Healthy habits and nutrition

The key to eating an empty-calorie diet is to avoid snacking. It may sound difficult, but try to eat only three small meals a day instead of five, and avoid the snacks in between. If you are hungry at bedtime, have a small snack before to reduce the chance of food cravings later. And don’t skip breakfast — it’s essential to start your day with energy to fuel your day.

Consuming empty calories is just one of many unhealthy habits most people have. If we are honest, most young people would admit to other unhealthy habits such as binge drinking and frequent snacking. At the very least, you can replace the empty calories with healthier alternatives. Filling up on healthy, nutritious foods and cutting back on empty, unhealthy calories should help you lose weight in a healthy way.

Fruit, vegetables, and whole grains should constitute about half of your daily calories. The remaining calories should be in the form of high-fat or high-protein foods such as meat, nuts, seeds, and avocado.

A good method to help you expand your comfort zone and build mental resilience is to voluntarily put yourself in uncomfortable situations that will help you expand your comfort zone and (for most people) build mental resilience. Common uncomfortable situations include pushing yourself out of your comfort zone, taking on a challenge, and doing something new. By increasing your comfort level, you’re less likely to get overwhelmed and make poor decisions when you feel more anxious, and more likely to make the decision you want to make.

For example, if you are not comfortable leaving your home without a car, then take a walk to your favorite public park, or drive to one where you can walk or bike. You may even stick to your favorite park day after day and let it become a place where you feel comfortable. Over time, you might find that you can tolerate the park, even going for a longer walk there without feeling so uncomfortable.

Some lifestyle changes could help you lose weight fast, but others moderate your weight but also have significant side effects. To find out whether some of those side effects are too severe to live with, it's a good idea to talk with your doctor.