If you’re trying to drop a few pounds, don’t start off by trying to overhaul all your eating and exercise habits. You’re better off finding several simple things you can do on a daily basis—along with following the cardinal rules of eating more vegetables and less fat and getting more physical activity.
1. Stop unhealthy cravings
Are you a big snacker? Eating breakfast will help you curb your snack attacks a lot better. One of the biggest advantages of eating breakfast is that it helps stabilise your hormones and keeps potential overeating and bingeing at bay.
2. Cut the salt
Eating more than the recommended 2500mg (1 tablespoon) of sodium each day will cause you to retain water and weight gain. Sodium holds up to 50 times its weight in water. When you limit the amount of sodium you eat your body will begin to expel some that unwanted water weight.
The urge to drink water is a good indicator that your sodium intake is too high. As your sodium levels get high your body ask for more water to dilute the sodium by making you thirsty.
A lot of bars offer salty snacks such as peanuts and chips for free, after customers get thirsty they will order drinks to quench their thirst. So watch out for salty snacks!!
3. Start a cardio + weights workout
A healthy weight loss programme is incomplete without a good exercise routine, and weight training mixed with cardio is the best way to lose weight. Of course, variations and forms exist, but any workout that stresses on muscle tone and increased heart rate will always help you lose weight and keep it off. You can either start a home workout today, or rely on gyms for fitness training.
You'll get a much greater after burn effect from lifting heavier weights because of the high intensity and your body's metabolism will burn more fat to help your body recover from your heavy weight training workout.
Japanese researchers recently found that lifting weights first helps you release more growth hormone which in turn helps your body release more fat to be burned for energy while doing cardio or intervals.
4. Combat stress
Stress is always detrimental to healthy weight loss in the long run. Find ways to combat stress and you'll soon realise that your diet and exercise aren't sabotaged anymore, and that you truly do see results. Look at yoga, meditation, deep breathing exercises, or simple hobbies like reading to fight stress.
5. Opt for healthy vacations
Why go all the way with healthy weight loss, when one tiny vacation will just come along and topple it all? Healthy vacations aren't impossible. Take a look at how you can eat smart on a holiday, and then at bodyweight workouts that you can carry with you wherever you go, to understand how to holiday right. Above all, remember that these are lifelong habits that'll help you stay fit forever and not short term weight loss quickfixes.
6. Walk after every 4 hours
According to researchers at Missouri University, as quoted by nowloss.com, "sitting down or being virtually inactive for longer than 4 hours slows down your metabolism making it easier for you to store fat so to prevent this from happening try standing up for at least 10 minutes within every 4 hours."
7. Avoid eating straight from food containers
Never. Yes, never eat straight from a multi-serve packet or container. The basic or natural tendency to keep reaching for the food is given a huge blow if you serve yourself from a small bowl or cup. We suggest you pour out the amount you intend to eat, and give it a stop when it's over. Try and fight against the subliminal message of 'no one can eat just one'.
8. Keep snacks out of sight
Out of sight is out of mind - and it is a highly recommended practice when it comes to food. Stock up on healthy snacks instead, and ensure that any energy packet of chips or other unhealthy snacks are stored in places that you don't see every few minutes.
9. More can be merrier
It is seriously okay to have several snacks or small meals during the day, if you are eating healthy. Keeping hunger at bay prevents mindless cravings to binge on food at the very sight of it. Opt for yogurt, fruit or fresh homemade snacks. This may sound old school, but it works brilliantly!
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