Don’t you wish you had a magic wand that you could wave and all the weight you want to lose would just disappear? Yeah, me, too! That would be amazing, but unfortunately, the reality is that losing weight really does take some effort. The good news is that there are some things that can ease the challenge a little- some pretty cool things you can try that can help you lose weight.
- Eat hot peppers: Eating spicy foods raises you metabolism and makes you eat slower, which helps you eat less.
- Eat beans: Beans are low in fat and high in protein and fiber, so eating beans will make you feel full and satisfied longer.
- Eat breakfast: Eating a nutritious breakfast gives your metabolism a jump-start for the day, and helps prevent overeating later on.
- Eat at home more often: When you prepare your meals at home you have control over ingredients and portion sizes. It’s also way more economical than eating out.
- Schedule family meals: Besides the obvious benefits of spending time as a family, eating with other people encourages less eating. Conversation helps slow down the meal, giving you time to realize when you’re full.
- Eat pickles: Is there anyone who doesn’t like pickles? Well, now you have more reasons to love them! The vinegar in pickled foods helps reduce blood pressure, blood sugar levels, and the formation of fat.
- Do yoga: Yoga builds muscle and having more muscle mass boosts metabolism. Also, practicing yoga trains you in mindfulness, which will help you stop mindless eating.
- Get enough sleep: Sleep deprivation leads to weight gain, since it messes with the hormones that let you know when you’re hungry.
- Eat fatty fish: Fatty fish- such as salmon, herring, mackerel, tuna, and sardines- are rich in omega-3 fatty acids. Getting enough omega-3 in your diet can help get rid of belly fat.
- Plan ahead: Plan your meals and shop wisely so that you’re always ready with good choices. You can plan a week’s worth of meals at a time and then make sure you always have healthy ingredients on hand. But…
- Be flexible: Sometimes even the best plans don’t go the way you want them to, or you might be faced with less than optimum food choices. So be prepared to make choices on the spot and to adjust for Plan B if you have to. Don’t let the unexpected ruin your good intentions.
- Drink water: This might be the ultimate mantra of weight loss! Staying hydrated will help you feel good and prevent you from confusing thirst with hunger.
- Move: Don’t have time for a full-fledged workout? Well, that’s no excuse for not moving. Even if you think you don’t have time to exercise you can always fit in ways to move around throughout the day: take the stairs instead of the elevator, take a quick 10 minute walk around the block instead of a coffee break, go bike-riding with your kids. Every bit of movement counts- even fidgeting!
- Eat dairy: Try to eat three servings of low-fat dairy every day. Not only will it keep your bones strong, but it’s good for appetite control and can help speed up weight loss.
We’d all love a magic formula for instant, easy weight loss! Until we find one, these awesome secrets can help make reaching your weight loss goals a little easier.