Women's Life Link Be Well, Be Happy, Be YOU!
Regular readers of my blog know that, when I put my head to something, I try as hard as I possibly can to execute. I have been doing it with my health for quite a while, and I am happy with the results I am getting. Still, there are times when I cannot get out of bed, let alone do a full workout. This is the life of someone carting around a stowaway like MS. Some days are like that, and they are the ones that affect your health and weight the most. So, I do something every day, even if it’s just wall push-ups or marching in place. I’ve also discovered that there are some kick ass things you can do for your health and weight management that don’t require a lot of physical effort. In fact, some days I don’t need to lift a finger!
Some of this information was news to me, so I’m confident there are others out there who need it, too. Here’s a list of my ten easy steps to losing weight without straining every bodily sinew.
Eat Breakfast
I know some of you cannot stomach eating in the morning, so you skip breakfast. You might want to rethink that. You’ve all heard the saying that breakfast is the most important meal of the day. It’s true!!!!! Breakfast has a psychological impact for starters. When I eat a healthy breakfast, usually a green drink, a protein, and a half a grapefruit, I am in a far better mood than when I skip the first meal of the day. I also feel less fatigued during the day. Furthermore, breakfast has an impact on your body, especially your metabolism. The first meal of the day makes your body more efficient at burning calories. That’s reason enough to make eating breakfast a habit!
Eat Fiber
Another one of my tips for healthy weight loss or maintenance is include fiber in your diet. Why? Fiber makes you feel fuller. And, feeling full means you won’t go rummaging through your cupboard for junk food. Truthfully, we have some of those “snack attacks” because we are not getting enough fiber in our diets. Fiber also keeps your digestive system moving well. And, you know that horrible bloated, “fat” feeling that you get when you are backed up? You can avoid it by eating more fiber.
Now, what can you eat that is full of fiber and doesn’t taste like cardboard? One of my go to fiber-rich foods is flax seed. You can grind it and add it to smoothies or even make a really tasty breading for fish, chicken, or eggplant. If that doesn’t rock your world, thankfully, fruits like raspberries and pears are among the most fiber-packing in the world.
Eat Slowly
When we take our time to eat, we give the brain a chance to catch up with our stomach. The signals can take minutes to get from A to B, and in that time we have helped ourselves to an extra portion. So, the next time you are still feel hungry after finishing a meal, take a few minutes to relax. If you are still hungry, you may need to eat more.
Drink Coffee
This is a bitter sweet one for me. Though I love coffee, its positive metabolism effects, and the freakin’ deliciousness of it, I have to be careful with it. Actually, I shouldn’t drink it at all. But that’s me. For the rest of you coffee junkies, you will be happy to know that it is serving your weight loss goals well!
This tip comes from a Vixen Daily post called ‘The 11 Laziest Ways To Burn More Calories’. As it turns out, caffeine is a great calorie booster. In fact, it can burn calories for up to three hours longer than without it. Now, I am aware that a lot of people are not into coffee, so instead try spiced chai or other flavored teas. I would stay away from the soda pops, though. Nothing good will come of drinking those.
Cut Out Sugar
I’ve learned that fat doesn’t make you fat, sugar does. Sugar is full of unwanted calories, and it can increase the risk of heart disease by a huge factor – two reasons alone to cut it out. We crave sweet foods and drinks when our body is off chemically and when our digestive tract is out of balance and full of candida. Try to cut out sugar where ever you can. Start with eliminating sweet juices, soda pop, and additions to your coffee and tea. I use natural green Stevia as a replacement when I absolutely need something to be sweet or a recipe calls for sugar.
Give Into Cravings…Sometimes
The mere idea of never enjoying your favorite, rich or high calorie foods is enough to send most of us running to the hills. So, that’s why I propose that you give into your cravings…sometimes. I know that a lot of people think the best way to give something up is to cut it out completely. But, starving your body of food that it has been accustomed to for a long time is going to make it much harder and less appealing. The cravings will come back harder and more severe than ever, which is why I eat those “forbidden” foods every once in a while. Yes, of course I stick to my eating protocol because I have to if I want to kick out the stowaway. But, from time-to-time, I allow myself to have a treat like wine, ice cream, gluten-free pizza, and even brownies.
Accidental Exercise
This article is about what you can do to lose and maintain weight in addition to regular exercise. It’s not meant to say don’t exercise at all. However, if you have those days of low energy I spoke of earlier, there are some things to do. I am a firm believer of smart exercise and those unconscious ones you can do without even thinking about it. The first method is simple – walk. Instead of taking the bus or the car to the shops or work, walk. Or, I like to keep moving while I am sitting. How? Try a stability ball. Sitting on one of these while you work at your desk or watch TV will help keep your core strong and do it without the grunting and groaning of crunches. I also do side bends while I’m brushing my teeth and counter push ups while I’m waiting for my tea water to heat up or meal to cook. Just get movement in where you can. Anything is better than nothing.
Play Video Games
Some research I did recently brought me to this little nugget of weight loss information. Even though I was skeptical at first, the more I thought about it, the more it made sense. It turns out that research at Plymouth University in England found that people lost more weight when they played video games to pass the time. I guess it distracted them from eating out of boredom and curbed the cravings. So, if gaming is your thing, go on and indulge your inner child and break out the PSP or Xbox. Just remember to live a balanced lifestyle with lots of variety. Gaming, like anything else, should be done in moderation.
Get Some Sleep
With all the hard work that you do to lose weight, you need to give your body time to recover. When I started living a healthier lifestyle, I was amazed at how much proper sleep can impact your body. Simply put, sleep is one of the most important keys to our health. The body has an amazing ability to regenerate cells and fix problems all by itself. However, it needs enough time to do that, which is why eight hours sleep is recommended. Plus, sleep affects our mental health. When you are tired, moods can shift abruptly and you are more likely to make bad food choices and axe your regular exercise routine.
Make A Lifestyle Change
I tell anyone who will listen that consistency and creating a healthful lifestyle are the keys to losing or maintaining weight. You can follow all the eating plans and diets you want. But, none will make a bit of a difference if you don’t consistently stick to them and make healthful eating a lifestyle. How many times have you lost weight just to gain it back after the “diet” was over? Too many to count, I’m sure. I keep my “big why” in front of me at all times. By that I mean my reason to have a healthful lifestyle. Though, mine may be a little more serious than yours because of the illness, it is still important to have one in your mind at all times, especially when you are making food choices. All of these tips can and will help you lose weight if you do them consistently. Health and well-being is a life long commitment that takes practice and quality tools and knowledge. Give yourself a fighting chance to be the best you possible by focusing on what you can do and not what you can’t. Be well, my friends!
***The content of this article is strictly informational and is not meant to replace the advice of your health care provider. Women’s Life Link, its authors, associates, linked sites, sponsors, and commentators do not claim that any of the content will diagnose or lead to a cure or improvement of any disease or condition.
