Sticking to a healthy diet and exercise plan to lose weight is tough. Fortunately, you don't have to jump into a weight loss plan full force to be successful. Start with small changes and work your way up to an overall healthy lifestyle.
Drink more water. Water does wonders for the body. If you are well-hydrated, you will feel better and less bloated, you will have healthier-looking skin, and you will lose more weight. Water helps you feel fuller, longer, helping you to resist temptation from foods and drinks you shouldn't be consuming. Do you have trouble drinking enough water? Start by adding an extra glass of water to your diet each week until you've reached 8 glasses a day.
Chew gum. Do you crave sweets often? Chew gum to satisfy your sweet tooth and save a lot of calories. There are so many different flavors of gum available that you won't miss your favorite sweets that much. Aside from mint you can try fruit-flavored and dessert-flavored gums.
Wait when you get a craving. Sometimes you feel like you must have chocolate or ice cream. Instead of jumping on that urge, wait it out. Wait 30 minutes and see how you feel. There is a good chance you'll forget about it entirely before 30 minutes is up.
Cut out soda and sugar beverages. Drinking your calories is a bad idea. You won't feel much less hungry, and you'll consume a lot more sugar and calories than you would with healthier snacks. If possible, stick with water. If you must have soda, drink diet. Cut back more every week on how much diet soda you drink.
Reduce Snacking. Snacking is the reason many people gain weight. It's easy to eat too much too quickly without realizing it. Snacks are usually junk food, too. Limit snacks to once or twice a day, and keep healthy snacks around. When you want to have a snack, sit down at the table and eat until your finished. After you're done, get up and walk away. Don't eat while watching television, talking on the phone, or searching the internet.
Shrink portion sizes. Portion sizes are out of control. Decreasing the amount you eat at each meal alone will help you out considerably. Use a smaller plate, don't pile up food, and don't go back for seconds. Eventually, you'll get used to eating less, and eating more will make you feel uncomfortably full.
Do you hate waking up early or staying up late to exercise for an hour? Do you lack enough free time to go to the gym for 2 hours at a time? Exercise for short periods of time throughout the day. Exercise for 5 to 15 minutes, 3 to 5 times a day. Go for a quick walk, do lunges and crunches in your office, or walk up and down your stairs. Small exercises that build your muscles and get your heart pumping are effective and make better use of your time.
Cut out an extra 50 calories per week. If you need to take small baby steps, start with 50 calories. Eat 50 calories less this week than you did last week. Count your calories and stick with it. Next week, eat 50 calories less and so on each week. Once you've cut back 500 calories a week, you'll lose a pound a week. This is an easy way to feel like you're not eating any less while still losing weight.
Think about your eating and activity habits. Find small ways that will affect the health quotient of your lifestyle. Small changes add up to big changes over time. Long-term weight loss is more likely to stick when you can find ways to lose weight that are effective.
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