As beach season arrives, I’d like to initiate dialogue about weight loss tips for men, and even turn the blog into a Q & A or troubleshooting hub for general adipose tissue — AKA, fat — destruction. The first installment features 8 weight loss tips for men:
- 1Weigh yourself daily
No, this is not unhealthy obsessive behavior. Yes, I realize water and sodium and carbohydrate intake can cause significant fluctuations in weight, even on a day-to-day basis. Still, excelling at anything requires constant, impartial feedback. Daily scale accountability will focus you on your goal every morning. - 2Don’t watch mindless TV
Merely seeing food can trigger a physiological hunger response. And let’s be honest, the types of foods seen in commercials aren’t conducive to visible abs. Boredom, too, destroys physiques: if women eat their feelings, men eat their boredom. Do something, and you won’t snack; do nothing — e.g., watch TV — and you will be tempted. Aim for output: creating something — anything — activates higher brain functions which relegate hunger to the back burner. - 3Snack on nuts/monounsaturated fats
Most nuts are rich in monounsaturated fat, protein, and fiber. This combination exerts a powerful hunger-blunting effect. 15-20 nuts constitutes a snack (try adding a protein shake for a host of additional benefits), and 50 nuts can be used as a meal replacement. Monounsaturated fats in general are very satiating; consider adding high quality extra-virgin olive oil or my personal favorite, macadamia nut oil, to your pantry. (Don’t skimp when purchasing olive oil; real extra-virgin olive oil has a natural peppery finish and a deep, green aroma of grass and artichoke. It is not bland and not merely used to grease pans. - 4Make your intentions public
Set a target weight-loss date and share it with a loved one, or participate in a team-based fat loss contest. Enter into a head-to-head bet with a friend, with sizable stakes — men flourish in competition. Added social incentives are powerful motivators. Like Warren Buffett says, you want some “skin in the game.