Now that the new year has started, I’m sure you have made a resolution to shed your pregnancy weight. Here are some tips to help you with your goals:
Choose the right Diet: Finding the diet that works for is a lot like dating, you may have to try out a few before you find one that works. Visit WebMD.com and do some research.
What are Your Goals: How much weight do you want to lose, do you have a specific date like a wedding or reunion you want to be in shape for? Short term goals may require you to push yourself, but make sure you leave yourself enough time to reach them.
Set Smaller Intermediate Goals: Don’t set out with the goal of losing 60 pounds in year. Instead try to lose 5 pounds each month. Lots of smaller goals will give you milestone success points to measure your progress.
Skip Late Night Snacks: eating a late night snack can wreak havoc on a diet. Your body uses less energy when it’s sleeping so eating within 2-3 hours of when you go to bed is something you should avoid at all costs.
Stay Hydrated: Staying properly hydrated is one of the key ways you can feel energetic during the day. Eight glasses of water is no longer a good rule, instead divide your weight in half for the number of ounces you should drink per day.
Sports Drinks: Sports drinks were made for athletes to replenish electrolytes lost through sweat . However they are loaded with carbohydrates and not good for helping you lose weight understanding sports and energy drinks
Read the Labels: Learn how to read a food label compare brands and select the ones with the lowest amount of sodium, sugar, carbohydrates and preservatives.
Eat Your Fruits and Vegetables: Did you know the food pyramid was revised recently. It recommends eating 9 fruits and vegetables each day.
Fresh or Frozen: Fresh fruits and vegetables are going to give you the most nutritional value. To keep them from going bad before you can eat them store them where you will see them and be reminded they are there. Frozen is the next best option, it will keep longer and lose a small amount of its nutritional value.
Eat Small more Frequent Meals: Did you know it takes about 20 minutes for your stomach to tell your brain it’s full. Recent studies have shown that reducing your caloric intake can lead to a longer lifespan. By eating smaller more frequent meals you are less likely to overeat.
Portion Sizes: Learn to control and manage your portion sizes just because you can get the super big gulp for 25 cents more or super size your meal for an extra 50 cents doesn’t mean it’s good for you. In fact the only thing that you will be super sizing is your waistline.
Use a Smaller Plate: Use a luncheon sized plate instead of a dinner plate. Your plate will look smaller with less food and you will be inclined to eat less.
Never Eat out of the Bag: Never eat right out of the bag or jar. Put your food on a plate so you can properly gauge how much you are eating.
Eat Lots of Soup: Soups are very filling and satisfying, just be sure to check the label and make sure they aren’t loaded with sodium, sugar or other preservatives.
Don’t Skip Meals: While skipping a meal may sound like a good idea you’ll actually be hungrier in a few hours and much more likely to overeat. Instead keep healthy snacks like a bag of carrots or granola bar available.
Vitamins: Find a good Multivitamin and take it daily. Vitamins help the body work properly
and help you get the most value out of the foods you are eating.
Get Enough Sleep: Many studies have shown a direct correlation between getting enough sleep and losing weight try to get between 6 and 8 hours of sleep every night. In addition try to wake up and go to sleep at the same time every day, even the weekends. It helps your body maintain natural circadian rhymes.
