Losing weight is hard, right? We try and try, we succeed sometimes, we fail more often than not, but we continue to try because we know it is best for our health. Are you starting to get that feeling that you know it is time to try again? Here are 5 Golden Rules you can start with to lose weight. This time, take it slow and just add one of the rules as soon as you “master” another one.
Golden Rule #1 (and it’s not even about food!)
Start lifting weights at least 4 times per week. Now, if that sentence conjured up an image of you with a weight lifting belt, sweat beading off your forehead, and some sort of Olympic style dead-lifting going on, start over. Instead, imaging this. You holding two cans of green beans (or regular beans, or tomatoes, or whatever you have around) and lifting them over your head for 20 repetitions, then doing 20 dumbbell curls, and 20 arm raises. Now repeat that sequence 3 times. That doesn’t sound so terrible, does it?
Just doing some minimal weight lifting will keep your metabolism in check and help you maintain your muscle mass through weight loss. It can also help with fat burning, so schedule some time each day to work through a weight lifting routine. You don’t need an expensive gym and you can use your own body weight for many of the exercises.
Golden Rule #2
Give yourself some leeway one day per week. Many people have heralded the “cheat day” as a great tool to help maintain weight loss efforts. It may seem counterintuitive to cheat, but there is actually some science behind it. These cheat days, or for those who are low-carb diets, high-carb days, can help to reset your hormones which are so important in fat storage and hunger signaling.
Listen, only a few people are going to be able to stick to a very strict diet for the rest of their lives. You have to have an option for having the things you want, and that means sometimes eating with total abandon. The limit is one day per week, and then right back to your plan. Keep doing this and you will not feel like you are missing out.
Golden Rule #3
Stop drinking your calories. Sugary sodas and fruit juices are some of the highest calorie things we consume because we drink so much of it without getting full. Trade these calories for something you want to eat instead.
If you absolutely have to drink your calories, consider switching to the shakes and juices of a company like Isagenix. These products are formulated to help you lose weight, but they still taste great like creamy shakes and sweet juices, but without the weight gain. You can shop for the full range here to find a good soda and milkshake replacement.
Are you a person who only drinks soda or juice and you don’t like the taste of water? You would be surprised how quickly your taste buds will change if you buckle down and give up soda. You will go through two weeks of near torture (not really) as you go through soda withdrawals, but it will be worth it in the end. Keep a lot of fresh fruit around, flavor your water with small amounts of juice as you wean yourself off, and try some of the new seltzer type flavored waters that mimic sodas. Flavored teas are another great option.
Choose a plan you like and incorporate these 3 Golden Rules. You will soon see you can tackle weight loss and find good results.
About Jammie Morey
I agree it is really hard to keep up with your regime. I like what you said about rule number two. I feel guilty with my cheat days but ei once a week is just but right.