Summer is moving in closer, and we all want one thing during this time of year: to lose weight before it is time for the dreaded beach season comes around.
This can be a challenging and daunting task to many of us. So, if you are having trouble slimming down a bit, here are a few tips to help you reach that end in time.
- Change your snacks: if you always reach for that bag of chips on your way to the kitchen, or if you cannot resist saying yes to your friend’s invitation to a dessert, you are adding unnecessary calories to your day. Instead of opting for a high calorie snack, choose instead something like almonds, or if you like a crunchy snack, you can have an apple.
- Avoid calorific drinks: aside from soft drinks (diet drinks included) which contain lots of calories from sugar, there are other beverages that may be making you add weight and that you can cut from your diet. For instance, instead of getting coffee with cream and sugar, drink black coffee. Even sweetened tea and juices are not as harmless as you might think.
- Fill your plate with vegetables: people are advised to have five servings of fruits and vegetables daily. This can be difficult to some, but you can include them in your meals. When you fill your plate, keep these portions in mind: one half should be vegetables, one quarter protein, and one quarter carbohydrates.
- Eat fast food mindfully: it’s okay to enter a fast food place, but try to control your urge to supersize everything and to order the fattiest meal. Instead, ask the waiter to bring you the normal sized meal and to replace fries with baked potatoes.
- Move around: try to squeeze in as much exercise or physical activity as you can. If you have to go somewhere nearby, walk there. If you must take the car, park it a bit further than where you normally would. Walk up the stairs at the mall instead of the elevator or the escalator. Activity is essential to increasing your metabolic rate.