When summer is near, being a little skinnier is always a common goal for us women everywhere.
So here are 12 changes you can make to your diet and lifestyle to help you feel more energetic, be less bloated and to lose some decent weight.
Don’t feel like you need to make every one of these changes all at once for your body to take notice. Choose one or two that seem the most doable, stick with those for a week or two, and make the other changes as you feel ready.
To a marvellous summer where we can all show off our best bikini bodies.
1. Eat veggies at every meal
If you only eat veggies at dinner time, this tip is for you! Include veggies at every meal, even breakfast. Try mashed beans in your oatmeal or cucumber in your smoothie. And instead of snacking on processed carbs like crackers, go for carrot chips to satisfy crunchy, salty cravings.
2. Include protein, fiber, and healthy fats at every meal
This is the magical trifecta to help you feel full and satisfied and to stabilize blood sugar levels. Choose lean proteins, whole grains, produce, and legumes for fiber and avocado, nuts, seeds, and olive oil for healthy fats.
3. Have one huge salad as a meal once a day
Whether it’s a quinoa and black bean mason jar salad for lunch or a roasted butternut squash and kale salad for dinner, eating a salad for one meal not only helps you get your share of fiber and veggies, but since it’s low in calories, it’ll help you lose or maintain weight.
4. Make lunch your biggest meal
Consuming more calories midday than at breakfast or dinner ensures you have enough time to burn all those calories. Think of lunch as about 40 percent of your total daily calories.
5. Eat until you’re 80 percent full
Down with the clean plate club! Instead of putting the fork down when your plate is empty, eat slowly, and pay close attention to how your belly feels so you can stop eating when you’re satisfied but not stuffed.
6. Go vegan once a week
To encourage you to eat veggies, fruits, legumes, and whole grains, pick one day a week to go vegan. Skipping meat, dairy, and eggs will allow you to focus on eating all those plant-based foods experts are always telling us to eat more of.
7. Swap artificial and processed sweeteners for natural sources
Studies show eating artificially sweetened foods and beverages makes you feel more hungry, so you’ll end up eating more total calories. As for refined white sugar, the more we eat it, the more we crave it – sugar addiction is real! Plus studies show eating sugar actually ages you and has been linked to cancer, liver damage, heart failure, and other serious conditions. It can also make you feel bloated and foggy-headed. Avoid the obvious culprits such as candy, desserts, and soda, and also avoid processed foods, as these contain tons of hidden sugars. When sweet cravings strike, go for fresh or dried fruit or these healthy dessert recipes.
8. Be consistent about meal planning
Choose one day a week where you can devote a few hours to plan, shop, and prep meals and snacks for the week. You’ll not only save time and money, but you’re more likely to stay on the healthy path once you have that intention set for the week.
9. Put down the salt shaker
Too much sodium not only affects your blood pressure, but it can also damage your organs and tissues and cause that bloated feeling that leaves you feeling sluggish and uncomfortable. Aim for no more than 2,400 mg a day (under 1,500 mg is even better) by avoiding processed foods that are high in sodium – make sure to read the labels because even bread, dressings, and sauces can contain obscene amounts. And don’t reach for the salt shaker out of habit. Season your food with fresh herbs or garlic instead. Also go for unsalted nuts and seeds and the butters made from them.
10. Indulge once a day
Don’t give any foods up completely. Denying yourself the bites you crave can backfire, causing you to feel deprived, resulting in bingeing and feeling depressed. So make a point to keep yourself happy and your cravings satisfied by allowing a small treat every day, such as a square of dark chocolate or a small glass of wine.
11. Walk 30 minutes a day
Rain, shine or snow, make it a habit to go for a brisk 30 minute walk every single day. You can do it after dinner, before dinner or anytime you like, but walk for the full 30 minutes. A recent study showed that a group of women who walked for 30 minutes a day for 2 weeks lost on average 15% more weight than another group of women who were on the same diet but did not walk at all.
12. Get proper sleep
Research has proved that sleep deprivation can cause you to gain weight. This is simply due to the fact that the longer you are awake, the more you are likely to eat.
In fact, it is a common scenario that people who are in late night working often have several cups of coffee to avoid feeling sleepy. The result is clear, they consume extra calories.
The duration and quality of your sleep also influence the production of certain hormones which are directly linked with your appetite.
While sleeping, you lose weight through two processes, namely respiration when you exhale and transpiration through your skin, also called sweating.
All these factors contribute to weight loss. So, get the right amount and the best quality sleep you can get to lose weight quickly.
One last thing… you should try this 2-minute “after-dinner ritual” that
burns up to 2 pounds of belly fat per day…
“All
this by a 2-minute “after-dinner ritual?” I asked.
I
met an old friend for lunch last month and I was super impressed with how good
she looked.
She
said, “It’s not so much about the “after-dinner ritual”, but more about how it
gives you a regenerative form of deep sleep that is responsible for everything
we need to dramatically increase our fat burning metabolism and improve our
health and appearance.”
Even
though I was skeptical, I’ve been struggling with my weight over the last few
years, so I gave it a shot and watched the same video she did.
Well,
it’s only a couple weeks later and you know what they say about how “you can’t
transform your body overnight”…
They’re
right – it actually took me 16 days to lose 22 pounds.
Now
it’s my girlfriends asking ME what I’M doing differently 💅
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