1.
Do not drastically cut calories. They are your body's energy and
necessary for it to function efficiently. What you can do is limit the empty
calories. These come from foods with little or no nutrients. If some of the
leading ingredients are flour, high-fructose corn syrup, sugar or partially
hydrogenated oils, you can bet the food does not support your health or weight
loss.
2.
Keep junk foods out of sight, and out of mind. When ice cream is in the freezer or
potato chips are calling to you from the pantry, they are hard to ignore.
Keep healthy snacks (like
Rice&Oats, the all-day, ready-to-eat snack) that satisfy your
cravings close by. If you have a sweet tooth, strawberries should do the trick.
If you crave crunchy or salty foods, keep carrots or a variety of nuts in
stock.
3.
Do not drink your calories. Soda, juice, coffee filled with creamer
and alcohol can contain a ton of calories. By sticking to tea and water (and
calorie-free refreshing slimming drinks like SlimFit) , you can cut
hundreds of calories each day. By simply cutting out a couple high-calorie
beverages daily, you can lose several pounds.
4.
Make fitness a priority. If exercise is something that's done
only when you have the time, chances are that it will not happen very often.
Make fitness a priority and schedule it on your calendar like you would a lunch
date or a doctor's appointment. Find what works best for you and stick to it.
The best time might be first thing in the morning before the kids wake up, or in
the afternoon when they nap. You may find that exercising with your child works
best. Whatever time of day or type of exercise you choose, it is important to be
consistent. Make it a priority and a habit.
5.
Every little bit counts. Getting in shape does not require a
daily two-hour commitment at the gym. Something as simple as an afternoon walk
around the neighborhood with the stroller, or squatting and lunging as you hold
your baby can make a big difference.
6.
Change your mindset. Developing a positive attitude toward weight loss and health is
absolutely necessary if you want to be successful. It has been proven over and
over again that the mind and body work closely together. When your mind is
saying exercise is a miserable chore, that's most likely what it will feel like
every time you do. When your thoughts dwell on the excess weight, your body is
carrying with it a hopeless attitude that will undoubtedly make the pounds
harder to lose. Many people find that positive affirmations help. When you
exercise, tell yourself that you are becoming a thinner and healthier person.
The more you do this and believe it, the more likely it is to actually be true.
As you are eating your balanced diet of whole grains, fruits and vegetables,
don't think about the junk food you are missing out on. Instead, think of how
fit you are becoming by feeding your body what it needs to become its
best.
It
only takes minor lifestyle adjustments to have a noticeable impact on both your
physique and your health. You can do things as simple as changing breakfast from
white bread toast with margarine to whole grain toast with a thin spread of
natural peanut butter. Adding as little as 5-10 minutes a day of physical
activity to your daily routine can facilitate gains in weight loss and improve
health. Most of our daily routine is simply habit. Creating new habits takes
just a little bit of time, and can be completely life
changing.
