Tips To Lose Weight
By Barbara “BJ” LeGrand Cockrell
As most of you know, one of the most popular resolutions is to get in better shape and lose weight. It may not be as easy as just changing your diet.
So, I’ve summarized some of Dr. Josh Axe’s ways to help you not only lose weight but live a healthier and happier life. To learn more details about each tip and to find the rest of his 49 tips you can go to Draxe.com. I’ve learned a lot from him over the years to maintain health and fight disease and thought you could benefit from this timely information.
Here’s to a healthier you!
1. Schedule workouts. Pencil workouts into your daily planner to hold you accountable and help you stick to it.
2. Break up workouts throughout the day. Break up workouts throughout the day in bursts of 10-15 minutes to make your time more effective and fit your schedule.
3. Don’t let traveling derail your efforts. Take a resistance band, scope out fitness scene in advance, rent a bike or use the hotel gym to keep yourself on track.
4. Add variety to your routine. Keep your muscles guessing by cross training and trying different workouts or tweaking your usual routine. You’ll work new muscles and beat boredom while trying something new.
5. But don’t force yourself to do an activity you dislike. If you hate an activity, you’re likely much less likely to stick with it. Pick workouts and activities that challenge you and you enjoy.
6. Do it on a budget. There are many other ways to get in a great workout without spending much money. Try a YouTube workout, check out low-cost community fitness centers or invest in a few quality exercise videos.
7. Crank up the music. It’s been scientifically proven that listening to upbeat music during exercise helps you work harder and enjoy both the workout and the music more. Add your favorite to get moving.
8. Exercise with a group. Classes provide an opportunity to try something new in a safe, supportive environment or just meet up to do a group activity.
9. Start your day with a workout. If you constantly find that there’s not enough time during the day to squeeze in a workout, it might be time to jumpstart your day with one. Prepare the night before and get moving early.
10. Get results fast with burst training. This method of exercise helps your body burn fat faster because your metabolism stays elevated for up to 48 hours after exercise. When you’re short on time but want fast results, it’s a super effective option to lose weight fast.
11. Skip the scale. To get a better indication of how your body is changing, use body measurement tape instead to track your size and progress.
12. Incorporate weight lifting. Building muscle helps you lose inches all around, keeps your metabolism going after leaving the gym and will help you look better, too.
13. Consider using a personal trainer. A certified personal trainer can be a great way to kick-start your healthy lifestyle or help get you over a weight loss plateau.
14. Drink plenty of water. Drinking water not only keeps fat toxins moving out of the body, it also keeps your metabolism running optimally. In fact, in a 2013 study showed 14 healthy men and women increased their metabolic rate by 30 percent after drinking about 16 ounces of water! And if that’s not enough to convince you the world’s healthiest drink will help you lose weight fast, and it’s calorie-free, too!
15. Pack your own snacks. From apple chips to an on-the-go smoothie, you’ll get the nutrients you need without the icky preservatives from expensive, processed “foods.”
16. Increase your protein intake. Aim to consume at least half your body weight in grams of protein each day to lose weight and burn fat.
17. Eat grapefruit. Take advantage of grapefruit’s metabolic boosting enzyme AMPK, by adding slices to your salad or smoothie.
18. Drink green tea. According to a study in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, green tea is more effective than other teas like oolong at promoting weight loss because of its high levels of catechins. Aim to drink 1–3 cups of green tea daily.
19. Get your fill of fiber. Foods high in fiber will help you feel fuller longer, balance blood sugar, lower cholesterol and more.
20. Eat 90 percent of your meals at home. By controlling what ingredients, fats and oils are in your food, you’ll be able to make healthy choices without sacrificing the food and flavors you love.
21. Stock pile healthy snacks at home. Keep your cabinets and refrigerator stocked with fresh, healthy foods so they’re front and center.
22. Make a menu. Choose your favorite recipes and decide what you want to serve for meals a week at a time.
23. Slow down! Eating slowly eases digestion and helps your brain realize when you are full. Try putting down your fork or spoon between bites.
24. Let go of the grains. Try to consume 1 serving daily at most.
25. Don’t shop on an empty stomach. Make sure to have a quick snack before shopping to help keep compulsive shopping down.
