Trying to be healthier

Hello there, 
since the beginning of this year, I have been trying to eat healthier.
So far, I haven't had any results in losing fat (especially arm fat).
So my mom and I went to the doctor`s to get my blood tested and I had to write down all I eat for one week. Eating healthier is great in theory, but in some cases, when you don't live alone, it's really hard to eat the right things. For example, my dad hates cooking. Therefor he always makes dishes like spaghetti, pizza and lasagne. So I know I don't eat the right things, but nevertheless, I wanted to share with you the diet tips I have gathered from the internet so far. Some of them are scientifically supported, others mention no sources, so just be warned that these may not be the most scientifically proven diet tips out there...

Tip #1 : Water

You've probably heard it before: you need to drink at least 2 litters of water each day. If not to lose weight, then just because it's healthy. But why? Besides the fact that water contains 0 calories, why does it help you lose weight?
Here's the reason why:


When it comes to water, our bodies sometimes act like camels. If you don't drink enough water each day, your body will think there's a water shortage. So what happens when there's not enough water? Your body starts storing it for when it's needed, like a camel. This is called water weight and can make a difference of up to 4 liters. If you drink enough water each day, your body will know that storing water is not necessary, and you'll lose those extra kilo's within days. 
It's good to stay hydrated even if you're not aiming to lose weight. Our bodies need water to function properly, so even if you think this is all some sort of bullcrap, it's always better to stay hydrated.

It is also said that drinking a big glass of water when you wake up can do wonders, but I haven't noticed any difference when I do. What does make sense is that if you drink a big glass of water half an hour before you eat a meal, you'll be less hungry and will eat less.
When you're hungry, before eating anything, stop and ask yourself if you're not actually thirsty. Thirst can often disguise itself as hunger, so don't be fooled.

On the note of drinking, sparkly water is a great replacement for sodas. 
If you drink a lot of soda, like I used to, STOP. Soda is so bad for you, but you probably already know that and if you still drink it, knowing that, that means you just don't care. But you should. Your body needs to be taken good care of and by drinking liters of soda everyday, you're doing the exact opposite. 
!Soda is addictive, so be careful and try to keep your soda intake small!

Tip #2 : Green tea

This one is really popular as well. It appears that green tea can really help your body to detox itself. It helps you digest and detoxes your body in a way that makes you lose a small amount of weight.
Be careful you don't drink it too much though, this may cause you a lot of stress and can be bad for your liver according to wikipedia. It's also not a good idea to consume green tea right before you go to bed. It can keep you up, a little like coffee. As much as coffee contains caffein, tea contains théine, which is basically the same molecule only working differently. The effect is the same, but since tea contains way less than coffee, it is less noticeable.

Tip #3 : No to starch

I'm sure you've learned in biology class how starch and sugar get digested. They end up as the same molecule, meaning that starch is just as bad as sugar is.
Message: don't eat too much rice, potatoes, pasta, bread or anything representing this food group.
If you are very active and you do a lot of physical activity, it's okay to eat a little more of these things considering you're burning it off when you do sports.

Tip #4 : Colour your plate!

As much as you have to watch the amount of starch you eat, you don't have to watch the amount of vegetables or fruit you consume. (*please see tip 5 before you start stuffing yourself with fruit and vegetables, also, fruit can be hard on your stomach if you eat it in great amounts)
Try to make your plate as colourful as you can, because vegetables contain zero fat and zero sugar. They are the healthiest food you can find, together with fruit, which can be a great replacement for candy, cookies and other sweet snacks. Instead of eating that Snickers, try a pear, banana or an apple. It is just as good, fills you up just as much, but contains only natural sugars.

Tip #5 : "Hara Hachi Bu"

Eat until you're about 80% full. You may have seen this tip in bubzbeauty`s '10 easy ways to lose weight', but it is all over the internet in fact.
Logically, eating less means you get less calories in your body to consume. I am not saying you should starve yourself, but maybe eating a little less can make a big difference. The less you eat per portion, the less you'll need to eat in order to be full. This is because your stomach expands every time you eat too much and shrinks when you eat until you're about full.
It also takes 20 minutes for your brain to realise your stomach is full. 20 minutes in which you can eat great amounts of food, thinking you're hungry, when in reality, you've eaten enough for days.
This is something I have never had a problem with, but if you're a fast eater, try to eat more slowly.

Tips #6 : Try new stuff

The internet is a big place. There's loads and loads of information, recipes you've never even heard of, and it is so close within your reach. If you're craving ice cream but you don't want to break your healthy eating habits, you can find the healthy replacement with one click of your mouse. 

Ice cream is replaceable with frozen banana, which is a lot healthier. There are a lot of other replacements like this one out there, so look for and try new stuff, you'll be surprised how healthy life can get when you really want it to.

Tip #7 : Never starve yourself

Every time a friend of mine says he or she skipped breakfast, I can barely refrain myself from screaming how bad that is for your body. In order for you not to have any hunger attacks, during which you stuff your face with all sorts of bad stuff, your body needs something to digest every 2-3 hours. On a normal school day for me that means eating something at 7:30, 10, 1 PM, 4 o'clock, and 7 in the evening. After that, I try not to eat anything anymore because my body won't have time to use up the energy that would provide me with before I go to sleep and it will opt to store it, as fat.
So no eating in the last 3 hours before you go to bed. 

Tip #8 : No high expectations

If you get on your balance everyday, checking every little gramme that's come off or on, you will get disappointed fast and may become obsessed, in the more extreme cases.
So here's how you weigh yourself:
- once every week, on the same day
- in the morning, before you've eaten anything
- with as few clothes on as possible
- after you've peed (because that's extra weight too)




So here are some of my tips that I've gathered over this year. I'm pretty sure I've missed a lot of them because they seem obvious to me, but if I did, I'll make a PART 2.
If you start by taking these tips seriously, you're sure to be headed towards a healthier lifestyle.
I've noticed that a healthy life style makes you happier and more active.