Slimming down makes you feel better about your appearance and improves your overall well-being, but excessive weight loss at an accelerated rate can result in the loss of muscle rather than fat. There are healthy ways to jump start your weight loss and stay on track as you shed pounds.
Move at Work
Sitting in an office chair all day means you are burning very few calories. Adding a little movement into your day between phone calls or on your break keeps you burning calories. A hands-free phone headset allow you to walk around your office or do squats while you take care of business. If you have a meeting with a colleague, invite her to walk around the building as you chat, instead of sitting.
Use a Pedometer
A pedometer strapped to your waist helps you keep track of the steps you take. It might also motivate you to add more steps to your day to boost your calorie-burning. Get in the habit of checking your pedometer regularly. Add steps in short bursts, such as taking the stairs or parking at the end of the parking lot. Longer stretches of walking, such as walking to do errands or walking to work, boost your daily number of steps even more. Each week add 100 steps to your daily goal.
Find a Partner
A weight-loss partner with similar goals provides a source of motivation and ideas. The two of you can help keep each other on track, especially when your weight loss efforts become challenging. If you live in the same area, exercising together is an option. The Internet allows long-distance weight-loss buddies to stay in touch frequently for updates and motivation.
Use Smaller Plates
A smaller dinner plate means you will pile up less food, resulting in smaller portion sizes. The controlled portion sizes mean you'll consume fewer calories and lose weight more quickly. Because the food fills up the smaller plate, you might not feel deprived by smaller portions. The same trick works for snacks: use smaller bowls or plates. A child-sized bowl works well for snacks.
Drink Water
Drinking water for most of the day keeps your body hydrated and helps you avoid empty calories found in many drinks. Juice, specialty coffee drinks and soda are all full of calories that your body doesn't need. The high-calorie beverages don't usually fill you up so you may still snack on top of the drinks. Sticking with water keeps your body functioning properly and avoids the extra calories.
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