Top 5 Simple Weight Loss Tips

Top 5 Simple Weight Loss Tips

Welcome to the first addition of Weight Loss Wednesday. I'm a simple gal, I think that things should be kept simple in life and weight loss is no exception. Here are some of my favorite weight loss tips that really do work if you consistently do them AND they are easier than you think.

Enjoy!
1. Have a plan- 

ok, so I know I'm a planner by nature and not everyone is, but it is really important to have a plan. I learned much about planning for success while I was a weight watcher and I promise that a good plan will get you closer to your weight loss goals. Waking up in the morning and just saying you're going to do better typically doesn't end in better choices unless you know what those choices should be.

The first thing you should know is how many calories you need in a day to maintain the weight you have now. Here is a great link for a BMR calculator for you to get that info.
Once you know your BMR you can calculate your daily caloric needs. Once you do that all you have to do is subtract 500 from that number and you have your daily calorie intake to lose 1lb per week.

Once you know your calories there are lots of great options for calorie counting. You can do it by hand with old fashion pen and paper or you can get tech savvy and use something like MYFITNESPAL

But whether your ready for strict calorie counting or just making small changes. Having a plan is key. Write it down, put it where you can see it, and remind yourself of your plan often.
It seems difficult, but it's not so bad once it becomes a habit. :) TRUST ME.

2. DRINK MORE WATER

You've heard it before, you'll hear it again. Water is the most important thing your body needs. After all our bodies are mostly water. Drinking half your body weight in ounces of water per day flushes the body of toxins and assists in weight loss.
Water is also a great way to decide if your body is really needing food. Often times dehydration makes you feel hungry so you end up eating when what you really need is a big glass of aqua. So drink up and wait for a few minutes to determine if you're really hungry.
Weight/2= oz of water per day

3. Use a Salad Plate

Ok, so we've all been told that portion size is important and it's true. Sometimes WHAT we are eating is not so bad but it boils down to us just eating too much. When it comes to weight loss, too much of even a good thing can set you back.
Grab a pretty salad plate instead of the mega-sized dinner plate to control portion size.
I admit when I first started doing this I felt like I was going to starve. When your stomach is used to ginormous portions, giving it only what it needs to be 'satisfied' feels weird.
If after one full salad sized plate of dinner you still feel hungry, drink a full glass of water and then wait a few minutes. Most likely you wont still be hungry after that. It may take some time for your stomach to adjust to smaller portions but remember why you're doing it. Health and reaching your goals. So do like momma always said and clean that lil salad plate. :)
4. MOVE MORE

So you don't like exercise? You don't have time? I know I know, we all are busy. But you don't have to join a gym to get in more movement throughout the day. 

Look for opportunities to get off the couch, take the kids for a walk. Walk to pick up the kids from school, go for a bike ride. Dance around the living room to your favorite tunes. There are endless options. If I can't make it to the gym in the morning my favorite thing to do is take a 45-60 minute walk after the kids have gone to bed. It's a great way to clear my head and listen to inspiring or fun music and just be alone with my thoughts while burning extra calories.

Get movin, your body will thank you, after the soreness subsides of course. :)

5. Be good to yourself

If there is one thing I've learned throughout all my weight loss journey is that you make better choices when you're feeling good about you. Let's face it when you feel overweight and blah you're often not in the "I love my body" zone and the frustration can cause you to be emotional with your choices.

Instead of wallowing in what you wish were true.

Get yourself some clothes you feel good in. Don't worry that you're hoping to not wear that size for long. When you feel confident in your clothes, it strengthens your self esteem and resolve to persevere through the difficulties of weight loss.

You're worth it. 

Treat yourself with non food rewards, like a new nail polish, or a new shirt. Take a long hot bubble bath or buy new jewelry. If you feel good about you, you are more likely to succeed in meeting your goals.

Well there ya have it folks. My top 5 SIMPLE weight loss tips. They really are simple and you're probably thinking that they wont help, but I know from experience that making small changes to your daily routine can reap big rewards on the scale and your overall health.

Thanks for hanging with me for WEIGHT LOSS WEDNESDAY.

Comment below and share YOUR simple weight loss tips.