Beat holiday weight gain with these 10 simple tricks! These 10 simple tips will help you get back on track and drop the pounds you gained over the holidays!
Set Weekly Resolutions
Losing weight is a marathon – not a sprint. Give yourself time to adopt to a new diet and exercise regimen. If you try to go too fast too soon, you’ll burn out, lose steam and disappoint yourself. Try to make small changes, slowly. For example, for the first week you might make it a goal to workout 3 times a week. After that you might you want to focus on eating more vegetables!
Drink Water
It’s easy to mistake hunger for thirst. Drop those holiday pounds by drinking more water when you feel hungry! Drinking water will curb your perceived appetite and it will also help you feel full. Down a glass of water before and after a meal to help you cut down on calories when you sit down to eat!
Make Smart Substitutions
Quell your sweet tooth with clever, low-calorie, healthy substitutions! If you’re craving something sweet opt for fruit like grapes, blueberries or strawberries. Having a movie night? Pick air-popped popcorn instead of oil popped! Love chocolate? Choose dark chocolate and dip in your favorite fruits for a decadent treat!
Add Salsa To Your Meals
Up the flavor with salsa and ditch the high calories and fat of condiments like mayo. Spread it over veggie burgers, drizzle it over eggs, or mix it with low-fat yogurt to make a tasty tuna salad. You can also drizzle it over chicken and veggies!
Up Your Protein Intake
Research shows that protein does a better job at helping you feel fuller, for longer – better than carbohydrates or fats! Studies have shown that people who eat a breakfast high in protein were adequately sustained during the morning and felt satisfied until their next meal.
Eat More Often
You may feel as if you’ve eaten your way through the holidays and you’d like to take a break from eating as often – however, the key to losing weight after the holidays is to eat more often! Studies have shown that individuals who tend to keep their weight down, eat five or more times a day! The trick is to keep the meals light and small. Smaller, lighter meals will not only help to fuel you throughout the day, it will also boost your mood and boost your metabolism!
Remove One-Third Of Your Meal
Going out to eat is filled with delicious temptations. Reduce the temptations (and the urge to over-indulge) on your plate by removing one-third of the food from your plate. You can always ask the server to wrap up the rest of the food so that you can have it for lunch the next day. By removing one-third of the food from your plate you could reduce your meal by 500 calories!
Take 10
Experts say that the average craving only lasts for 10 minutes! The next time you have a craving try playing a game on your phone, taking a walk, doing the laundry, or returning an overdue email. Choosing an activity that gives you a sense of accomplishment not only makes you feel productive, it also gets your mind off that distracting craving!
Schedule A Splurge
Stay on track by giving yourself wiggle room, by allowing yourself to eat whatever you want for one meal, every other week. If you know that you’ll have built in cheat meals, you’ll feel less deprived, and you’ll be less likely to spin out of control and thwart your weight loss.
Think Positively
Experts believe that low self-esteem is a major cause of overeating. Focus on your strengths and the things that you love about yourself, instead of your flaws or shortcomings. Do things that help you feel good about yourself, and you won’t want to lean on food for comfort!
