Are you ready for another attempt at losing some extra weight? First of all, erasing poor lifestyle habits can make a big difference. But what exactly does maintaining a healthy lifestyle look like? For some people, it means eating more plant-based foods and avoiding junk altogether. As easy as it sounds, many of us struggle to live a healthier life, especially when it means no more going out to restaurants or emotional eating in the dead of night.
Luckily, there are lots of alternative methods to maintain a healthy weight without the need to pursue an intense diet plan and become way too hard on yourself. In fact, many experts suggest that if you want to keep off those infuriating pounds for good, going slowly but surely is the best possible way. Besides, what’s the point of fasting if you’ll only end up craving and binge eating right after depriving yourself of the foods you love? So, in lieu of extreme dieting or food deprivation, here are painless habits that will help you stay fit even without going on a super strict diet.
Eating a Hearty Breakfast Every Day
One of the biggest mistakes of many people trying to get slim is skipping breakfast to cut calories more quickly. Little do they know that it doesn’t really matter if you eat breakfast or skip it, as it has nothing to do with how much you burn each day. The chances are that you will likely end up eating more throughout the day, which may not be enough to compensate for the amount of food you missed in the morning. In other words, there’s no point in skipping your brekky every day!
To make sure your body is all recharged for work, have at least a bowl of whole-grain cereal with low-fat dairy (topped with some fruits if you like) for a quick fill-up. Just as you eat breakfast each day, have your kitchen locked at night so that you can avoid those tempting late-night cravings while watching television or scrolling through your phone to sleep.
Another trick is brushing your teeth right after dinner so that you’re less likely to eat anything else later in the evening.
Exploring Diet Alternatives
It might be challenging for some of us to completely say goodbye to calories. Then again, you can easily trim them off by using low-fat options and other lighter versions of food products. For instance, try using any mustard-infused spread sandwiches instead of mayonnaise. Also, choose protein-rich foods or high-volume fruits and vegetables over carbs and calories. Protein is essential for growth and metabolism, and it helps to increase the feeling of fullness and curb hunger pangs. Do the same thing with your drink. Whenever you can, go for plain or citrus water to help satisfy your thirst instead of sodas or cocktails.
Making Every Workout Fun—Not Forced
Not everyone is a fan of hitting the gym, we have to admit. If you can’t find the motivation you need in order to start your fitness regimen and stick with it, try to keep your challenges at a minimum by making every workout session a fun experience. There are three important kinds of exercises you need to lose weight. These include cardio, interval training and strength training. Look for recreational activities that will equally get your heart pumping and your muscles getting stronger. Walking, swimming and Zumba dancing are great exercises that won’t make you feel like you’re working out at all.
Exercising can seem overwhelming at first glance, but the longer you slog through your workout plan, the easier it becomes. And before you know it, you surprisingly begin to like and enjoy what you’re doing. The best part is when you learn to believe that what you gain from working out is much more meaningful and satisfying.
Obtaining More Vitamin D
Experts are now looking into the potential impact that vitamin D may have on weight management. It is a key nutrient that helps support the body’s ability to absorb calcium and phosphate—two minerals that are necessary for stronger bones, teeth and the immune system.
Vitamin D can be obtained through the food you eat. A variety of food sources for vitamin D are eggs, fish, liver, red meat and many others. On top of that, our bodies are capable of producing their own vitamin D in just a couple of minutes when the skin is exposed to sunlight. Hence, people are encouraged to get a daily dose of vitamin D by simply getting exposed to the sun.
In addition to its many health benefits, new studies suggest that vitamin D may help increase levels of serotonin—a special hormone that regulates mood and sleep. In case you are wondering how these factors can affect your weight, keep reading to the last piece of advice below.
Getting Adequate Sleep
Sleep has powerful effects on your appetite and weight management. Living in a tech-driven environment, it’s so easy to ignore a full night’s sleep to make the most of the day. However, having an inadequate amount of sleep in a sustained period of time can disturb the body’s leptin and ghrelin. These “hunger” hormones are responsible for regulating the appetite. Leptin decreases hunger when you’re full, while ghrelin stimulates craving when it’s time to eat. Any imbalances in these hormones can heavily increase your appetite, leaving you unsatiated even in a fed state.
To help you sleep better, try out adding CBD products to your bedtime routine. Whether it is oral tinctures, topicals, capsules or CBD gummies https://alphagreen.io/collections/cbd-gummies.html, products containing CBD (also known as Cannabidiol) can help to reduce anxiety and improve sleep quality as well as aid in relieving pain, which might also cause sleep issues.
The Bottom Line
Losing extra pounds does not necessarily mean going on a strict diet. There are simple lifestyle hacks that you can do to achieve your goal one step at a time. Making a few tweaks in your lifestyle is not always easy at first, but the secret to staying on the course is to make one healthy choice after another. You don’t need to rush through things only to find yourself on the verge of quitting before you even experience the fruit of your hard work. Keep in mind that what’s in store for you, if you keep trying and pursuing your goals, is not just a slimmer body but also a better life.
