Swim Suit Season is here! Do you wish you had a better body?

Swim Suit Season is here! Do you wish you had a better body?

Swim suit season is here again and you really wish you had a better body… So you looked in the mirror and honestly admitted that you have extra weight. Don’t get discouraged, it’s time to start right now this moment. It’s not as hard as you think, if you are consistent and follow some simple guidelines.

There are four main reasons for being overweight.

1.       Not enough physical activity

2.       An unhealthy diet

3.       Stress and lack of sleep

4.       Health problems

Let’s look at each reason and see how you can “become a better you”

Not Enough Physical Activity

1.       Start slow – take baby steps.

-          You don’t have to join a gym, find some activities you like – swimming, stretching, yoga, jogging, gardening, cleaning the house, playing outside with kids, etc and stick with it. If you work at the office and have to go between different floors, take the stairs every time you have to go.

-          A 10 minutes walk every day adds up to over 60 minutes a week.

An Unhealthy Diet

-          Start a food diary – write everything you are eating during the day

-          Do not skip breakfast. Try to have some protein and grains. If you are in a hurry, just get a piece of whole grain toast and some fruit. Eggs, oatmeal, cottage cheese and yogurt are some other good choices.

-          Drink plenty of water. Sometimes if you think you are hungry, you are really just thirsty. Always drink a glass of water before your meal.

-          Fruit and Veggies! Eat as much as you can. Frozen veggies are fast and easy for cooking. Just stir fry them with olive oil or add them to any food you cook.

-          Don’t restrict yourself from certain food.  If you really want a donut, cake or chocolate do it the “French way” – first look at your “forbidden food” and ask yourself if you really want it. Then take a really small bite and savor it, let yourself to enjoy a few small bites and stop. Or another way to avoid “forbidden food” is to save it for later. Maybe later you will not feel like eating it.

-          Snack in between main meals. But do it the smart way – eat fruit or small amounts of nuts, pretzels or yogurt, mini carrots, etc.

-          Watch your portions. Try to use smaller plates.  

-          Skip soft drinks. They are not good for your weight, skin, teeth and overall health. It is empty calories which you do not need. Do not be tricked by sugar free drinks, numerous research shows that sugar free food actually triggers your appetite and is not good for your brain.

-          Take calcium supplements and consume various milk products (milk, yogurt, cottage cheese, butter milk, etc). There are several studies confirming that calcium can help to maintain a healthy weight and actually can help you lose weight.

-          Little tricks. Chew gum instead of munching on real food if you have “this feeling” that you need to eat something while you just had a meal. Drink a cup of tea or coffee in the afternoon instead of extra snacking. Try to use as little sugar as possible in your coffee and tea and go with real sugar, not splenda or other sugar substitutes.

Stress and lack of sleep

Numerous researches confirmed that stress and lack of sleep can lead to overeating.

Health Problems

Some health conditions can make it harder to lose extra weight due to slow metabolism. If you have a healthy diet and you are exercising for months but your weight is not improving – you might need to see a doctor and run blood tests to see if you have a hormonal inbalance or thyroid problems. 

Acupuncture can help with weight loss and overall stress and anxiety.

In conclusion, remember that each step counts. Try to do baby steps each day and you will be surprised how these steps add up to a healthy and beautiful you!