I know the title of this post may sound gimmicky, but the start of May is actually a much better time of year to make a weight-loss resolution than January. When the sun is shining, you’re more likely to feel energized and motivated to get out and move. The impending bathing suit season is a much more tangible goal when you’re not bundled up in sweaters and jackets.
Memorial Day is May 30th. You have 31 days! Here are some tips to help you drop some weight.
1) Spring-Clean Your Cabinets
You know what foods are your worst temptations. Is is chocolate, cookies or chips? Regardless, get it out! You’ll be less likely to eat high-calorie foods if you don’t have them on hand. Consider donating unopened packages to your local soup kitchen.
2) Don’t Drink Your Calories
Cut out sodas and sugary juices, sweetened ice tea and sugary lemonade. They don’t fill you up, but are laden with calories. Plus, some research suggests that sugary drinks are metabolized differently than other sources of carbohydrate, and that the body is more likely to covert these calories into fat.
3) Strive for Five
Have you eaten your five servings of vegetables today? It can be a challenge, but eating all your vegetables each day will not only help you feel full, but it’s also important for your health. Try to eat some veggies earlier in the day, with lunch or for a snack, so you’re not daunted by the prospect of cramming them all in at dinner.
4) Have Fun in the Sun
It’s spring out there! Go for a walk, run or bike ride out in the nice weather. If you normally hit the gym, try spicing things up by taking your workout outside. Jump rope or do jumping jacks in the driveway. Do sit ups on the lawn. Whatever it takes! Ideally, you should exercise at least 30 minutes per day, five days per week. For weight loss, you may want to kick up a couple of those days to an hour.
5) Eat Some Protein with Each Meal
Try to get some lean protein with each meal of the day. This will leave you less hungry for unhealthy foods, and help keep your energy up. For example, you could egg whites with breakfast, chicken breast for lunch and fish with dinner. Turkey is also a very underrated lean meat outside of Thanksgiving, consider giving turkey burgers a try. Low-fat dairy products are also a great source of protein.
6) Don’t Beat Yourself Up for Not Being Perfect
Don’t let a few cookies or a cocktail too many let you give up on your weight loss plan altogether. You will still lose weight if you only sick to your diet 80 percent of the time, although perhaps a little less rapidly.
Remember, the amount of weight that’s healthy for you to lose over the course of a month will depend on a number of factors. If you’re only 10 pounds away from your goal weight, it may take more than a month. If you have much more to lose, it may take less time to drop 10 pounds. It’s usually considered healthy to lose about one to two pounds per week, but you may find that you lose more weight in the first week or two.
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