EXERCISE is one of the most effective ways to lose that unwanted weight. But there are people who hate exercise. They dread going to the gym and get intimated by those gym buffs who effortlessly carry barbells and do two-minute planks (planks are the worst!). There are also those who hate sweating, those whose feet get immediately tired when they wear running shoes, and those who’d rather spend time sleeping than run the distance.
Exercise is really beneficial. But for people who hate it, we have gathered tricks to help you lose weight without circuit training, running, weightlifting, and martial arts, among others.
- Cook your own food
While fastfood restaurants and convenience stores are the go-to eating place for the busy ones, their meals are obviously not healthy. Most are processed and are swimming in MSG. For you to lose weight, you have to eat healthy and the best way to do this is to is to hit the kitchen and make your own food.
An article from medicalnewstoday.com cited that cooking skills is an effective way “to lose weight without reducing food intake.”
“People who have more knowledge about how to cook different foods are more likely to eat a wide variety of highly nutritious ingredients, including fruit and vegetables, which are great for weight loss,” the article said.
You can start improving your cooking skills by watching videos on how to do certain recipes (this is why Youtube exists). Buy the ingredients at the local market to save money since goods at the supermarket are expensive. Make your own breakfast, lunch and dinner. You will not only lose weight, you can also use your cooking skills for future endeavors – like making your own food delivery business.
- Drink a lot of water
Drinking a lot of water helps you lose weight. Studies have proved that drinking water before a meal makes you lose your appetite thus, leading you to eat less.
In fact, a study conducted by Virgina Tech researchers found out that people who drank two cups of water before a meal ate 75 to 90 fewer calories.
- No to sugary drinks
If you want to lose weight, you have to eliminate sugary drinks in your daily life. This includes soda, fruit juices, energy drinks, instant 3-in-1 coffee and sweetened water, among others. Sugary drinks contain more calories and can increase the risk of diabetes.
In a study published on the International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity in 2015, researchers discovered that “regular consumption of sugary beverages results in higher body fat in children.”
There are healthy options of course. You can try putting lemons, cucumber and ginger to your water. Skip the sugar. It’s hard. But you want to lose those pounds, right?
- Avoid stress
Stress has a lot of negative impacts on a person’s health and well-being. One of these is weight gain. When we are experiencing too much stress, we tend to overeat and “treat” ourselves to some sugar and delicious restaurant food. Since our “stress hormone” or cortisol is at its peak when we are under too much pressure, our body does what it thinks is what we really need during such situation – eating. This leads us to just eat our comfort food which in most cases is something from the fastfood places.
- Eat more protein and fiber
Protein and fiber are essential in losing weight. Protein improves your metabolism while fiber reduces your appetite. Protein-rich food are whole eggs, leafy vegetables, chicken breast and beans, among others. For fiber-rich food, you can eat fruits, oats and beans and legumes.
- Go for healthier snacks
Snacks are critical if you want to lose weight. You may be eating a healthy meal during breakfast but you’re gobbling down a Big Mac and large Coke during snack time. It should always be healthy and you have a lot of options out there. You can eat fruits, vegetable salads, yogurt or unsalted nuts. You can also make your own healthy smoothie./PN
