As women age, weight gain can become more common. Many women struggle with losing pregnancy weight and continue to do so even into their 50s and 60s.
Busy and stressful lifestyles can make it difficult to maintain healthy habits that we may have practiced when we were younger. However, there’s no need to worry.
The following 13 tips can refresh your memory and help you live a healthy, slim lifestyle once again. Consistently applying these habits will help you lose weight quickly and keep your figure slim and slender for good. So, why not bring back those skinny jeans of yesteryear that once attracted all those guys?
1. Rock out during your work out
Listening to music while you workout can not only make your workout more fun, but it can also help you lose weight. People who listen to music as they work out are more likely to run longer and burn more calories.
2. Stay in the game
A slip-up doesn’t have to lead to an entire day of overeating. Flexibility it a key aspect of having a healthy relationship with food. It’s okay to have more than one dessert every now and then, just do so without judgement and be sure to get back on your routine.
3. Remember to stay happy
Instead of thinking you deserve to eat something, think that you deserve to be healthy and happy. Eating disorders can develop from disordered thoughts and feelings about not only food, but also health in general. This can impact quality of life and lead to a loss of vitality. Strive to eat flexibly for both hunger and pleasure, leaving room for foods that simply make you happy. This will help cultivate a positive relationship with food and your body.
4. Start your day right
Work out first thing in the morning, so it’s done no matter how crazy your day gets.
5. Workout to your favorite shows
If you struggle on the bike, treadmill, or elliptical, stream your favorite TV shows and watch them only when you exercise as an incentive.
6. Picture the popcorn
When that bag of caramel popcorn won’t stop calling your name, close your eyes and visualize eating 30 pieces — imagine the crunch, the salt, the stickiness. Chances are you’ll eat less than usual.
7. Dress to dine
Wear fitted clothes or a slightly tight belt when dining out. The feeling of restriction will send “stuffed” signals to your brain.
8. Order first
In a group dinner setting, be the first to order so you’re not influenced by your friends’ choices.
9. Use a small spoon for sampling
If you’re sampling food a lot, eat less for lunch or dinner. The calories from those little tastes you take while cooking can add up.
10. Treat yourself
If you must have goodies around for your family or for company, don’t make or buy your favorite kind.
11. Drink water after eating, too
Don’t just drink water before a meal to reduce your food intake. End every meal with a large, filling glass of water, too. Because it not only helps with the digestion process, and flushes out toxins you’ve just ate, it makes you feel full for longer.
12. Feed the birds
Hate to waste food? Instead of eating your children’s leftovers, save that uneaten plain pasta for the bird feeder.
13. Remember that it’s not a race
Yes, there are ways to quickly enhance your weight loss (just like how my friend described it below). But ideally, you can realistically lose about 1 to 2½ pounds a week just by following these tips. Remember to always enjoy your journey.