If you're looking to drop a few pounds, you don't have to put a lock on the refrigerator. Instead of putting yourself on a restrictive diet, make a few small changes that will make a big difference. Rather than starving yourself or spending your entire day feeling deprived, take pleasure in doing small, healthy things for yourself throughout the day. Consult your doctor before making changes in your diet or exercise plan.
Cut Back on Sugar
To drop a few pounds and keep the weight off, eat less sugar, recommends the University of Maryland Medical Center website in the article "Tips for Losing Weight." If you snack on a few sugary items throughout the day, you may not realize how much sugar you are really consuming. Cut your daily afternoon soda from your routine and you'll eliminate 150 calories, says the American Heart Association website in the article "How Do You Maintain Weight Loss?" Put one fewer tablespoon of sugar in your morning coffee. Eat a piece of fruit or some yogurt for dessert rather than that scoop of ice cream or bar of chocolate. Although you'll only be making a few tiny changes throughout the day, they may make a big difference in your sugar consumption.
Add More Activity to Your Day
Rather than setting aside a chunk of 30 or 60 minutes a day to exercise, split your routine up into a few short spurts. This way, you won't have to stop your day completely to get some exercise. Find opportunities to get up and walk around at the office. Wear a pedometer to see how many steps you take per day and make the effort to add 250 additional steps every day, suggests the American Heart Association website.
Shop After Eating
If you shop while you're hungry, you may be more apt to buy high-fat foods and snacks. Instead, eat a full, satisfying meal before you go out to the grocery store. Park as far from the store as you can to burn some extra calories, says MayoClinic.com in the article "Weight Loss: 6 Strategies for Weight Loss." Make a list of nutritious foods you love to eat and stick to it.
Substitute Saturated Fat for Healthier Fats
Swap out butter and lard for unsaturated fats, like olive oil, recommends MayoClinic.com. Not only does saturated fat add pounds to your body, it also increases cholesterol and clogs the arteries, raising your risk of heart attack and stroke. Instead of slathering your meat with butter before you cook it, drizzle it with a small amount of olive oil and add some herbs, like rosemary or thyme, to add additional flavor.
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