If you’ve ever tried to lose weight, you know it takes work. A dramatic diet plan never works for me and I doubt it works for anyone. Eating smaller and frequent portions, sleeping more and exercising regularly works for me.
There are some simple ways to slash the calories while getting necessary nutrients.
1. Start your day with a cup of warm lemon water every morning.
2. Have an apple with the skin on, before breakfast and lunch. Apples provide fiber and pectin. Because of it’s fiber content, you’ll feel fuller and eat less afterward.
3. Breakfast is the most important meal of the day. Eat a bigger breakfast such as oatmeal with raisins, blueberries, nuts and seeds. If you prefer bread at breakfast, choose fiber-rich whole grain bread with nuts and seeds. Eat a fulfilling breakfast and lunch so you won’t be so hungry at dinner. Eat light at night.
4. Eat a cup of plain yogurt three times daily. If you don’t like yogurt, try cottage cheese. A cup of yogurt or cottage cheese will speed up your metabolism.
5. Start your dinner with a salad. Make your own salad dressing with grape seed oil and vinegar (or lemon juice). Add some Mozzarella or Parmesan cheese and olives. You’ll notice you’ll eat less afterward.
6. Drink 8 glasses of water daily.
7. Drink green tea instead of Coffee Mocha or similar high calorie coffee drinks.
8. Walk, hike, bike, dance or lift weights. Yoga seems to have a calming effect on the brain and nervous system. Park your car away from the grocery store so you can have a walk. Instead of taking the elevator, use the stairs.
9. Sleep 7-8 hours. Poor sleep habits unfortunately increase production of the stress hormone cortisol. Stressed out people tend to eat more high fat junk foods, which results in more stored body fat.
10. Eat more protein such as avocados, beans and fish.
11. Brush your teeth after every meal. This will not only help keep your teeth healthy and cavity free, but also prevent you from eating unnecessary snacks between meals. A minty fresh mouth decreases your appetite.
12. Go nuts! Nuts and seeds contain heart healthy fats. Chose almonds, walnuts, sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds, pistachios, Brazilian nuts, cashew nuts and Macadamia nuts. Eating nuts and seeds daily may help promote weight loss.
13. Indulge yourself with a healthy snack. Serotonin levels drop considerably in the late afternoon. Eat a snack that is rich in B vitamins and complex carbohydrates. Dark chocolate is an excellent choice!
14. Don’t dwell on the negative. Some people may eat considerably more and junk food when depressed. Move forward not backward. Your past does not define you. The past is gone. The present is what ever you make it.
15. Find more “Me” time. When the Internet becomes your only source of social life, you may gain weight. Break away from the keyboard once every few hours. Find activities you like!
