What are the common signs that I should start losing weight?

Being self conscious about your body is too common these days. But obviously the feeling of working hard and gaining a positive outcome from it is one that is hard to beat. That is why in today’s answer I will also tell you how to lose weight, and you can possibly get similar results as Jeff Hogan…

1. So if you want to know if you’re overweight, you should first check the average weight of a person who is A) The same sex. B) The same height. And C) The same age. If you are over the average weight by a considerable amount, you are overweight. It’s important to remember that being overweight isn’t a bad thing (unless it affects your health), however if you want to lose it, read on.
2. Another way to know if you are overweight is if you have health problems that directly relate to being overweight, for example if you are at risk of heart disease, or other life threatening illnesses. If this is the case you should take action immediately.
3. A final way to know you’re overweight is if you look in the mirror and really want to make a dramatic change. If you look in the mirror, don’t like the way you look and don’t make a change, that’s called being lazy, self conscious and pathetic. If you look in the mirror, don’t like the way you look and do make a change, that’s called being motivated - these are the people that will make a better life for themselves.

How to do it

First off, it really isn’t complicated. If you put in the hours, discipline and effort it’s actually very straight forward. Losing weight consists of two things: What you put into your body, and what you make your body do.

Eating healthy - I understand that this takes a lot of discipline. If you are overweight you are likely a slave to the biscuit aisle. Here’s the answer - get someone else to do the food shopping for you. Whether it be your mum, dad, friend, uncle, auntie it doesn’t matter, just right down the foods you know you should have, give them your money and the list you make and there you go. The most convincing part about sugary foods is the picture they have on the box, if you aren’t looking at the pictures you won’t even be tempted. The most common excuse for this is “yeah… but I don’t have the money to afford healthy food”. Well you probably spend more money on foods that are making you fat than you would buying LESS food that actually makes you healthy!

The main thing you should buy is low fat carbs, such as rice and vegetables. Your meals don’t have to be disgusting to make you lose weight. They just have to be low fat. Use foods that you like that also have low sugar, low fat and low salt. Something you should stay away from is processed meat, this will feed you belly fat A LOT. Also fizzy drinks and alcohol (one pint of alcohol is the same as eating 7 whole slices of bread). Drink water, and smoothies containing fruits and some vegetables such as spinach.

Another important diet tip is breakfast. Don’t have any sugar cereals, stick to things like Wheetabix and other low sugar cereals. Another good breakfast item is toast with some form of nut spread, nuts and nut spreads are a good source of nutrition, along with cheese (don’t have too much), yogurt, eggs, fish and bananas.

Search some healthy meals online and get started with your diet today (it’s very important)!

Exercise - When it comes to exercise, you don’t even have to join a gym (although it will help). To start off, get moving more. Start going for walks around your local area, then walking faster and further, until you’re jogging. Remember you are trying to beat yourself, so improve everyday.

If you have the money, I would highly highly recommend joining a gym. There is a variety of weight loss and cardio machines that will help you decrease the amount of fat that sits on your body. If you do join a gym, speak to an instructor about which machines are best for weight loss and how to properly use them.

Regularly go on runs at night, or in the day - it costs nothing but effort which is a great price, you really have no excuse. And that’s really all there is to it. If we’re talking purely weight loss you don’t really have to worry about gaining muscle mass (but if you do there are some tips on muscle gaining on my Quora page). Remember to sleep and drink lots of water.

So the main points are - eat healthy, low fat foods. Move around a lot and put in the effort and you will see results.