Feeling a drop in energy after starting a weight loss program? While this is only temporary, here are some tips to invigorate your body and make your plan more manageable.
Carefully planning your meals is the first step towards successfully losing and managing your weight. In fact, working with a nutrition coach to develop a personalized eating program can have many benefits.
A meal plan:
- is faster, more effective, and sustainable weight-loss results.
- is tailored to your unique lifestyle and needs.
- takes into account specific nutritional deficiencies or medical conditions you may have.
- helps prevent plateaus.
Customized Calgary Nutrition Programs For Guaranteed Weight Loss
At Dreambody, our experienced trainers can help with multiple facets of your health and fitness transformation, from customized meal plans to online personal training. Our goal is to help you achieve all your weight loss goals, no matter your busy schedule or hectic lifestyle!
5 Ways to Maintain Your Energy Levels During Weight Loss
Healthy eating makes you feel great, but when you first start a weight-loss program, it’s normal to experience a drop in energy. This can be temporary, but can also be a sign
In the meantime, here are some simple tips to help you avoid feeling drained and tired:
1. Eat More Iron
If you need a boost of energy to get you through the day, then it is recommended that you eat high-protein, iron-rich foods such as:
- Beans
- Poultry
- Lean meat
- Nuts
- Spinach
- Lentils
- Sesame seeds
Iron is very important, not just for energy levels, but also because it’s needed to deliver oxygen to your cells and too little has been shown to decrease immunity.
2. Focus On Nutrition, Not Just Calories
While it is possible to reduce your calories and lose weight while still eating processed foods, you won’t have the same energy levels as you would if you nutrient-rich foods. Make sure your diet includes plenty of:
- Whole grains
- Fruit
- Vegetables
- Lean protein
- Healthy fats
These foods contain vitamins and minerals that support healthy body function.
Dream Team Tip: Include more fresh foods in your diet and decrease the amount of packaged food to improve your energy levels.
3. Eat More Often
When you go an extended period of time from one meal to the next, or skip meals altogether, you're harming your weight loss efforts and your body. Eating less than the recommended minimum amount of calories in a day causes problems with your metabolism and leaves you famished. In other words, your body will do everything it can to conserve energy (meaning you won't lose fat as quickly), and you'll be more tempted to overeat. This can lead to an unhealthy pattern of yo-yo-dieting. Eating the right number of calories when you are hungry will help your body to trust that you are not starving it.
If you've skipped meals frequently in the past, you might notice an increase in weight when your personal trainer provides you with a nutrition plan. However, with time, your body will reestablish a healthy metabolism that will help you reach a healthy weight and keep those extra pounds off for good.
In addition, eating smaller portions more frequently throughout the day will:
- keep your glucose and insulin levels stable
- reduce food cravings
- lower your overall caloric intake
- improve your concentration and mood
- help you preserve muscle mass
- increase your metabolism
4. Get Plenty Of Sleep
A lack of quality sleep will leave you feeling drained of energy and over time, this can reduce your motivation to exercise and eat healthy, causing you to lose your focus. You might also find yourself craving sugary foods, which provide a quick energy boost when you're feeling exhausted, but result in a crash in the long run. It is recommended that adults get approximately 7-9 hours of sleep per night.
Benefits Of Healthy Sleep Habits
- higher energy levels
- improvement in blood pressure
- better memory and concentration
- better weight control
Call Today
To get more exercise and nutrition tips, or to learn how our Calgary personal trainers can help you achieve the dream body you’ve always wanted, contact our Calgary fitness centre at 403-612-3538 or fill in our online contact form.