9 Simple Strategies For “Effortless” Weight Loss
I don’t watch very much TV these days but a few days ago I saw something that was so sad it was almost funny.
Kirsty Alley is once again making a very public bid to lose weight.
I wish her well. I have no doubt that she will lose however many pounds she wants. She’s done it before. She lost 75 pounds on a well-known diet plan. The problem is that after losing the weight she went back to where it was.
The reason most diets “fail” isn’t that they don’t work. It’s that once people lose the weight they go right back to the old habits that made them fat. The weight is never actually lost, it’s just misplaced.
Being Fit and Trim isn’t something you can do for a few weeks or months and then stop. It’s an attitude, a lifestyle.
“Effortless” Weight Loss
1. Don’t eat in front of the TV. Sounds silly doesn’t it? How can eating while watching TV make you fat? How many hours of TV do you watch a day? Get used to eating while you watch and you can find yourself eating out of habit, for hours each day.
2. Don’t inhale your food. Eat slowly, savor the taste of your meal. Chewing slowly helps your digestion and lets you enjoy the flavor longer. It takes a few minutes for your stomach to tell your brain it’s full, eating slow helps you to avoid overeating.
3. Get a smaller plate. Are your “eyes bigger than your stomach?” You’re hungry, filling up your plate. A smaller plate will let you take less without feeling deprived.
4. Drop the Latte. Lattes may be tasty and trendy but they also pack a whopping 1,000 to 1,800 calories per serving. Equal to chugging 4 litters of cola. Have a flavored coffee instead.
5. Get it on the side. Salad dressing that is. Since salads are low calorie people think that they can eat all they want. Salads are low calorie, salad dressings may not be. Salad dressings are supposed to enhance your salads flavor, not overpower it. Having your dressing on the side lets you control how much you eat.
6. Smash the chips. Chips are both tasty and convenient. Also very fattening. The whole grain versions are better, but still fattening. Keep a supply of fruits, nuts, and vegetables handy for snacking. Carrot and celery sticks make for a good snack, just go easy on the dip.
7. Drink more water. Studies have shown that you don’t eat less food because you have a high-calorie beverage. You just take in more calories. If you drink iced water you will actually burn calories to bring it up to body temp. Not a lot, mind you, but every little bit helps.
8. Hike to the store. Well, not literally. Park your car away from the door. One or two hundred feet won’t kill you or take up too much time. The few extra steps will burn more calories and even help your heart.
9. Take the stairs. An oldy but a goody. If the thought of going up and down the stairs to the office sounds too strenuous, just go down at first. Going down takes less effort. After you get used to the extra activity you can start getting off the elevator two or three flights and walk part of the way.
There you have it 9 little changes that can make a big difference in how you both look and feel.