9 Small, Totally Doable Things You Can do to Lose Weight Faster

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You’ve met them. The co-worker juicing for a month straight. The cousin who works out two hours a day. The friend who’s always on the latest (and weirdest) Hollywood regimen.

They’re all going to the extremes to lose weight – and the thing is? They’re doing it all wrong.

Losing weight and getting healthy is not about pushing ourselves to the limit. It’s about making small changes that we can implement into our daily routines and turn into habits. It’s about eating a healthy diet and exercising in moderation.

Rather than riding the highs and lows, studies show people who take those baby steps are able to maintain a healthy weight long-term — and, even better, that it becomes much easier the more we do it.

So, what small breaks can we take from our daily habits to take those steps towards making healthy living a lifestyle?

1) Don’t ignore cravings. Just satisfy them in healthier ways.

Our blog and Pinterest boards are chock full of healthy recipes, things to satisfy sweet tooths, healthy snack ideas and much, much more. They’re all there to provide alternatives to foods like pizza, candy, etc. so we don’t have to go without things we crave.

2) Watch commercials.

For those of us with DVRs or Hopper boxes, the temptation to mash down the fast-forward button and scoot through commercials at lightning speed is the norm. But next time you watch your favorite TV show, use the commercials to get up off the couch and move a little. March in place. Do jumping jacks. Stretch. The benefit is two-fold: You’ll get your heart rate up (always good for weight loss) and it will take away from the temptation to munch down on a bag of potato chips while you watch.

3) Make the couch a no-eating zone.

Speaking of TV, Americans are well-known for their habit of snacking while parked in front of the tube. And that’s a habit that studies have shown leads to eating more junk food, which in turn means packing on extra pounds. Instead, make a hard-and-fast rule that there will be no eating on the couch — a great way to avoid mindless binge snacking.

4) Stairs. Take them.

You’ve probably heard this one a thousand times. But for those of us who have busy lives, and not a lot of leftover time for exercise, this is a surefire way to get the heart rate up and a get in a few minutes of fitness.

5) Color. Or write.

What could coloring possibly have to do with weight loss? It’s something you can do to replace boredom eating, a common thing we do to fill a psychological void from not having something to do. Next time you find yourself twiddling your thumbs, rather than heading into the kitchen to munch, pick up a box of crayons or a pen instead. Coloring and writing are great ways to stave off those boring moments without the extra calories.

6) Find exercise you enjoy.

The gym’s not for everyone. And that’s okay. For some, pushing the elliptical pedals or lifting weights just isn’t the way to go (especially if it lessens the chance you’ll stick with it). Instead, go for a walk or hike, take a bike ride,or join a sports team — whatever alternate kind of fitness that you actually want to do.

7) Buy a pedometer or fitness tracker.

Seriously. These are awesome ways to track how far you walk or move in a day. And it’s actually pretty fun to see how far you go without even knowing it, just from doing your regular daily routine. Plus, trackers like FitBits and Jawbones pair with apps where you can find motivation, connect with friends and compete in challenges.

8) Avoid certain aisles at the grocery store.

If you’re doing a Diet-to-Go 7-day meal plan, grocery store trips are already pretty limited. But if you’re on one of the shorter plans or still not sure whether you want to take the leap with us, grocery stores can be the Achilles heal of losing weight. It’s a haven for unhealthy, high-calorie junk food just begging to be dropped into the shopping cart. To combat the temptations, avoid most of the center aisles (especially the ones with snacks, chips and cookies). Shop the fresh-food and produce sections instead.

9) Drink lots of water.

Water flushes out our system, hydrates us and can even help fill us up to combat random food cravings. The general rule of thumb is to drink about half a gallon of water a day. And if you’re looking for ways to jazz it up, try adding some fruits and veggies.

What small changes have you made to stay healthy or lose weight? 


 

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Author: Caitlin H
Diet-to-Go Community Manager

Caitlin is the Diet-to-Go community manager and an avid runner. She is passionate about engaging with others online and maintaining a healthy, active lifestyle. She believes moderation is key, and people will have the most weight loss success if they engage in common-sense healthy eating and fitness.

 

Weight Loss Tips

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