Vegetarian Weight Loss - 7 Sure - Fire Habits to Slim You Down by Laura Ng

Becoming vegetarian doesn't guarantee weight loss, especially when you simply change to a meat-free diet but yet continue to lead a lifestyle that promotes weight gain. What motivates you to go vegetarian? If you can change to a vegetarian diet after so many years of munching on meat, I reckon you shouldn't have much difficulty to change your vegetarian lifestyle to a healthier one and then lose weight as a vegetarian successfully.

By the way, these 7 habits I'm gonna show you are really extremely easy to change and follow through. You won't believe that losing weight can actually be so easy and within your means. Are you ready? Here we go.

1. More Meals in Your Vegetarian Diet Help to Lose Weight

Break your 3 larger vegetarian meals into 3 smaller meals + 2 light snacks so you won't pile up excess calories.

Take your breakfast at 7 - 8 A.M., lunch at around 12 - 1 P.M. and dinner at 6 - 7 P.M. Slot one light snack each in between your breakfast & lunch, and lunch & dinner, to stimulate your metabolism and increase fat-burning activity, at the same time, provide long-lasting energy to keep you going.

2. Eat More Nutrient-Dense Vegetarian Meals

Our body is made up of trillions of cells. It is those cells that control every single function, including weight gain or weight loss. When you feed them junk, disorder triggers and you gain weight. When you feed them quality nutrients, they'll help take care of your weight nicely. Simple as that.

3. Eat When Hungry. Stop When 70% Full.

Fasting can result in greater caloric absorption and fat storage. That's because your body fears it might go hungry for long period again, so as soon as it gets food, it'll store as many calories as it can for future survival needs.

Hence, once you feel hungry, eat. And eat slowly so that your stomach gets ample time to register satiety with your brain. Once you feel 70% full. Stop. Not 80% or 100%. But don't waste food. Ask for smaller portion where possible.

4. Quit Supper

Several scientific researches have proven that your body manages caloric intake differently at different timing - your metabolism runs faster in the day than at night.

Hence, stop eating supper if that's part of your night activity to avoid storing more calories in your fat cells while you're sleeping like a bear. When you eat a quality vegetarian diet (with lots of fiber and various other nutrients) at dinner, it should last you till the following morning.

5. Fiber, Fiber, Fiber!

Fiber can flush out excess calories from your body. Even though vegetarians tend to consume more fiber than non-vegetarians, you must still ensure you're getting around 25 - 30 grams of dietary fiber in your daily intake for optimum weight loss.

Include in your vegetarian weight loss diet particularly these high-fiber foods such as black beans, guava, avocado, prunes, beetroot, bitter gourd, field beans, lentils, red kidney beans, pinto beans, flaxseeds, almond nuts, sesame seeds etc.

6. Avoid Drinking Excessive Water

Water is essential for effective vegetarian weight loss and excellent health. But if you drink more than your body needs, you'll probably suffer from water poisoning (hyponatremia), which can damage your brain or worse, cause death.

Thus, drink just sufficient water, say one glass in between 1 - 2 hours. Drink slowly to give your body enough time to absorb its minerals and hydrate your body properly for optimal fat-burning response. Don't blindly follow what others say, like drinking 8 glasses or 2 liters a day. No one knows better than yourself on how much you need daily.

Check the color of your urine. If it shows clear or pale yellow, that means your body has enough water. When it becomes yellow, then you need more water.

7. Lose Weight While Sleeping Soundly

Sufficient deep sleep will keep your body functions normal. When everything goes well, your metabolism will run at full speed. At full speed, you'll burn more fat and lose more weight. I suggest that you try turning in before 11 P.M. every night. This is the best timing to obtain quality sleep, as shown in many TCM studies.

Warning: These 7 tips are powerful to help you lose weight as a vegetarian. But to prevent too fast a weight loss and get into trouble with loose skin and health problem, check your weight every week to make sure you keep to a healthy pace of 1 - 4 pounds per week. Bear in mind.