Going on a diet is a strenuous activity that requires major changes in your day, as well as sacrificing your favorite foods and making major willpower adjustments. Instead, make little changes in your diet and exercise routine that are barely noticeable. This way, you can maintain your normal life, eat the foods you enjoy and lose weight at the same time. Foods that are high in saturated fat and sugar are the first that should be cut out, and every calorie you don't consume counts.
Step 1
Increase your workouts. Doing a few extra push-ups at the end of a set or using the elliptical machine for 5 extra minutes than you normally would will burn extra calories. These extra calories will build up over time, and when you combine them with wise eating choices, will provide weight-loss benefits.
Step 2
Cut out cream and sugar in your coffee. If you drink coffee every morning, according to Dr. Brian Wansink, author of "Mindless Eating," small changes will add up if you keep letting one habit inform another. Cutting the amount of sugar and cream you put in your coffee in half will build up, taking these calories out of your daily diet.
Step 3
Stop drinking soda. A can of soda can contain 13 tbsp. of high-fructose corn syrup, according to Kim Severson of the "San Francisco Chronicle." Instead of reaching for the soda, drink a cup of herbal tea or seltzer water to curb your cravings.
Step 4
Skip dessert. Even if you stop eating sweet treats after dinner 3 nights a week, you will drastically decrease your caloric intake, as well as your intake of saturated fat, if you used to eat dessert every night. Instead of denying yourself the desserts completely, skip it every once in a while to see the effect it has on your figure.
Step 5
Snack on veggies instead of chips or crackers. Snacks are beneficial because they keep blood sugar stable during the day. Instead of eating prepackaged potato chips or buttery crackers, snack on carrot and celery sticks with a dab of low-fat plain yogurt or nonfat Italian dressing. The nutritious snack will help curb hunger and prevent you from consuming empty calories.
Tips and Warnings
- Drink water when you feel hungry, then wait a few minutes before eating. Your body may mistake dehydration for hunger.
- Consult your doctor before restricting your diet if you have health problems.
Things You'll Need
- Herbal tea
- Seltzer water
- Carrots
- Celery
- Nonfat Italian dressing
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