Many people who are trying to lose weight count and track their macronutrients. Macronutrients (or macros) refer to the fats, carbs and proteins your body needs in order for you to grow and develop at a healthy rate. Your body needs a lot of macronutrients and a small amount of micronutrients (such as vitamins and minerals) for optimal function. The following article will explore five psychological tricks you can use to lose weight by eating fewer carbs every day.
Don’t Shop For Food When You’re Very Hungry
This tip can contribute to a massive improvement in your eating habits and overall health. It may sound simple, but when you get very hungry your main priority will likely be getting calories into your system. Many people show a preference for high carb foods when they are hungry and they may not even be aware of it. This is because carbohydrates are easy to access and they can provide the body with a lot of energy quickly.
If you’re in the grocery store and in desperate need of food, it is possible that you will make poorer choices. Not only are you less likely to buy healthy foods, but there is a greater chance that you will buy and consume a larger amount of high carb foods than you really need. What can you do to minimize this risk? Shop for food when you are not hungry so that you can take your time and make wiser decisions.
Bring Your Own Snacks
A big part of playing these mental tricks on yourself involves acknowledging your physical and psychological limits. For example, if you’ve got a big day of running errands in front of you or a long drive to the in-laws, you need to accept that you’re going to be hungry at some point and you can prepare for that. Bringing a snack that fits into your ideal macro ratio can save you a ton of trouble when you pull into the truck stop and find that the only things available are sandwiches and other grain-based meals. Temptation simply isn’t as powerful when you have other options.
So what kinds of snacks can you bring? How about a mason jar filled with a tasty a nut mix of your own making? You could also travel with a healthy smoothie that meets your macro requirements. If you haven’t found a low-carb smoothie that you love as yet, https://www.blendtopia.com/blogs/wellness/low-carb-smoothies has a few ideas to get you started. Losing weight does not mean you have to go hungry, you just need to make smarter decisions about what you eat.
Eat More Healthy Fats
This might not seem like a psychological trick, but it is. Healthy fats are needed by your brain to make good choices. This means you’re far more likely to succumb to old food habits if your brain has all the healthy fats it needs to function properly. You can find healthy fats in foods such as avocados, dark chocolate, fatty fish, nuts, and extra virgin olive oil.
How can you add more healthy fats to your meals? You can try adding a few drops of coconut oil to your coffee or adding a few slices of avocado to your favorite sandwich. You can also keep a few almonds on hand whenever you get the urge to snack. Eating more healthy fats keeps you feeling full for longer, which leads to better decision-making in your personal, social, and financial life. Healthy fats also contribute to a better mood, so don’t be surprised if you feel more positive after you try this tip out.
Read Food Labels Carefully
One of the sneakiest ways unneeded carbs can get into your diet is through hidden sugars. And those sugars are intentionally hidden by food companies. Learn the common tricks that food companies use on food labels to convince you that there’s not a lot of sugar in their products and keep your eyes open for them. One of the most effective tricks is to use a variety of synonyms for sugar such as high fructose corn syrup, dextrose, glucose, galactose, maltose, and sucrose.
It’s important that you understand that better sugars are still sugars. This means raw sugar, organic cane sugar and similar ingredients are still sugar, and they’re still carbs. Some sugars occur naturally, however, too much of any sugar is unhealthy. Many foods such as protein bars and almond milk are advertised as healthy, but you may surprised at how much sugar they offer if you eat more than the recommended serving size.
Find Alternatives For Your Favorite Foods
Of course, there are going to be certain carbs that you crave, perhaps for emotional or cultural reasons. Don’t be surprised if it’s hard to stop eating a high carb meal that you were often fed as a child even if you are aware of how unhealthy it is. It’s a good idea is to find alternatives for these foods that you crave for emotional reasons. For example, cauliflower tends to be a really popular grain replacement because it takes on the flavor of what it’s cooked with quite well.
Ensure that the alternative ingredients you use are healthy. Many processed foods are manufactured to taste like another food but they may not be good for you. If you are unable to find healthy alternatives, you can also try to adjust the recipes for your favorite foods. A great tactic is to simply reduce the amount of sugar you use when cooking.
