If you’re looking for some inspiration to lose weight, why not check out some great tips from real women who’ve successfully lost weight? If they can do it, so can you! These tips can work for anyone no matter how much weight you need to lose!
1) Keep a food journal: This can really help with accountability and being prepared for the parts of the day when your cravings are strongest.
2) Start an Online Weight Loss Blog: This is one of the best tools for accountability. You will find that you are not alone in your weight loss efforts and will find some really great support.
3) Brush your teeth after every meal. Make a pact with yourself to brush your teeth as soon as you are full and finished eating. This will take the taste of food out of your mouth and keep you from going back for a third of a second.
4) Chew gum. Chewing sugarless gum may make you hungrier, but it can help after a meal in the same way that brushing your teeth removes food tastes from your mouth.
5) Stay hydrated. This is one of the more popular weight loss tips, but staying hydrated can prevent dehydration which can sometimes be linked to hunger.
6) Eat protein. Protein-rich food is one of the best ways to stay full for longer and satisfy your cravings. Meals that are based entirely on sugar or simple carbs will give you more cravings and less energy to get you through your day.
7) Be prepared. Set aside some time once a week to plan meals for the coming week. Take some time each night to prepare meals for the next day. Take a look at your schedule and come up with solutions for lunch and dinner ahead of time, this will give you a game plan to follow.
8) Stop dieting. I know this may sound confusing, but how many times have you started a diet program on Monday morning only to stuff your face with cupcakes by 3 p.m.? When we start putting limits on food items, it makes us want more of them. Don’t restrict what you’re eating as much as how much you’re eating.
9) Self-talk. Many times we eat food due to boredom, depression or stress. Be prepared for these things to happen and find ways to beat mindless eating. If you find yourself heading to the pantry or refrigerator when you’re not hungry, consider placing little notes in those areas to let yourself know that “this too shall pass.”
10) Keep lists. Make a list of all the things you can do instead of mindless eating. Instead of pulling out a bag of chips and camping out in front of the TV, make a list of 20-50 things you could be doing instead.
11) Visualize. Imagine how you will feel when you have accomplished your weight loss goal. Write down how great you would feel and start feeling that way now. Pretend that your goal is just around the corner.
12) Sow the seeds. Remind yourself that whatever you want to accomplish a month from now, you will have to work at it every day. If you keep waiting for tomorrow to make changes, that day will never come.
13) Awards. Make a pact with your spouse or a close friend to hold you accountable for as long as you really want until you reach your goal.
14) Sweets. Eating sweets occasionally will keep you from overeating out of frustration. Find ways to make your favorite desserts in one portion or promise yourself one really good dessert a week.
15) Go ahead. Going to the gym may seem daunting, but thinking of ways to burn calories while doing something you love may be the best way to lose weight. Dance to your favorite songs in your living room, join a kickboxing class or pick up a sport you’ve never tried.
16) Be friendly. Find a friend to hold you accountable. It’s best to find a responsible friend who will encourage success rather than enjoy being “bad” together. Choose your fitness partner wisely.
17) Eat less. It’s a no brainer, but next time you’re at a restaurant and want to order your favorite entree, go ahead. However, eat a salad before your meal arrives and then look at your plate for a minute or two before starting to eat. Start portioning out your food and put the rest to the side. Ask for the box to go for the rest of your meal, or simply cover the rest with your napkin to signal to your brain that you’re finished eating. Drink plenty of water while eating.
18) Stay in the no-fail zone. If you love to bake desserts, consider keeping sugar and ingredients out of the house or stashing away for special occasion baking. Keep your home clear of trigger foods.
19) Weigh-in. Weighing in frequently can really spin us out of control. Weight gain as well as weight loss can lead us to depend on our favorite comfort foods. Keep the scale hidden and limit weigh-ins to once a week or once every two weeks.
20) Believe in yourself. Even if your weight has come back, or has kept you from reaching your goals countless times in the past, know that what happens next is completely up to you and in your control. You Can Lose Weight!
