Achieving your Goal Weight: 10 Simple Steps

Weight loss can be a daunting task, especially when the numbers on the scale are much higher than you know they should be. It’s important to eat a healthy, calorie-reduced diet while engaging in aerobic and strength training activity that promotes weight loss. But there are also simple techniques you can employ to boost your weight loss without breaking a sweat. Include some of these 10 simple tips in your exercise and healthy eating plan to work toward achieving your goal weight.

1. Ditch the Sugary Drinks

Regular soda, sugar-laden coffee beverages and or a glass of fruit juice everyday can lead to a gain of ½ pound per week. Substitute herbal tea or sugar-free soda to lose ½ pound per week instead.

2. Leave the Car in the Garage

Walk or ride your bicycle to nearby errands to boost your daily calorie burn. This allows you to multi-task, and gets your errands and exercise done at the same time.

3. Keep Hydrated

Dehydration causes your metabolism to slow down, making it hard to lose weight. Drink eight to 10 glasses of water or herbal tea daily to feel fuller and remain hydrated.

4. Activity Bursts

Jog from one fire hydrant to the next during your daily walk to rev up your calorie burn and fat loss. Even a faster pace while going up the stairs can help.

5. Take the Stairs

Every time you walk a flight of stairs you burn 10 calories. Take the stairs instead of the elevator and, if you walk five flights daily, you’ll lose five pounds in a year without doing anything else.

6. Get Active with the Kids

You and the children will benefit by getting outside and playing. Engage in sports, ride bikes together or run around the park for an hour to get your cardio exercise for the day.

7. Eat Soup or Veggies First

Broth-based soups and steamed, seasoned vegetables will fill you up and prevent overeating at mealtime. Start each meal with a bowl of soup or veggies to reduce calorie intake without feeling hungry.

8. Stand Instead of Sitting

Standing burns 50 calories more per hour than sitting. Whether at work or home, stand while doing tasks as much as possible to burn more calories.

9. Eat Breakfast

Skipping breakfast is not a good way to cut back on calories because it causes your metabolism to slow down and leads to overeating. Enjoy oatmeal or plain yogurt topped with nuts and fresh fruit to start your day right.

10. Close the Kitchen

Stop eating three hours before your bedtime. Late-night snacking leads to weight gain and your body had no chance to burn off the calories while you sleep. When the kitchen is closed, enjoy herbal tea so you don’t feel deprived while breaking the before-bed noshing habit.

The small lifestyle changes you make will work in conjunction with your weight loss plan to help you see results painlessly. Once you achieve your weight goal, continue these simple tricks to maintain your new weight. Those who have maintained weight loss for the long-run know that small lifestyle changes such as these are what make weight loss and maintenance achievable.