Lose 20 Pounds in 60 Days: Four Diet Tips

If your goal is to lose 20 pounds in 60 days, you are going to have to consume a low calorie diet that supplies your body with all the essential nutrients. Keep in mind that you shouldn't lose more than 2 pounds a week to keep your body happy and functioning properly. It is, however, safe to lose a few extra pounds during the first week. Here are 4 diet tips to help you safely reach your goal.

1. Eat from Each Food Group

There are several diets on the market that require you to cut out an entire food group, whether it's carbs or fats. While this does lead to weight loss, it is tough to keep up this eating pattern for the long term. Therefore, your body will regain all the weight you lost as soon as you resume your normal eating habits. Also, your body requires nutrients from each food group; you just have to make the right choices. Ensure the carbs you consume consist of whole grains and not white flour. Take in small amounts of fat from nuts and avocado rather than from cookies and cake. Choose lean turkey or fish as your source of protein instead of red meat. Also, make sure you ingest an assortment of fruits and vegetables daily.

2. Eat Several Mini Meals

As ironic as it may sound, in order to lose weight, you need to eat more often. By eating five or six mini meals throughout the day, you will keep your metabolism going strong and you will prevent yourself from overeating at a single sitting. When you consume a large quantity of food at once, it's harder for your body to break it down, and the surplus calories get stored as fat.

3. Limit Your Alcohol Intake

Sure, throwing back a few margaritas at happy hour sounds like a fun plan, but keep in mind that each of those margaritas clock in at around 500 calories. Alcoholic beverages can be a serious detriment to your weight loss plan. You'd be amazed at how many calories you can drop by cutting out cocktails from your diet. If you must have a drink, opt for a light beer, a glass of red wine or a vodka and soda with lime (steer clear of sugary mixers). To seriously lose weight, try not to drink more than 1 or 2 alcoholic beverages a week.

4. Fill up on Soup

Eating soup is a great way to fill yourself up without packing on the calories. Make sure you opt for a soup that's low in sodium and is broth based. A great solution is to make your own broth-based vegetable soup that's loaded with cabbage and other filling, low-calorie veggies. Eat a bowl before each meal to fill up on good stuff and prevent overeating.

Losing 20 pounds in 60 days will take some serious discipline in the diet department, and you must supplement your healthy eating habits with regular exercise. Make sure you still take in the required nutrients while restricting your calories, and never starve yourself. Once you do lose 20 pounds and reach your goal weight, maintain your healthy lifestyle to ensure the weight stays off for good.

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