Really! These five things can help you lose weight, without diet or exercise! Sounds too good to be true? Just try them and watch what happens.
- Quality Sleep – This is probably the hardest one for me. Everyone knows that most people need around 7-8 hours of good, quality sleep, each and every night. But, did you know that your sleep cycles are different, depending on what time you go to bed? And, the amount of sleep you need changes as you age. (1.)
If you are well rested, you are more likely to make better choices throughout the day, including getting your exercise and making better food choices.
- Stress less – Most of us have hectic lives that don’t allow for much downtime. Stress can give you headaches, stomach problems, high blood pressure, decreased immune function and can lead to an increase in weight, especially belly fat. (2.)
Figuring out a way to de-stress each day is important. Meditation is a great way to let go of your stress. (3.) Not only does it help immediately, the effects stay with you. Other ways to relieve stress include going outside to play or going for a walk. Write in a journal. Talk with a friend. Sing loudly in the car. Dance like no one is watching.
Just be sure to find what works for you and do it.
- Drink enough water – Your body is made of up to 60% water! It’s no secret that most people don’t drink enough water. In fact, it’s generally thought that up to 75% of Americans are dehydrated. Dehydration can cause all sorts of problems, including headaches, constipation, food cravings and a bloated stomach, just to name a few. Dehydration can mask itself as hunger, so if you feel like you’re hungry, try drinking a big glass of water to see if it was really just thirst.
Bonus – Drink a glass of water before each meal and you’ll end up eating less.
- Sit less, move more – It’s no secret that sitting on your butt all day isn’t good for anyone. Some research is comparing sitting all day with smoking cigarettes. It’s the little movements throughout the day that can make the difference between a few pounds. If your job requires that you stay at your desk all day, make sure to take regular breaks to walk around or stretch, a little. My UP by Jawbone movement tracker vibrates every 30 minutes to remind me to get up and move.
- Stop eating, early – The later at night you eat, the less your body is able use the calories efficiently. A good rule of thumb is to make sure you don’t eat within two hours of your bedtime, so if you normally go to bed at 10:00 PM, stop eating by 8:00 PM. Your body will be able to digest your food better.
You can take it one step further and look into intermittent fasting.
(1.) http://time.com/3183183/you-asked-whats-the-ideal-time-to-go-to-sleep/
(2.) https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/the-mindful-self-express/201308/why-we-gain-weight-when-we-re-stressed-and-how-not
(3.) http://www.mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/meditation/in-depth/meditation/art-20045858