“Permanent results only come from permanent changes in diet and lifestyle. – Dr. Joel Fuhrman”
Not everyone is a diet and exercise person. Never mind, there are some effective — no diet no exercise – weight loss tips to steal from grandma.
Have you ever seen your grandma going on a low-carb/low-fat diet, counting calories, training in the gym, or keeping track of daily food intake? Certainly NOT, right?
Still, do you remember her being out of shape or overweight? I’ve seen my grandma with a nice feminine physique. She never counted calories but ate a determined portion of food at a set time. She never did crunches but had an even belly (yes it wasn’t that flat but it wasn’t bulgy either).
A well-disciplined lifestyle was the result of why people back in the day never gained excess weight without even aiming for it. We want our kids to follow self-control and strictness. But what happens to us when it comes to following the same guidelines?
Weight loss shouldn’t be a few-month program where you gain as much or even more than what you lose once the program ends. It is about the tiny lifestyle changes that make a huge difference.
So, without any further ado, let me share with you some very effective weight-loss secrets which I’ve learned from my Grandma. These tips are surefire ways to lose weight. Quickly or gradually but the results are assured if you follow them day in and day out.
NO DIET NO EXERCISE – WEIGHT LOSS TIPS TO STEAL FROM GRANDMA
So, here goes:
Chew food thoroughly:
Do you feel worn out, weak, or suffer from nutritional deficiencies despite having healthy wholesome food? Chances are, you aren’t chewing your food properly. This is the first thing we were taught as a kid. My grandma told us, we must chew every bite 32 times. Yeah, it might seem practically impossible even today as an adult, there’s a significant reason behind it.
Grandma said, “there’s a reason we have teeth in our mouth and not in our tummy, we’ve got to do our tummy a favor by using our teeth to chew food thoroughly”.
Don’t gorge yourself on:
Grandma never ate until she was full. She told us to eat a couple of morsels less before we were full. It takes our brain a couple of minutes to recognize that our stomach is full and thus it signals the feeling of fullness a bit later.
So, before receiving the signs of satiety, we already eat more than required, leading to overeating. This is when we need to be aware of our food quantity.
Established mealtimes:
Grandma had fixed mealtimes. She had breakfast before 9am, lunch before 1pm, evening snacks before 5pm, and dinner before 8:30pm. She avoided having a late-night dinner.
Maintaining a proper eating time helps our body to recognize when it’s time for food. It prevents us from getting hunger pangs since we eat meals at proper intervals.
That way you avoid eating a lot in one go. It also keeps the metabolism running smoothly which further prevents the accumulation of fats.
Also, when we overeat, our body needs more energy for the process of digestion leaving us sluggish.
Early to bed early to rising:
Grandma had this disciplined sleep-wake routine. She hit the bed earlier and rises with the Sun. That helped her keep fresh & active throughout the day. I remember she was so energetic until late in the evenings.
No stale food:
Since there were no refrigerators in those days – grandma didn’t have the luxury of cooking large batches and having freezer meals. All she did was cook fresh food for lunch and supper. Even the leftover food from lunch wasn’t eaten for dinner.
Also, because she didn’t have a refrigerator she bought fresh produce, meat, fish, and eggs, every day. For doing that and also because she didn’t own a separate car she had to walk to the supermarket every single day.
Physically active:
We all know those days of all manual work with no washer-dryer, no dishwasher, no robotic vacuum no food processors/blenders, no individual cars, no grocery stores around every nook and corner, etc. But she carried out day-to-day activities gracefully.
Grandma did all her housework manually – she didn’t have modern comfort that could make her household tasks easier, making her keep on her toes most time of the day, obligatory. Housework and walking were the only forms of exercise.
No restaurant food:
Eating out was only left on special occasions. Rest were the days of all of her elaborate cooking.
Distraction-free mealtime:
The breakfast, lunch, or dinner was exclusive family time. No one was ever distracted by cell phones, televisions, etc.
Everyone was solely interested in sharing about their day and indulging in deep conversations – a happy and positive atmosphere — just the perfect mood required for mealtimes.
No fad diets:
Honestly, women in those days never cared about their body form. Thanks to the pollution-free environment, organic food, and healthier lifestyles, they were in proper shape without intending for.
That said, the fad diet was a concept left to television/movie stars. Ordinary people like us ate wholeheartedly.
Portion Control:
Have you heard the saying, “Breakfast like a king; lunch like a prince; dinner like a pauper.” People in those days sincerely followed the rhythm of nature. Breakfast and lunch were heavier than dinner.
No surprise they were so so healthy.
Homespun birthdays and anniversaries:
I remember how grandma’s friends used to gather to help her with the birthday party decor, invites, and food preparations. She did the same in return.
I recall their loud talks and laughter that could make even a budget birthday party seem huge. Truly what a way to distress and relish the moment.
Also, homecooked food was way healthier as far as fats/oils, amount of salt and sugar, and the use of food colors were concerned, compared to the third-party food services.
Read: 3 Best At-Home Exercises For Women Who Hate The Gym
More home remedies:
Grandma had her various home remedies for cough and cold. She knew the correct massage techniques to treat headaches. There was nothing sort of over-counter pain-relievers that would cause weight gain and other side effects.
No food journal:
She never counted calories. I doubt she knew the concept. She didn’t know what is a low-calorie, low-fat, low-carb diet; never had a food journal. She prepared and served everything using a generous amount of fats and sugar.
Final words:
So those were the simplest things I saw my grandma doing that were a mark of a healthy lifestyle. Something that we might not even consider in today’s times. But very significant when it comes to living a healthy lifestyle and losing weight. I hope this article sheds some light on various other things that you might want to reconsider while losing weight with or without a diet and an exercise plan.
Let me know your thoughts in the comment section below. Thank you so much for reading. Stay Happy! Stay Healthy!
