Weight loss is a common New Year’s resolution and after all the holiday overeating is over, you can finally dedicate your time and energy to making smart choices.
If you’ve already tried every diet on the planet, don’t get discouraged just because you’ve made some mistakes. There are so many factors you need to take into consideration and if you miss just one, there’s a chance you won’t be satisfied with the final outcome.
Therefore, make a plan and stick to it – this will probably be hard in the beginning, but once you get used to it, you’ll be doing it without overthinking every step of the process.
1) Forget About Snacks
If you’re serious about losing weight in a healthy way, this is the first and most important step you should make.
Snacks and unhealthy food will destroy your chances of staying fit and all that hard work you put into exercising won’t be enough – ultimately, you’ll be stuck in a never-ending circle.
Therefore, go through your pantry, get rid of all the snacks you’ve hidden there, and avoided further temptations. If you’re one of those people who likes to snack in front of a TV, try an alternative instead: buy various vegetables and cut them up into bite-sized pieces.
That way, you’ll snack on something that won’t have a negative effect on your diet. This may seem like a lot of work, but it’s definitely much better than chips and soda.
2) Exercise, Exercise, Exercise!
Any workout you choose will help you burn calories, as long as you find exercises that suit you.
Doing 30 minutes of cardio at least three times a week is probably the best plan you could make. Cardio workouts engage multiple muscles at the same time, which is exactly what you need, and there are so many options you could explore.
You can either hit the gym and use a treadmill or a bicycle, or just go outside and start jogging in nature. Whichever option you choose, remember to stay hydrated and always eat after a workout session while your body is still in that workout mode.
Being active is key to losing weight so you definitely must find a way that works for you – find a partner to keep you motivated and you can turn this into an awesome social activity.
3) Make Healthy Meals
You need to forget about counting calories and overthinking every meal because this requires a lot of time and energy you could use for something more beneficial instead.
So, focus on the nutrient values of groceries and pay attention to combining them correctly.
The ground rule of every well-planned diet is to eat balanced meals and proper portion sizes. Start your day with a high-protein breakfast as morning meals are definitely more important than you realize.
If you live a busy life, you can make your meals in advance and use a reliable Electrolux freezer to store them, and simply reheat your breakfast after waking up. Also, make sure to avoid salt both in breakfast and other meals due to its effects on weight gain, and opt for healthier options instead.
4) Stay Hydrated With Healthy Beverages
Water is essential for keeping your body hydrated and you need to get used to drinking more than two liters of water every day.
However, if you aren’t keen on drinking that much, there are great ways you can trick your body into drinking more than you’re used to.
Just take a big jug, fill it with water and squeeze a lemon, orange, or any other citrus fruit inside, and these will add a tasty little twist. Apart from that, you can always add fresh fruit, slices of vegetables, and even certain herbs to enhance the flavor and make your mix a bit more interesting.
Stop drinking soda drinks that have sugar in them, and if you want to make lemonade, don’t sweeten it – if you absolutely have to do so, use healthier options like honey or other natural replacements. When you’re in a restaurant, always order mineral or sparkling water instead of soda, because this zero-calorie drink is just as good as water.
5) Tweak your lifestyle
Since everything good starts in the morning, you should start getting out of bed earlier because this will boost your productivity and make you more energetic.
If you’re in a position to go for a walk and keep yourself relaxed before going back to your daily routine, do so! Don’t stress out too much, but learn how to push away distractions and lower your anxiety.
Stress can make you reach for unhealthy food, or even make you want to have a drink or two.
People often forget how many calories alcoholic beverages have and then wonder why their diet isn’t working. Aside from that, try to avoid cigarettes: they’re bad for people trying to lose weight and always go hand in hand with alcohol and snacks.
Wrap-Up
There you have it – sounds simple, doesn’t it? Try “not so much” before you go through the list once again. You need to keep your end result in mind and be realistic about your mental strength and how you deal with challenges in your life. But, if you follow these guidelines, you’ll be happy when the bikini season comes, feel proud of your struggle, and glad you’ve acquired a new lifestyle.
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Sanya
- March 13, 2018
