Are you ready to achieve a flat tummy, rock hard abs and a toned body? Check out some of these easy, and super effective tips to jump-start your healthy lifestyle.
Each day we’re bombarded with thousands of different tips to lose weight when realistically we can only implement a few of them into our lives. Living a busy life we have limited time and energy, so we need to find simple things we can change in our lifestyle that will become second nature.
Not only do you not have to drastically change your eating habits, but you will feel more satisfied, shed pounds and reach your weight loss goals. Commit to a few of these 10 tips and you’ll lose 10 pounds quick! Once you get used to eating this way, you won’t go back and will always maintain your toned trim body so the pounds you shed will stay off.
Tip # 1 – Swap Soda for Tea
Every time you drink green tea instead of a coke, you will save yourself 140 calories! Green tea helps with burning calories because it contains a metabolism enhancing antioxidant. Most people who drink green tea lose more weight than those who do not. It also helps your digestion so it’s perfect to have a cup of green tea with meals.
Tip #2 – Water, water, and more water
Before eating, drink two cups of water. By doing this, you will curb your hunger and lower the chances of overeating. People in a British study who followed this routine lost an average of 2.87 pounds in three months, almost 11.5 pounds in a year! If you want to add a kick to your water, put in some flavorful fresh fruit or a slice of lemon.
Tip #3 – Side Salad, please!
If you are at a restaurant and order a burger or chicken sandwich, you can still save on your calories. Instead of eating the French fries that come with it, ask if you can have a side salad with low-fat dressing instead. By swamping the fries out, you will be saving roughly 200 calories, give or take the place you eat at. You save more calories by going light on the dressing which alone can add major calories, so be mindful which dressing you use after you’ve made the swap.
Tip #4 – Eat some Dark Chocolate
Let’s face it, we all have a craving for something chocolatey from time-to-time and our sweet tooth takes over. Instead of eating cookies and candy bars without stopping, eat a small piece of dark chocolate. Dark chocolate has fewer calories than most common candy bars you find in the aisles. It also contains pure cocoa butter, which is a source of digestion-slowing stearic acid, and will help you eat less.
Tip #5 – Plain Yogurt
Eating yogurt is definitely a calorie saver. However, if you eat the yogurt that has many different tasty toppings, you won’t be saving the calories you think you are. To lose weight, eat a plain yogurt, but instead top it with fresh blueberries or raspberries. By making this change, you will be cutting back calories each day when eating this as a healthier breakfast or snack.
Tip #6 – Make your Lunch
By making your own lunch three days a week at least, you will not only see your wallet get bigger, but your waist line get smaller. A homemade sandwich can run you around 300-350 calories, where as a sandwich from a restaurant often packs on 500+ calories because of the high-fat dressings and sides. Making the switch to a brown bag lunch at least three days a week can result in losing three pounds a year!
Tip # 7 – Prepare your Snacks
The snacks you eat in the break room or the vending machine snacks you grab can add up quickly. To make sure your snacks are healthy and you keep on the right track, prepare your snacks ahead of time and put some in your car, purse, and desk drawer. Some good snack ideas are nuts, fruits that are non-perishable, and other high protein snacks. If you have a refrigerator you can have yogurt, hard boiled eggs, and my favorite – veggies and hummus. You can save over 200 calories by eating one of your prepared snacks instead of an easy to grab calorie ridden snack.
Tip # 8 – Take the Stairs
If you need to take an elevator to get to your office daily, stop taking the easy way out! Head to the stairs and hike up to your office. By spending ten minutes a day going up and down stairs, you burn around 80 calories. By doing that five days a week, you are burning at least 400 calories, which can help you lose six pounds a year! Taking the stairs not only helps you lose weight, but it is great for your heart and overall health.
Tip #9 – Commercials = Sweat Time
Watching television for an hour, you will see about 14 minutes worth of commercials. Most people stay on the couch relaxing, or even worse, grazing on various unhealthy snacks. You can use this time to burn some extra calories. Stand up and do jumping jacks, push-ups, body squats, etc. By spending the 14 minutes worth of commercials not lying on the couch, you will blast about 70 calories. Think, most people watch more than an hour of television. Therefore, you can burn a quick 200 calories a night, the pounds will fall off while you’re watching your favorite show!
Tip #10 – Make a Date
Whether you make a date with a friend, a spouse, or just yourself, make sure you keep it! By making a standing date to be active at least once a week, you are committed to burning calories. Go for a hike, shopping with a friend, or even a boot camp type workout class. You’re more likely to stay consistent if you do this with a friend or attend a class because you will hold each other accountable. Either way, making this kind of obligation will help you get into an exciting routine that keeps you physically active and burning calories.
