5 Ways to Lose Weight (Before July 4th)
By Shira Scott for GalTime.com
The season I fear most is just weeks away! Prime bathing suit season. It's early June and my anxiety level is starting to spike. I need to lose these love handles, the ones I hide so well under my sweaters.
Not being one for crash dieting, I know it will take until July 4th (or beyond) to feel comfortable in my own skin, but I'm ready to put my health (and my beach body) first with these tips from some of my expert friends who are nutritionists and certified personal trainers.
Here are 5 habits I'm putting to practice stat!
1. Set small, realistic goals.
I want to lose 10 pounds, but not in week one! I'll shoot for 1-2 pounds every weigh-in. My real goal is to teach myself to make healthier food choices and eat normal amounts of my barbecue favorites.
2. Find a diet buddy (or a support system that works for you).
Diet buddies keep you motivated. You can always count on your partner, a friend of relative to give you the evil eye when you dip into the potato salad one too many times. Organized programs like Weight Watchers have strong support groups, too.
Related: 4 Top Tips to Stop Overeating
3. Keep a food journal.
I fought this one for years, but recently in desperation decided to try writing down everything I put into my mouth... at least for one day to see if I would be as shocked as everyone predicted. !#&!* WOW.... a taste of this, a crumb of that... the calories really do add up. Taking pen to paper makes you aware of your behavior. While I went old school, there are plenty of apps out there you can use to keep your journal. And while the goal is to stop thoughtless eating, don't skip meals. Research shows that's a diet killer.
4. Make exercise fun!
The treadmill can get mighty boring day after day. No matter what music is on my iTouch, I can't stay motivated for too long unless I mix it up. This summer, I'm going to go dancing, take my bike out of storage and play frisbee on the beach. In other words, I'm turning exercise into entertainment!
5. Get enough sleep.
That means seven to eight hours a night for most people. Why is this so important? Studies show that too little sleep can lead to weight gain. But so, apparently, can too much, so don't slumber for more than nine hours either. Research also shows too much tech time can lead to extra poundage, so try to limit your computer and TV hours.
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