The simple rule to lose weight is to ensure that the number of calories you take in is not more than the number of calories you burn! And to ensure it happens, you have to workout, whether you like it or not. That’s the only effective way to burn more calories. However, if you lead a sedentary lifestyle, the process of weight loss becomes even more challenging.

We know that being overweight can be a window to several kinds of health issues like cardiovascular problems, type 2 diabetes, so it is essential to maintain healthy body weight. To help you cope up with this issue, Dietitian and Clinical Nutritionist, Dr Lavleen Kaur shares some tips to shed kilos in a sedentary lifestyle.

Tip 1: Portion control

Portion control plays a major role when it comes to shedding kilos. You have to eat a limited amount of calories in a day, to achieve your weight loss goals. When we overeat, all the extra calories are stored in our body as fat. Lavleen advises filling your plate with only 80 per cent of food. Furthermore, it is important to be mindful about the food you are consuming. Chew your food slowly and listen to your body.

Tip 2: Avoid processed food

Dr Lavleen adds that people attempting to shed kilos should avoid all kinds of processed foods like refined oil, white sugar and salt. These should be replaced with more nutrient-rich food items. Replace sunflower oil and canola oil, with mustard oil, desi ghee, virgin olive oil and coconut oil. Jaggery and honey can be excellent alternatives for white sugar. Use rock salt in place of refined salt and instead of all-purpose flour (Maida), consume whole-grain food like Pearl Millet, Sorghum, Barley.

Tip 3: Increase micronutrient intake

We pay a lot of attention to our carb and protein intake, but often overlook the number of micronutrients in our food. Consuming enough micronutrients is very important to stay healthy. Micronutrients are vitamins and minerals, which enhance body’s fat-burning capacity. If your goal is to shed some kilos then increase intake of Vitamin D, Vitamin B12 and Calcium.

Tip 4: Decrease caffeine intake

We all turn to a cup of coffee when dealing with the afternoon slump. But consuming too much coffee can sabotage your weight loss goal. Having more than two cups of coffee in a day can lead to dehydration. This, in turn, can cause constipation, migraine, acidity, making it difficult for your body to shed kilos. You cannot lose weight when your body is not fit from inside.

Tip 5: Move your body

No matter how busy your schedule is, try to move your body even for a few minutes. If you have a sitting job, then move for a few minutes after every hour. This will help you to torch some calories and shed some kilos.

The bottom line

The nutritionist said that people must not forget that weight loss is a by-product of dietary modifications and a healthy lifestyle. And a healthy lifestyle includes your sleep schedule, stress level, water intake and screen timing. “So, it is equally important to improve your lifestyle. Once you do it, your body starts repairing itself and will release good hormones. This will help you shed kilos,” she added.