Free Basic Diet Plan for Effective Long Term Weight Loss

Struggling to lose those pounds? This basic diet plan for long-term weight loss can provide you with all the info you need to start losing excess weight now.

If you want to lose weight quickly and easily there are a few things to bear in mind. Firstly, if you want to lose some weight, there's only one person who can do it for you, it's not your doctor, your partner, your parents, or even your dog.

The only person that can make the change is you!

Saying that there are many ways you can change your life to lose weight in the long term. The best way is to make small changes that you can fit easily into your daily schedule.

You can lose weight in many ways. Sure you could go the supermodel route and starve yourself, but who wants to do that? It's not safe or healthy. There are a few things about dieting and weight loss that most experts agree upon in general and they go into my basic diet plan.

Drink Plenty of Water

First, you need to drink a lot of water as part of your basic diet plan. Most individuals don’t drink nearly enough water. Colas and coffee don’t count!

drinking waterYes, you really should drink eight 8-ounce glasses of water a day – maybe more, depending on your weight.

Water is a natural appetite suppressant. If you drink a full glass of water before beginning your meal, your stomach simply doesn’t hold as much food.

No, you will not gain weight from drinking a lot of water. It’s when you don’t drink enough water throughout the day, that your body gets dehydrated.

When it does finally get water, it holds onto it and stores it for a future need. That’s when we feel swollen and bloated with water weight.

However, if you give your body enough water on a regular basis, it releases it naturally. Drinking enough water gives you the benefit of hydration and fullness making sticking to a basic diet plan easier.

Basic Diet Plan

Diet is a large part of the weight loss equation, there are some easy ways you can change your diet for the better on a basic diet plan.

basic diet planYou should always eat a balanced meal

This might be the one thing we learned in elementary school that we really can use in our adult life – the basic food groups:

  • Proteins and carbohydrates are essential to a healthy meal.
  • Carbohydrates are the main source of energy in our diet
  • Proteins burn fat

At a bare minimum, each meal should consist of a protein and a carbohydrate. Vegetarians and vegans in particular should make sure to eat enough protein with every meal.

DO NOT skip meals

One of the worst things we can do, in our attempt to lose weight, is to skip a meal. I’ve seen it countless times: Motivated to lose weight, an individual decides to eat just twice a day. But your metabolism needs the consistency of regular meals.

With erratic eating schedules, the body thinks it’s starving. So, everything it takes in is stored as fat to be used for energy.

You could replace regular fizzy drinks with a diet variety. Or, even better, get used to drinking water (maybe with a cordial in it for taste) or even tea/coffee.

Count Calories

Counting calories is one of the best ways to lose weight on a basic diet plan.

After all, calories are only a measure of energy, so if your energy out (calories burned), is bigger than your calories in (from food and drink), you will lose weight. This basic idea can make a huge difference to your long-term weight loss success.

Diet Tips for Long-Term Weight Loss

Achieving and maintaining long-term weight loss requires sustainable dietary habits that promote overall health. Here are some fundamental diet tips to help you succeed in your weight loss journey:

1. Prioritize Whole Foods

Benefits:

  • Nutrient-Dense: Whole foods like fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean proteins, and healthy fats are rich in essential nutrients.
  • Less Processed: These foods are minimally processed, which means they contain fewer additives and preservatives.

Tips:

  • Fill half your plate with vegetables and fruits at each meal.
  • Choose whole grains over refined grains, choose brown rice, quinoa, and whole-wheat products.

2. Control Portion Sizes

Benefits:

  • Calorie Management: Proper portion control helps manage calorie intake, which is crucial for weight loss.
  • Prevent Overeating: It prevents consuming more food than necessary, aiding in weight maintenance.

Tips:

  • Use smaller plates to help control portion sizes visually.
  • Pay attention to hunger and fullness cues; eat slowly and stop when you feel satisfied.

3. Drink Water Before Meals

Benefits:

  • Appetite Regulation: Drinking water before meals can help reduce appetite and prevent overeating.
  • Metabolism Boost: Staying hydrated can enhance metabolic functions.

Tips:

  • Aim for at least 8 glasses of water a day.
  • Drink a glass of water before each meal to help control hunger.

4. Include Protein in Every Meal

Benefits:

  • Satiety: Protein helps you feel full longer, reducing the likelihood of snacking.
  • Muscle Maintenance: It supports muscle maintenance, which is essential for a healthy metabolism.

Tips:

  • Incorporate lean proteins such as chicken, fish, beans, tofu, and Greek yogurt.
  • Aim for at least 20-30 grams of protein per meal.

5. Limit Added Sugars and Refined Carbs

Benefits:

  • Stable Blood Sugar Levels: Reducing sugar intake helps maintain steady blood sugar levels, preventing energy crashes.
  • Reduced Caloric Intake: It helps decrease overall calorie consumption, promoting weight loss.

Tips:

  • Read labels to identify hidden sugars in processed foods.
  • Choose complex carbs like vegetables, fruits, and whole grains instead of sugary snacks and refined grains.

6. Plan and Prepare Meals

Benefits:

  • Healthy Choices: Meal planning ensures you have healthy options available, reducing the temptation to choose unhealthy foods.
  • Portion Control: Preparing your meals allows for better portion control.

Tips:

  • Set aside time each week to plan your meals and snacks.
  • Batch cook and portion out meals in advance to make healthy eating more convenient.

7. Practice Mindful Eating

Benefits:

  • Better Food Choices: Mindful eating encourages you to pay attention to what you’re eating and make healthier choices.
  • Improved Digestion: Eating slowly and mindfully can aid digestion and enhance meal enjoyment.

Tips:

  • Avoid distractions like TV or smartphones during meals.
  • Chew food thoroughly and savor each bite.

8. Allow Occasional Treats

Benefits:

  • Sustainability: Allowing yourself occasional treats can prevent feelings of deprivation and make healthy eating more sustainable.
  • Balanced Approach: It promotes a balanced approach to dieting without extreme restrictions.

Tips:

  • Practice the 80/20 rule: eat healthily 80% of the time and allow for treats 20% of the time.
  • Choose smaller portions of your favorite treats to enjoy them without overindulging.

9. Get Adequate Sleep

Benefits:

  • Hormone Regulation: Proper sleep regulates hormones that control hunger and appetite.
  • Better Food Choices: Well-rested individuals are more likely to make healthier food choices.

Tips:

  • Aim for 7-9 hours of quality sleep each night.
  • Establish a regular sleep schedule and create a relaxing bedtime routine.

10. Seek Support and Accountability

Benefits:

  • Motivation: Having support can keep you motivated and accountable for your weight loss goals.
  • Shared Experience: Connecting with others on a similar journey can provide encouragement and tips.

Tips:

  • Join a weight loss group or find a weight loss buddy.
  • Consider working with a nutritionist or dietitian for personalized guidance.

Exercise

Finally, exercise. You may find you just can’t lose weight when you maintain a sedentary lifestyle, even when you follow a basic diet plan. People who exercise live longer and feel better. And, they lose weight quickly.

But, keep it simple:

  • Walking, or cycling to work rather than driving, or taking public transport.
  • If it's too far to walk the whole distance, perhaps you could get off the bus one or two stops earlier.
  • You could also start going to the gym, nothing too strenuous, maybe one or two nights a week.

Choose the Right Supplement

Sick of trying ineffective fad diets or even a good basic diet plan and not seeing any results?

Sometimes you feel like you need that extra support on your weight loss journey when sensible eating and exercise just isn't working.

PhenQ is a safe and powerful weight loss supplement that can help you lose weight quickly and easily for the long term and will support your weight loss efforts.

Click here for my full PhenQ review

Author: Aileen Boyd

Hi, I'm Aileen Boyd, the owner of Diet Pill Judge. I have personally tried loads of diet pills over the years and found that only a few of them really work.
My background is in science, so I set out to find supplements that have scientific evidence behind them and which I can confidently recommend.

Last Updated on August 5, 2024 by Aileen Boyd

Share the love