Congratulations on taking the first step to losing weight! It may be a simple task for some people, but most people struggle with reaching their weight loss goals. Below are a few tips that will give you the edge over everyone else and get you ready to lose that extra weight!
Find a non-food way to reward your efforts. Instead of treating yourself to a hot fudge sundae for reaching a weight-loss or fitness goal, treat yourself to a new workout outfit, a round of mini-golf or a spa treatment. This will train your brain to associate success with these kinds of activities, rather than food.
If you want to make a lifestyle change that will help you to lose weight now and keep it off in the future, switch from drinking coffee to green tea. The caffeine in coffee can cause you to retain water and become dehydrated. The antioxidants in green tea not only help you to feel better, they can also aid in maintaining a healthy weight.
A tip that may help you lose weight is to save a little bit of food when you eat a meal. By saving just a little bit of a meal, you’ll be taking in less calories than you normally would, and you’ll also be saving food for later.
French fries are a very addictive snack to have during the day. However, these little fries can sabotage your weight loss goals. If you must consume French fries, bake them instead of frying. Cut potatoes into 1/2″ fries, toss in a large bowl with 1 tbsp. of oil, sprinkle with salt, pepper and a bit of rosemary if you like, and bake in a single layer at 400 degrees for 30 min. Turn the fries over with a spatula and continue baking for about 10 minutes. They are wonderful with ketchup, and they are also much lower in calories of fat. You will not miss the fried version. This recipe comes from the Laurel’s Kitchen Cookbook.
Sleep your way to weight loss. To effectively burn fat, your body requires sleep.Your brain needs sleep in order to make good decisions, and you want to be able to make great food and exercise decision. Your body needs to rest both physically and mentally to be at its best.
A good way to help you lose weight is to keep a workout log. By recording the amount of sets, reps, and different exercises you do, you’ll be more focused in your fitness goals. Workout logs can also be a great source of motivation when you see you’re making progress.
Doing aerobic exercises are a great way to burn calories and lose weight. Not only do aerobic exercises such as cycling, running, and stair stepping help you lose weight while you are performing them, they can help burn calories for hours afterwards. Pick an exercise that you enjoy and get started!
One secret food to losing weight is avocados. They are packed full with fiber, which helps you feel full faster, and stay full for a longer period of time, They also are high in healthy fats. Eating avocados will help you to find a great alternative to meat, and you can experiment with many different recipes.
Minerals and supplements are fantastic options to control your weight gain and make you feel better during the course of the day. One of the best supplements to take is omega 3 fatty acids, as it will help to increase your metabolism so that you can burn fat at a faster rate.
Remember to count all of your calories to see weight loss success. Many people remember to count their meals, but forget to count the calories of snacks and nibbles throughout the day. Doing so will help you not to consume more calories than you are allowed and achieve your weight loss goals.
To save money on groceries, cut down on processed foods. Start comparing the price per ounce of packaged snack foods to the price of natural ingredients and you will understand the huge mark-up for the convenience of opening a package. The less of these treats with empty calories you consume, the better your health and your finances will be.
Aim for an extra 1,000 steps a day. You can take those steps by doing anything, such as walking, cleaning, or going up and down the stairs. Purchase a pedometer and keep it turned on all day. Take notes of how many steps you usually take and how many you need to take to meet your goal for ultimate weight loss.
Hopefully these tips have given you the motivation and information you needed to get on your way to achieving your dream weight. While it may not be an easy road ahead, keep pushing yourself and eventually you’ll reach your goal. Just keep your goal in sight and don’t quit. Good luck!