When you're following a weight-loss plan, it's sometimes difficult to be patient. A combination of healthy eating and regular exercise has a high chance of getting effective results, and there's no other guaranteed way to shed pounds, but there are a few ideas that might accelerate the results of your weight-loss plan. Before making any modifications to your current routine, discuss the changes with a physician.
Diversify
The American Council on Exercise encourages everyone to include elements of aerobic exercise, strength training and flexibility or stretching into a well-rounded workout plan. Most people focus only on aerobics and cardiovascular training, which are effective at burning calories but may not build muscle mass. The Cleveland Clinic notes that anaerobic exercise, such as resistance training, core movements and weightlifting, tones and builds muscles, which is beneficial because muscle burns more calories at a resting heart rate than body fat. If you add strength training and stretching to your routine, you may notice the pounds come off more quickly and your body looking better sooner.
Make a Routine
Choose a variety of exercises that are fun to do and easy to fit into your daily schedule so that you'll look forward to completing them and will be more likely to stick with the routine, which is important for long-term weight maintenance. The healthy-living resource HelpGuide.org notes that sticking to an exercise routine not only offers health benefits but also improves your resting metabolism, which can help you burn more calories faster and consequentially lose more weight. Remember that if you get bored with your current routine, you can switch it up with new exercises and activities whenever you like.
Be Active
Being physically active helps you lose weight, but activity shouldn't be limited to regular exercise. The Mayo Clinic notes that you could notice weight come off more quickly and permanently if you make an effort to include more physical activity in your daily life by doing things like walking or biking instead of driving, cleaning the house regularly, gardening, mowing your lawn, parking at faraway spaces and playing actively with kids or pets.
Be Patient
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, people who lose weight at a moderate pace of 1 to 2 lbs. per week are more successful in the long term at keeping it off. Even if it seems as if you're not making much progress with your plan, stick to it, record your results and set short- and long-term goals that will motivate you for the future.
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