5 Lifestyle Changes To Help You Lose Weight

18 Oct

We all have them, those extra few pounds we’ve been trying to drop. Whether it’s post pregnancy weight (like I had) or extra pounds that snuck up on you over the years (which I also had).

I gained a lot of weight when I was pregnant, sixty pounds with Cameron and sixty-two with Logan. It took a lot of work to get rid of that extra weight and it’s something that has become like a work in progress. After Logan was born I did find a way to lose fifty pounds though.

Dieting is not the answer here folks, you have to make a conscious decision to change your lifestyle. You don’t have to make drastic changes, in fact you’d be surprised how effective just a few small changes can be.

I thought I’d share with you my top five tips. They’re five simple lifestyle changes you can make that will help drop some of that unwanted weight. The added bonus? You’ll start feeling more energized too.

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1. Drink plenty of water. If you’re dehydrated you might end up reaching for more food, it’s kind of your body’s way of seeking fluids when you’re not drinking enough. Water will also help you feel fuller longer. You’ll probably need to pee a lot at first but your body will get used to the water eventually and learn how to process it. My goal is a gallon (more on running days) a day.

Reach for water before you reach for a sugary soda. Even diet soda can aid in keeping those extra pounds. Flavor your water with fresh fruit instead.

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2. Get enough sleep. There are a number of studies that have linked weight loss with sleep but let’s just look at the most basic part of it. If you’re awake you’re more likely to be (mindlessly) snacking. There are actual chemical imbalances that are caused by not getting enough sleep and they have been proven to help you GAIN weight. So get those Zzzz’s. Aim for seven to eight hours a night.

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3. Move. It’s not always easy if you’re stuck at a desk all day but get up and moving as much as you can during the day. Park a little further at work or out shopping. Take the stairs whenever you can. When you do laundry take it one small stack at a time to put away. Those extra steps really do add up. I wear an activity tracker (fancy name for a pedometer) and my goal is at least 10,000 steps a day.

4. Think ahead when you eat out. When I know I’m going to be eating out I visit the restaurant’s website to look at their nutritional information. Sometimes what you think is going to be a healthy option is far from healthy. I try to always have my meal picked out ahead of time. If I can’t check things out before hand, I’ll use my phone to narrow down what the best options are for me once we get there.

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5. Don’t deprive yourself. If you like junk food don’t completely cut it out of your life. You’ll be cranky and when you do indulge in it you’re likely to overindulge. Instead eat in moderation. Instead of sitting on the couch with a bag of chips, put a small portion on a plate for your snack. Same with the cookies, take a few out of the package and put the rest away. You’re actually less likely to go back for more if they’re put away than if the package is sitting on your lap. Go figure.

Just these few things will have you seeing results.

What lifestyle changes have you made to become healthier and drop a few extra pounds?

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