimming etc that can help you lose weight and fat. To achieve better results you can select exercises that put more pressure on your thighs. For example when swimming you can try and move your legs faster and put more pressure on them rather than on your arms. You can do the same for the other exercises and concentrate all the power on your legs than other parts of the body. Do not forget that what will give you long lasting results is the consistency and frequency of exercise. If you exercise regularly without taking long breaks the results will eventually come.

Weight training exercises

Strength training exercises can also help you lose weight and tighten up your thighs. One of the most effective strength training exercises is squats. With squats you eventually utilize your body weight for resistance and this makes the exercise harder but more effective. There are certain tricks when performing squat exercises so in order to avoid any problems with your back you better get the advice of a professional trainer who can show you the correct body positions for squat exercises.

The combination of diet and exercise as explained above will certainly provide a solid framework on how to lose weight in your thighs. Whatever you decide to do make sure that you stick to it patiently until you get the results you want.