Explore our top tips and achieve the body you’ve always wanted! Read more…
STEP 1
Take your time and eat slowly. Check your watch. Start eating. When you’re done, check your watch again. How long did it take? Your goal is at least 15 to 20 minutes per meal. You need that long in order to let your body tell your brain that you’re full. Spend time enjoying what you’re eating. You’ll enjoy food more, and get lean too.
STEP 2
Eat yourself till “80% full”. It means you eat until you’re just satisfied. Don’t get hung up on exactly what “80% full” is, shoot for the general idea and feel satisfied with your meal. Remember: eat slow and be patience. But once you get the hang of learning your physical cues, this one will be a breeze and trust us it WORKS!
STEP 3
Eat and Drink Healthy. Water has zero calories and carbs and little to no sodium, making it the perfect slim-down drink. And strangely, it actually helps flush out excess water weight as well as jump-starts your metabolism. If it’s just too boring, add lemon wedges or mint leaves. Cutting out all white grain products — such as white rice, spaghetti, sandwich rolls — will instantly slim you down because the simple carbs in these foods cause bloating, especially around your belly. Try replacing these with vegetables. The complex carbs from vegetables are digested more slowly, so you remain full for longer. Eat salmon every other lunch. It is packed with nutrients that build muscle tone and give your skin a healthy glow. Some nutritionists claim that consuming a portion (doesn’t matter how it’s cooked) may immediately make your face look a bit more contoured.
Step 4
Shrink your portions! A portion of food on a smaller plate appears relatively large so you will end up putting less of it on. Studies have shown that changing from a 10” plate to an 8” causes people to eat on average 20% less. Try switching your plate sizes and see if it works for you. Don’t pile your plate up high and remember to eat SLOWLY. Taking time to eat your food will encourage you to enjoy each meal.
STEP 5
Make One Food Sacrifice. Cutting out one indulgence — such as the chips you have with lunch or the chocolate dessert you eat after dinner — can subtract a few hundred calories from your diet, which translates into less flab.
STEP 6
A small change can make a big difference! We have heard it countless times but little changes to your daily routine truly can make a huge difference to the way you look and feel. If you take the bus to work, get off one stop earlier than usual then walk the rest of the way. Or if you are presented with the option of taking the stairs or the escalator, go for the stairs. Same goes to eating healthy, try to use skimmed or semi skimmed milk rather than full fat, grilled food rather than fried, etc.
STEP 7
Get some Zzzz! Sleep helps your recovery ability and how your body responds to nutrients, exercise, and stress. The more sleep you get, the leaner you are. At least 1-2 hours before bed, turn off the TV, computer, and cell phone. Prepare yourself for sleep and get into the forty-wink mindset. Try to sleep at regular times. Studies have shown that an erratic sleep routine leads to weight gain.
STEP 8
You can get great results with about 3 hours of exercise per week. Make those hours count. We suggest:
1. Do cardio 30 Minutes a day for at least 5 days a week. Any workout that gets your heart rate up will burn calories. But you’ll use more calories if you pick a cardio routine that engages multiple muscles simultaneously, such as rowing or spinning. The best way to get maximum benefit from these 30 minute workouts is to do them on an empty stomach in the morning. By having no food in the system at this time, the body will automatically burn calories stored in fat reserves for energy.
2. Two days a week, do sprint intervals for about 15 minutes.
3. Do about 10 minutes of warmup each day. Ensure to spend time doing moderate movement such as walking, swimming, yoga etc.
STEP 9
Get social support! Willpower is a very limited thing so never count on it. Instead, build a support network that helps you get to your goals. Make key aspects of your healthy lifestyle convenient: Keep good foods in your house and ensure your gym location works within your lifestyle. Surround yourself with people who support your goals; take a class, join a group and build a strong social support network of fit and healthy people.
