Ten Quick Weight Loss Tips

Are you are counting down the days to a big event? I am. I want to lose a few pounds so the pretty slip dress I chose will glide over my body, not cling to lumpy bits. Short on time, this means some quick fixes. Not jumping on a fad diet, or starting a fast; instead I am compiling a list of small changes to make. The following small steps should have me at my goal in time, or at the very least feeling and looking more relaxed. Each inexpensive tip is health-inducing so they won't hurt to try.

1. Cucumber lemonade. This refreshing summer drink, is my go-to beverage when I need to de-bloat. Inexpensive, healthy and delicious, what more can you ask for in a beverage? Place half a peeled cucumber in a blender along with two cups of water and ice. Once the cucumber and ice are all blended, add lemon juice to taste. Up the goodness by using cooled green tea instead of water. Flavored green tea, or a few pieces of fresh mint are other options.

2. Hit snooze. Study after study points to sleep as being key to losing weight. Grownups need bedtimes too. There really is something to beauty sleep. Go to bed earlier, stay in bed a little longer, or take a twenty minute nap during the day. Use a sleep mask to eliminate excess light and help you doze off faster.

3. Massage. Touch lowers stress levels and helps turn off emotional eating. While I cannot head off to a massage therapist, a daily five-minute hand massage dials down stress. Firmly knead both of your hands for a few minutes. Combine this with deep breathing and you will amp up calorie burning says UCLA doctors.

4. Autopilot meals. Limiting your choices reduces cravings in the short term. Experts at the Cleveland Clinic suggest choosing a favorite healthy meal and having it everyday at the same time. I automated my breakfast and lunch to keep extra foods out of sight and out of mind. Dinner is fairly predictable as well, but not identical day to day.

5. Get out first thing. Working from home, I can get into a bad habit of not stepping outside at all until the late afternoon. University of Texas doctors say that getting a 15-minute blast of fresh air and sun can cut overeating in half. Apparently, the morning light ups the production of serotonin. This also helps you sleep better at night.

6. Pull out photos. Double your motivation by looking at photos of yourself when you were trim and happy. Seer that image in your mind to train your brain to subconsciously make choices. If you are working on a brand new goal, images of others can also work. Knowing what you are working towards helps get you there.

7. Spice it up. Hot spices amp up the breakdown of stored fat and according to UCLA researchers the heat also boosts your metabolic rate by 25 percent for two hours. For me, spices make food more satisfying. Ginger, cayenne pepper or hot pepper sauce all work to cut the amount I eat, and encourage more water!

8. Soak in it. Adding essential oil to a bath can kick-start weight loss. Add six drops of orange essential oil, peppermint or lemongrass for a body pampering session with visible benefits. The essential oil is said to help boost liver function.

9. Time it. When cravings hit, you know that little voice in your head that whispers, "You want a cookie," followed by, "It's just one cookie, what will it really hurt?" Confession, mid afternoon is tough. Especially when faced with difficult clients, or children who need a snack. It is so easy to slip up. A simple trick proposed in Fat Flush for Life by Ann Louise Gittleman, Ph.D. makes this time less of a diet booby trap.

10. Daydream. A strange study by Carnegie Mellon University reports that people who daydreamed about a favorite treat actually ate less when the food is set before them. So instead of trying to push thoughts of chocolate ice cream or gingersnaps out of your mind, dwell on it. Fully imagine eating it. This reminds me of the scene in Peter Pan where they have an imaginary-food fight. I will add, daydreaming of your new shape, or daydreaming of how others react, is also helpful, just don't do it while you are eating cheesecake.


More by Sylvie Branch;
Green Tea Super Food Smoothie
Health Benefits of Qi-gong
Natural Ways to Repair Summer Skin Damage
Resources:
First for Women
Just Cleansing