Article 10: If you don't lose weight in spring, you'll regret it in summer-Key points for weight loss in spring.

If you don't lose weight in spring, you'll regret it in summer.

Spring, as the first of the four seasons, also heralds the start of a new year. At this time, all things revive, nature presents a vibrant scene of life, and the body's Yang energy also flourishes. The liver corresponds to spring and also possesses a rising and flourishing nature; after the beginning of spring, the liver's metabolism begins to increase. Under the liver's coordination, all organs in the body begin to work busily, making this season the best time for health preservation and weight loss.

Physically, the body's metabolism enters a vigorous phase in spring, which helps with fat excretion. Psychologically, the vibrant spring season can also make people feel more active and excited, which is helpful for carrying out a weight loss plan. In addition, the upcoming summer, when we will soon say goodbye to the cover-ups of heavy clothing, also becomes a driving force for weight loss.

Springtime can generally be divided into three parts: early spring, mid-spring, and late spring.

The first month of spring is early spring. "The spring breeze is sometimes good, sometimes bad; without the spring breeze, flowers won't bloom, and even then, they are blown away by the wind." This poem by Wang Anshi of the Song Dynasty vividly depicts the characteristics of early spring weather. At this time, the spring sun begins to rise, the cold gradually recedes, and the weather is unpredictable, with sudden warmth followed by chills. Plants sprout, and the liver qi, corresponding to wood, also becomes vigorous. The liver governs the free flow of qi and regulates the body's metabolic functions. Therefore, at this time, the diet should meet the needs of the body's increasingly active metabolism, and it is appropriate to eat some fish, egg yolks, and lean meat. Many people, in order to lose weight quickly, avoid meat and only eat vegetables. For example, the cucumber diet popular online is actually absolutely not advisable from a health perspective, because most vegetables are cold in nature, and in early spring, when the cold has not yet subsided, it is not advisable to eat cold foods.

The second month of spring is mid-spring, a time when Yang energy rises and liver Qi is vigorous, easily leading to spring fatigue. During mid-spring, one should be careful to prevent liver Qi from overpowering the spleen and damaging the spleen and stomach. Therefore, in terms of diet, it is advisable to "reduce sour and increase sweet to nourish the spleen." Appropriate amounts of foods that nourish the spleen and stomach can be consumed, while excessively sour or greasy foods that are difficult to digest should be avoided. This is also the peak season for various wild vegetables that are rich in nutrients and have medicinal properties. Moderate amounts of shepherd's purse, purslane, houttuynia cordata, bracken, bamboo shoots, and toon sprouts can be consumed, as they are neither fattening nor detrimental to health.

The third month of spring is late spring, which is close to summer. The temperature rises and the yang energy rises too much, which can easily cause liver fire. Therefore, you should pay attention to a light diet and drink mung bean soup, red bean soup, plum juice, and green tea to prevent the accumulation of heat in the body.

There are many ways to lose weight in spring, but many of them are not scientifically sound. Now I will focus on introducing a few points to pay attention to:

Eliminate edema

To lose weight, you need to eliminate edema and expel excess water from your body to promote smoother bowel movements. Therefore, you can eat foods that promote urination and reduce swelling, as these foods not only help you eliminate excess water but also maintain normal kidney function. When toxins are eliminated through urine, it naturally enhances the body's metabolism.

Ensure a nutritious breakfast

Many people choose to skip breakfast or eat snacks in an attempt to lose weight, which is a big mistake. Skipping breakfast not only fails to help you lose weight, but it actually increases your chances of gaining weight. This is because skipping breakfast will cause you to eat more at lunch and dinner, which is not only harder to digest, but also leads to a significantly higher total food intake throughout the day. Breakfast is crucial for nutrition; even if you're short on time, remember to eat breakfast. A simple breakfast like congee or oatmeal is perfectly acceptable.

Control your dinner portion

According to Chinese dining habits, many families prepare very lavish dinners, which is actually extremely detrimental to health and weight loss. In the evening, the body's activity level decreases, and the metabolic rate also slows down, meaning our bodies cannot effectively burn calories, leading to increased fat accumulation. Therefore, dinner should be portion-controlled; eating until you are about 70% full is sufficient. It should also not be too heavy; instead, choose low-calorie, easily digestible foods. Furthermore, dinner should not be eaten too late, ideally before 8 PM, to allow time for digestion.

Life should be regular

Disordered lifestyle habits can lead to endocrine disorders, resulting in a slower metabolism and hindering weight loss. Therefore, it's essential to cultivate regular lifestyle habits. The first thing you should do is go to bed early and wake up early. Sleep can also help with weight loss; a lack of deep sleep can lead to weight gain. Insufficient sleep can lower levels of leptin, a protein in the blood that suppresses appetite. This can affect the brain's judgment of whether you're full, leading to overeating and causing the body to secrete more of a hormone that stimulates appetite.

Vegetarian diets for weight loss are unscientific.

To lose weight, many people choose to eat vegetarian food or avoid fatty foods altogether. However, this method is not effective in helping you lose weight. It's commonly believed that vegetarian food has fewer calories than the same weight of meat, but this overlooks the fact that vegetarian diets also include high-calorie options, such as fried spring rolls and mixed vegetable dishes, which are often high in oil and sugar. Furthermore, the body needs a balanced diet; consistently eating only vegetables and no meat can lead to malnutrition and vitamin deficiencies. In fact, fatty foods are more slowly digested, and after consumption, they can reduce our intake of starchy foods and snacks, thus playing a positive role in weight loss. Therefore, consuming a moderate amount of fat not only does not affect body shape but is also beneficial to health.

As the saying goes, "A year's plan starts in spring." A good beginning signifies a new starting point and new momentum. Plans for the year should be considered and arranged in spring to lay a solid foundation for the entire year's work. Spring is the season for sowing hope; sowing hope will reap a harvest. Focusing on health and weight loss in spring will allow you to reap the rewards of good health and a stunning figure by autumn.