I recently spoke to my close friend who successfully lost 26 pounds while managing her busy and enjoyable lifestyle. She shared with me the habits that helped her achieve her weight loss goal.
By adding these simple changes to her daily routine consistently for 5 months, she was able to succeed in losing her excess weight. I am confident that you can achieve your weight loss goals too by following these habits.
1. Crush the craving
Cravings take about 20 minutes to pass. If you can distract yourself for that long with exercise or chewing gum, you can kick it to the curb.
2. Chose dark chocolate
If you’re dying for something sweet, opt for a bite of dark chocolate. Dark chocolate has been found in some cases to help lower blood pressure, improve blood flow, and prevent heart disease.
3. Indulge in healthy cravings
Eat what you’re craving in its healthiest form. For instance, go for a baked potato instead of fries, which are typically fried in fat.
4. Do HIIT to burn fat
Although my friend did it only once a week. But if you have more time and more energy, one of the best ways to increase your metabolism is to do high intensity interval training (HIIT). A study looked at a 12 week intervention of HIIT exercise on overweight men. At the end of the intervention they lost an average of 4.4 pounds and had 14% reduced belly than prior to HIIT.
5. Keep it clean
Brush your teeth or rinse with mouthwash when you have a craving. When you have a fresh, clean mouth, you don’t want to mess it up, just like after you brush your teeth before bed, you don’t feeling like eating anymore because we’re just too lazy to brush them again.
6. Make it a routine
Being consistent with your routine is key when you’re trying to lose weight and keep it off. A study published by Harvard University found that slowly shedding pounds each week is more beneficial for long-term weight loss than losing weight drastically.
7. Get good workout shoes
They make such a big difference in you wanting to move more. The more comfortable we are doing an activity, the more we’ll do it. So, be sure to wear supportive running sneakers or walking shoes to get the most out of your workout and stay comfortable.
8. Exercise in groups
Not only is exercising in groups more fun, but it can also help you lose weight. Overweight people tend to lose more weight if they’re surrounded by their fit friends, or sometimes even your overweight friends – misery loves company!
9. Reward yourself
Set small goals and as you reach each one, reward yourself with things that you love, like a new book, a spa treatment, or a trip to your favorite restaurant. But remember, don’t overeat – you’ll kill away all the progress you’ve made so far.
10. Track your progress
Tracking your progress helps you stay committed to your plan, keeps you efficient with your workouts, and makes it more likely for you to reach your goals.