Most of the advice that you find when you’re ready to lose weight tells you that you need to start an intense workout regimen and track every single calorie you ingest. There’s a much easier way you can lose some extra weight, though, and it doesn’t have to involve driving yourself crazy or putting yourself through an insane workout. What you really need is to balance out your life.
Don’t Skip Meals, Starting with Breakfast
If you’re skipping breakfast because that seems like an awesome way to pare down some calories, rethink that plan. You’re more likely to eat even more calories later in the day if you’re not starting out with a balanced breakfast. Your body needs fuel after you wake up to keep it going. Pair whole grains and fruit with lean protein to get your body a mix of nutrients that it can use right away to fuel your day.
Starting to eat breakfast again when you’re not used to it can be difficult, so don’t rush yourself. Try eating something small and work your way up to a full breakfast once you form a habit.
Look at Your Sleep Habits
How well you’re sleeping and how much sleep you’re getting are way more important than you might realize when you want to shed some extra pounds. One way sleep sabotages your desire to lose some weight is because you’re more likely to reach for sugar and caffeine to keep you going throughout the day. That all adds up to many more calories than you expect.
Another huge culprit in the battle to get the sleep you need is your mattress. Is your mattress older or starting to sag or feel lumpy? Take advantage of mattress delivery and fix that problem so you can start reaping the benefits of better sleep.
Liquid Calories Add up Fast
You might be paying a lot of attention to what you’re eating, how much you’re eating, and what’s in your food, but how much attention are you paying to your beverages? Many of the beverages you’re probably reaching for throughout the day carry some hefty calories with them. This is especially true if you’re sweetening any of these beverages. You’re much better off with water or unsweetened herbal tea. If you really can’t handle the taste of plain water, mix a tablespoon or two of 100 percent fruit juice into a glass of water.
A full glass of vegetable juice is another alternative, but you don’t want to have more than a glass or so a day because the sodium level in these drinks is usually pretty high.
Pair Protein with Other Nutrients
Every time you eat, even if it’s just a snack, make sure that you include protein. Protein helps to keep your body fuller longer and it also gives your body what it needs to both build and to maintain muscle mass, which you definitely want.
Another bonus of eating even a little protein with every meal and snack is that digesting protein burns more calories than any other nutrient. That means that you’re getting more of a caloric burn by including protein than you would if you left it out.
Choose a “Stop” Time for Eating
When you give yourself a set time to quit eating for the day, it keeps you from ingesting calories that you might not really need. Instead of reaching for something sweet or filling, look for herbal teas that don’t have caffeine to keep you awake at night. Another way you can help yourself shut down eating for the night is to brush your teeth. Any snacks you eat after that aren’t going to taste nearly as good as they would have without brushing your teeth.
If you eat late in the day because you’re bored, pick up a hobby that keeps you occupied. Reading, knitting, and coloring are all options that keep your hands and your brain busy.
Losing weight is all about attaining some balance in your life. You don’t have to exercise every hour that you’re awake or count every single calorie to start seeing some serious results.
