Summer season is upon us and in full swing and it is never too late to lose some of those extra pounds. The best part you do not need to buy those overpriced gimmicks that you see on TV that make outlandish claims, nor do you have to train as if you were preparing for the Olympics.
Here are some basic tips that you can use to help you shed some weight in an even paced manner that is sure not to get your bored.
You Are What You Eat
You have heard this saying many times before I am sure, and it holds true every time you hear it. By making slight changes in your eating habits you can easily lose one to two pounds a week. Eat smaller portions over multiple meals a day. Instead of 3 big meals, eat 6 smaller meals every two and a half to three hours. Make sure you plate has a serving of protein, healthy carbs and veggies. A serving size can be the size of your clenched fist. Now go eat healthier.
Photograph Yourself
One of the best motivators I have found is truly seeing yourself. The only way to do that is to take photos. Take your starting photos (usually one from the front and one from the side) and then photograph yourself every 3 to 4 weeks. It is one of best ways to stay on track.
Forget the Gym
In today's tough economic times a gym membership is about $35 per month yet walking in your neighborhood is free. Walking for 30 minutes per day will do wonders, just pick up the pace a bit. You aren't going out for a leisurely stroll (although that is better than nothing). Doing crunches while you watch TV is also free and it helps build the abs. Do some push-ups for your chest and arms and then do some squats (knee bends) holding something in each hand of equal weight. There you go, a complete exercise routine and all for free. It can also be done in about 30 minutes.
Write it Down
The only way you will know if you are on track is to write it down. Mark your weight each week. I do it on Sunday mornings immediately following my morning shower. I write down weights and each day I write down what I ate and any exercises I might have done. Now that I have this journal I can refer back to the weeks where I did good and bad and try to make adjustments to stay on pace.
What's the Goal?
So now you know you must eat right, take photos for motivations, know how to exercise for free and that you must write everything down, but what exactly are you trying to accomplish? You must write down what the end result is that you are trying to reach otherwise you will never know when you hit it and set a new goal for yourself. For example if you want to lose 10 pounds, write that down. Then write the date by which you want to reach it. Adding the date makes it more time sensitive and gives you a sense of urgency almost. Once you reach your goal, set a new one. In our example above, once you hit 10 pounds, let's say you want to lose another 5. You get the point.
So there you have it 5 helpful tips you can use right away to start losing weight, feeling great and looking food. The rest is now up to you.
