The body is a complex piece of machinery. There are hundreds of processes already happening in your body right now without your permission, so when you introduce something new, it takes a while for your body to adjust. That is true of any new habit, including weight loss. Here are a few weight loss tips to get your body used to your new lifestyle right away.
You are exercising to lose weight. Good for you! Remember to update your music playlist regularly. Having new songs to listen to will motivate you to start working out and also keep you going during your workout. Make a specific workout playlist with songs that have a beat that matches your pace and lyrics that make you feel empowered and energized.
When trying to lose weight be sure to get enough sleep. This will not only motivate you to exercise, but you also release hormones during sleep that assist with keeping a healthy weight level. When your overall mood is improved with a full night of sleep, you will make positive choices for eating and exercising.
If you are trying to lose weight and you are the kind of person who eats a lot of potato chips and the like, try switching to your favorite brands baked version. Baked versions of your favorite foods offer great taste with less fat and calories.
Use a pedometer to lose weight. When you wear a pedometer, it will measure every step you take in a day. The recommended amount of steps is 10,000 or more. If you aren’t doing at least 10,000 a day, you are not moving enough. Use it as a step game, if you meet your goal, increase it.
Throughout your weight loss program, it helps to offer yourself healthy rewards as you meet your goals. Rent a movie, go shopping or get a massage. If you’ve lost enough weight to drop a clothing size or two, reward yourself by buying new clothes that highlight your weight loss. This will give you motivation to go even further.
Being fidgety can help you lose weight – really! Keep yourself moving even when you are sitting. Try tapping your foot; doing muscle exercises – tense different muscles and hold for a few seconds, then release and repeat; or drumming your fingers. If anyone asks what you’re doing, just tell them. You might start a trend!
Try eating smaller meals instead of bigger meals everday. Having smaller meals scattered throughout the day, not only keeps you from overeating, but it keeps your metabolic rate constant to help you lose weight. These small meals also keep you satiated longer until it’s time for your next small meal.
If you tend to engage in mindless snacking every night in front of the TV, find something else to do with your hands instead. Learn to crochet or knit. Start doing crossword puzzles or Sudoku. You may begin to realize that you have actually just been eating out of boredom. Keeping your hands busy can help to curb that feeling that you need to reach for a snack.
If you are trying to lose weight, a great tip is to consider trying foods that are liquid-based. Liquid-based foods can help you reduce your number of calories, yet they can make you feel full and satisfied at the same time. Examples of these type of foods include natural smoothies and soups low in sodium.
When eating at a restaurant, the portion size they give you is sure to pack on the pounds. In order to lose weight, ask the waiter to put half in a take home bag before you ever get your food. This will allow you to eat a normal size portion, and have another meal for the next day.
Having a reward system in place will help with your weight loss journey. Set up small gifts for every 5 pounds you lose. Make sure the rewards are not in any way food related, but something small that will make you proud of the hard work that you have done.
When you are at the gym, go over to the free weight section and hold a 5 pound weight for a couple minutes. Notice how heavy that weight will become and visualize that much coming off of your body. You will be amazed at how much 5 extra pounds can feel.
To reduce the temptation of eating junk food from a vending machine, try packing yourself a snack the night before. Take an apple, banana or other piece of fruit with you to work. Yogurt also makes a convenient and portable snack. If you have food on hand, you’re less likely to waste money on junk.
To look your best and maintain your weight loss, make sure to maximize the amount of protein intake that you get. Before you go to the gym, eat a protein bar or have a protein shake, which will help to convert the fat in your body to muscle after your workout.
You can lose weight in general by reducing your carbohydrates. Carbs can increase your blood glucose and possibly create an insulin imbalance. Carbs are important to have in your diet as they are your basic form of energy, so never remove them completely from your diet. Controlling them can help your diet.
As you continue to work on your weight loss, your body will start to cooperate. And as your body starts to cooperate and you start to lose weight, you’ll be excited to keep going and lose even more weight. Use these tips to get your mind and body in sync and watch the weight come off.
