|
- Exercise may be the best appetizer! In a study at the University
of Campinas, researchers found that overweight animals that
engaged in exercise actually decreased appetite by upping
protein levels in the hypothalamus; thus, they became more
sensitive and receptive to hunger signals. End result? The
animals started to eat less!
- It can be tough to find time to exercise, especially when
you work a 9-5. But if you're sitting at a desk all day, it's
even more important to fit in some kind of exercise. If it's
a nice day out, grab a coworker and go for a 30 minute power
walk during your lunch break. Eat lunch after at your desk
instead. You'll speed up your metabolism, burn some calories,
plus you'll feel more energetic and focused for the rest of
the day!
- To lose weight you really need to avoid soda and other
high calorie, sugar-laden drinks. A few sodas a day can add
up to 500 calories - that's a daily habit that can lead to
a 1-pound weight gain a week!! Stay away from diet drinks,
too. Studies suggest that diet drinks just make you crave
sugar more, causing you to eat more and gain weight. Instead,
drink water with lemon, which contains the appetite suppressant
pectin. It kills cravings for sweets instead of increasing
them! Aim for 8 glasses a day to feel your very best.
- Join an online weightloss/fitness blog or forum. Support
goes a long way. You can ask questions, leave comments and
product reviews, and even answer other people's questions.
Being part of a community of other people who are trying to
lose weight or maintain a healthy lifestyle can be just what
you need to stay motivated and informed. Reading about other
people's success can be a great motivator when you're falling
off the wagon. Search around for the best forum for you and
your goals.
- You probably know by now how important it is to eat breakfast,
but did you know that what you eat is equally important?
You might think eating a bowl of cereal is good, and it is
better than not eating at all, but you're really missing out
on a lot of benefits. A breakfast of protein and carbohydrates
will not only keep you full longer, but it will help regulate
your blood sugar for the rest of the day! Try greek yogurt
with fruit, or eggs and whole-wheat toast for a delicious,
healthy breakfast with all the perks!
- Don't be afraid of weight training! A lot of women are
afraid of bulking up, but weight training helps tighten you
up and slim you down. Muscle burns more calories than fat,
so you will burn more calories everyday if you add weights
to your routine. Use light weights (5-10lbs) and perform high
reps, just 2-3 times a week. You will tone up and feel stronger
without getting bulky, plus you'll burn more calories each
day!
- Find a workout buddy! Working out with a friend can help
you stay on track. Chance are, you're more likely to stay
at the gym longer if your friend is still working out next
to you. And those days you just don't feel like going to the
gym? If a friend calls you or shows up at your door, chances
are you're more likely to put on your sneakers! Go hiking,
take a class together, or just hit the gym together. It's
a fun way to socialize and get in shape at the same time!
- Work out in intervals! Studies show that cardio sessions
with high intensity intervals burn more fat than a longer
session at a steady pace. So instead of jogging at the same
speed for 40 minutes, run for 30 minutes and incorporate 1-2
minute intervals of high intensity every 3 minutes. Slow and
steady doesn't always win the race!
- Switch it up! If you've hit a plateu or you aren't seeing
the same results, it's time to spice up your work out!. After
time our bodies get used to the same exercises, making it
harder to lose weight. If you find yourself running at a constant
speed on the treadmill every day, try interval training or
give the elliptical or a try. Add weight training to your
routine 1-2 days a week. After a few weeks, switch up those
exercises too. Not only will you see better results, but you're
less likely to get bored!
|
