Losing weight fast sounds like a dream come true, but let’s be real, it can be tough to stick to a strict regimen. Between work, family, and social obligations, it’s easy to fall into old habits and let our goals fall by the wayside.
However, there are some simple steps you can take to jumpstart your weight loss journey and see real results. No need to deprive yourself of everything you love or spend hours at the gym.
With a few tweaks to your lifestyle and mindset, you can drop those extra pounds and keep them off for good.
Give these 10 strategies a try and you might be surprised at how quickly the weight comes off – and how good you feel! Plus, who wouldn’t want to lose that stubborn belly fat?
1. Make a plan.
Successful long-term weight loss comes from a combination of nourishing diet and healthy exercise.
Outline the specific steps you need to achieve your ideal weight.
For example, one specific step might be to walk 30 minutes extra a day.
2. Visualize success.
The world’s best athletes envision themselves performing perfect techniques, a strategy that primes their body for success.
Do the same by visualizing how you want to look and feel after weight loss.
If it helps, post inspirational pics or phrases around the house.
3. Create a positive environment.
You probably will need to do some house cleaning to help you on your journey.
Dig into the pantry to clean out calorie-filled processed snacks, and free up your fridge from whole milk dairy, processed meats, and other high-calorie food traps.
4. Keep a journal.
Building self-awareness is a key weight loss strategy.
Keep a food and exercise diary where you can track exactly what you’re doing and when.
One of the smartest steps for getting to your ideal weight is to take a primer on portion sizes.
5. Learn about proper portions.
Don’t sink your quest to be healthy with ginormous portion sizes.
6. Schedule exercise.
From meetings to doctor’s appointments, you already make it a habit to schedule what’s important.
Your weight and health are just as important so put exercise on your calendar—and make that commitment to yourself.
7. Eat mindfully.
Each time the you want to eat something, drink a glass of water.
Then ask yourself if you’re still hungry. If the answer is “no,” then take the hand out of that bag of nuts and find something else do.
Whether it’s taking a walk or writing in a journal that you ‘escaped’ mindless eating at 2pm.
8. Get a fat buddy.
It can be tough to reach and maintain ideal weight on your own.
Team up with a like-minded friend (or connect with someone in the same boat online) so you can provide support and encouragement to each other.
9. Commit long-term.
Maintaining ideal weight can only happen with lifestyle change.
All too often, we shed pounds, do a victory dance and dive right back into bad habits.
Make this time the time that sticks.
Celebrate for a second and continue with the healthy journey.
10. Get proper sleep.
Numerous studies have shown that getting less than 5–6 hours of sleep per night is associated with increased incidence of obesity. There are several reasons behind this.
Research suggests that insufficient and poor-quality sleep slows down the process in which the body converts calories to energy, called metabolism. When metabolism is less effective, the body may store unused energy as fat. In addition, poor sleep can increase the production of insulin and cortisol, which also prompt fat storage.
How long and how deep someone sleeps also affects the regulation of the appetite-controlling hormones leptin and ghrelin. Leptin sends signals of fullness to the brain while ghrelin tells your brain you’re hungry.
Without a properly functioning leptin and ghrelin, you’re constantly hungry and nothing you eat will ever make you full.
So, sleep more and sleep well.