Want to Lose Weight This Year? Eat Candy.
Diets aren't something people particularly enjoy because they mean you have to give up what you love. And to make it worse, research has shown that 95 percent of people who give up what they love and go on so-called "deprivation diets" bounce back to their pre-diet weight within two years.
In short, deprivation diets don't work! That's because instead of making sustainable changes to your meal prepping, grocery shopping, and snacking habits, most people cut out certain foods entirely and that's just not something that works in the long-run.
What's been proven to be much more effective to losing weight and keeping it off is enjoying what you love (in moderation) and making smarter and healthier choices elsewhere.
Since losing weight is the number one New Year's Resolution, we've come up with some tips for you that will help you lose weight without missing out on what you love. And yes, this means you can still eat your candy and slim down too!
Choose sugar-free drinks and sweets.
Sugar has a much deeper effect on the human body than you may think. Sugar actually alters your brain chemistry similarly to cocaine! Too much sugar also triggers mood swings, headaches, and weight gain. However, you can cut down on high fructose corn syrup and eliminate a lot of this addictive substance by choosing sugar-free foods and drinks.
Sugar-free substitutes are something you should still watch out for-as they contain chemicals that are also detrimental to your health-but opting for foods that are naturally sweet or enjoying sugar-free foods every now and again are great tactics to cutting down on calories and your waistline. Get started by throwing out your sugar-stash and bringing home sugar-free candies that will keep you on track to achieving your weight loss goals.
Choose healthier sweets and treats.
The media and health groups have somewhat demonized sweets. However, certain sweets have a lot of added health benefits your body needs to function optimally.
Dark chocolate is one of those ingredients (when it contains little sugar and high percentages of cacao) that is full of antioxidants and heart-disease-fighting properties. And since chocolate is so versatile, you can easily enjoy it on its own, meted into almond milk for a healthy and protein-rich treat, or with this recipe for chocolate coated sunflower seed clusters.
Don't get hungry.
Being full isn't a diet-fail. It actually helps you from going on a calorie-infused binge. Snacking often throughout the day to control hunger can really help you stick to your diet, keep your metabolism working, and prevent your blood sugar from crashing (which leads to bad moods and feeling sick).
Another way to stay full healthily is to eat chickpeas, spinach, sauerkraut, ginger, eggs, and coffee. All of these foods have been proven to trick your brain into feeling full longer and help you control your calorie intake.
Don't overeat.
You've probably heard it before, but we're here to say it again: "everything is good in moderation." However, we'd be lying if we said that's 100 percent true. The world is at-odds with that piece of diet advice because for some, "moderation" is a vague word that means different things to different people.
While some might think it's okay to have one dessert at every meal, others could think one dessert a week is in moderation with healthy living. We think it's best if you adhere to serving size suggestions to determine your "in-moderation" ratio and consult a nutritionist for how often you should enjoy something that isn't a fruit, veggie, or whole grain.
Weight loss is contingent on heredity, activity level, food allergies, and a lot more, so working with a professional to determine your happy medium is key to your weight loss success.
Cold turkey doesn't work.
A habit takes two weeks to form, so if you purge your refrigerator and cabinets on January 1, you won't be doing yourself any favors. If you've been eating the same foods steadily over a long period of time, it'll take a couple weeks or even longer for your brain and body to adjust to something new.
That's why we think the advice of substituting one healthier food or drink for one that's less wholesome per day is a great way to ease into a diet. You can also read up on sample diets and recipes that will help you stick to certain calorie intakes and nutritious foods.
Good luck on your resolutions!
While you start your New Year's Resolutions, don't beat yourself up. Remember that everything we do is a work in progress and to cut yourself some slack as you work toward a healthier you! And when it's time to reward yourself for your progress, bring home some sugar-free treats or other favorites from our huge candy inventory on CandyDirect.com.
*CandyDirect.com is not a certified health professional and this article should not be used for health advice. Always consult a doctor before beginning new diet and exercise routines.