A healthy diet rich in fruits, vegetables, lean protein and fiber along with vigorous exercise is widely acknowledged as the best way to get slim. Running, walking, or riding a bicycle outdoors or in the gym are aerobic exercises that help you lose weight by raising your metabolism, which allows you to burn fat and calories at a higher rate even while resting. Lesser-known methods to attain a slim and lean physique include building muscle and avoiding certain foods.
Beat the Bloat
Step 1
Reduce the amount of salt in your diet. Salty snacks contain sodium and foods high in sodium cause water retention. If your body is holding on to excess water, you'll look and feel puffy and bloated. Cutting all salt for up to one week will allow your body to release a lot of water and is a dependable way to appear slimmer in a hurry without going on an unhealthy crash diet.
Step 2
Avoid saturated fats and high-fructose corn syrup. Certain baked goods, juices, cereals and sodas are likely to contain high-fructose corn syrup, a sweetener that was linked to obesity in a 2010 study by Princeton University. Some carbohydrates and fatty foods can also cause bloating. Fatty foods are harder to digest and tend to linger in the stomach, contributing to bloat. Consuming baked beans, cabbage, Brussels sprouts and certain carbonated drinks may also lead to uncomfortable gas and bloating.
Step 3
Limit the amount of gluten you consume. Gluten is a protein found in processed foods derived from wheat, rye and barley. Gluten is found in a variety of breads, pastas and cereals and other grain-based foods. Although whole grains are healthy and should be included in your diet, hydrolyzed wheat gluten can act similar to "glue" in your intestinal tracts. It tends to stick around for awhile and can contribute to weight gain.
Step 4
Start a strength-training routine. Building muscle is one of the most efficient ways to burn calories and slim down. For men, high repetitions with lighter weights develop leaner muscles than lifting heavier weights at low repetitions. Many women worry that working out with weights will make them "bulk up," but the opposite is true. Working out with weights will help tone and slim your body because in order to self-sustain, muscles act as continuous fat and calorie-burning machines. Pilates and yoga are mat-based exercises that utilize your body weight to build lean muscles. Traditional, or modified, pull-ups, push-ups, lunges and squats also build muscle and burn calories. Stretching before and after you exercise will elongate your muscles and increase flexibility, adding to a lean and slender appearance.
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