5 Steps To Jump Start Weight Loss
2019 will be here before we know it and wanting to end this year and start off the new year on an all around high, I’ve decided to really get back on my fit lifestyle. There’s no better way to jump start my weight loss than with what I’m putting in to my body; and why not share and try to get you to join me as well! It’s so much easier to add to our diet as opposed to eliminating certain foods, so here are 5 easy steps to jump start weight loss by adding a few goodies to your daily intake.
NEVER SKIP BREAKFAST
To you, I won’t say any names, who tends to skip breakfast. Don’t! Breakfast is, hands down, the most important meal of the day. The average person goes a minimum of 8 hours from the time they last ate to the time they wake up and you want to add an extra 4-5 hours before eating and truly expect your body to function at its best? Not happening!
If you don’t have the time or you’re just not a big morning eater, opt for something easy and have a protein shake or a fruit and cheese stick.
If, on the contrary, you’re the type of person who loves breakfast but tries to lighten breakfast when your waist is looking a little thicker than you’d like, change your outlook. Instead of aiming for less calories, opt for higher protein and fiber intake. Whole wheat toast, egg whites and avocado is a perfect breakfast option full of fiber, protein and healthy fats.
STAY HYDRATED
Another must is water. Lots of it. Our bodies need water for many reasons but in our weight loss journey it helps keep our energy levels up and undergo regular digestion. Aim to drink a minimum of 8 glasses of water a day including a full glass at least 15 minutes before each meal to help curb hunger and reach a level of satisfaction sooner, as Katie Serbinski founder of Mom to Mom Nutrition, LLC explains.
PILE ON THE PROTEIN
Add more protein to your diet. So many people just focus on reducing calories as much as they can but the actual trick is adding more protein. Chicken, tuna, steak, eggs, protein shakes, greek yogurt and cheese sticks are just a few options. Your protein intake varies on your fitness goals but since we’re talking about easy steps to jump start your weight loss, I won’t go into crazy details. Just make sure to consume protein with each meal, aiming to have protein be at least half of your intake. An example lunch would be half your plate filled with grilled chicken, 1/4 broccoli and/or avocado, and the other 1/4 brown rice or sweet potato.
MORE SNACKS!
You read that right. One of the biggest diet misconceptions is that eating less is the way to go. Of course if you drastically decrease your calorie intake you will lose weight but not the healthy way and certainly not long term. As soon as you go back to eating at your normal rate, which you will do, you will pack the pounds right back on and say hello to a few extra unsolicited pounds.
Instead of eating less, aim to space out your intake. You shouldn’t go more than 3 hours without eating and before you freak out and think that it sounds like too much, it’s not. A typical day breakdown would look like: breakfast, snack, lunch, snack, dinner (and you can add a light snack before bed depending on how early dinner was).
Snacks can be as easy as a fruit and cheese stick, protein bar, protein shake, air popped high fiber popcorn, greek yogurt, or apple and natural peanut butter.
SIP YOUR GREEN TEA
Green tea, loaded with benefits, is undoubtedly one of the most famous superfoods out there.
If you look at most fat burning supplements, green tea extract will be listed. Not surprising since, in conjunction with a balanced diet, green tea has been shown to boost the metabolic rate and increase fat burning. If you don’t enjoy drinking green tea though, no biggie. Replace the tea with a daily green tea supplement.
However, if you really want to take full advantage of the green tea power, stick to matcha green tea which is considered the best option for weight loss.
There you go. Five easy steps to jump start your weight loss journey. What are your fitness goals? Aiming to just lose a few pounds? Tone up and add muscle? Or is your main goal to lead a healthier lifestyle?
