Pick a few tips for healthy weight loss that lasts a lifetime from the list below, stick to ’em like it’s your job, and prepare to stay in your skinny jeans for life. And for some extra motivation, why not check out these 5 Underrated tips for healthy weight loss that lasts a lifetime?
1. Walk When you Can
To ensure you fit in those 30-60 minutes of steps, rethink your commute. Consider walking or riding a bike to the store or work instead of hopping in a car or taking the bus. Park your car further away from the entrance if you drive. If you have a choice between using an elevator and using the stairs, use common sense and take the stairs.
However you decide to do it, the more steps you take, the better. The majority of people (52 percent) who have lost weight and kept it off report walking for an hour a day. On a whole food plant-based diet the weight melts away and is easier to keep off, even without exercise – though you still have to keep that blood flowing to remove toxins and keep your cells healthy and happy. So, fit in those steps wherever you can!
2. Meal Prep
Map out or plan your meals. People have a much better chance of having a slim waistline if they plan ahead, says Mark Langowski, celebrity trainer. “Before I go to bed, I look at my schedule for the next day. I plan what I am going to eat and where I will eat it. If you let the day begin without planning, it will be 3 p.m. before you know it. You’ll wind up making unhealthy meals or snacking on too much of a bad thing in the process”.
3. Store Healthy Meals in the Freezer
Identify three meals you can prepare with pantry staples and start cooking.
Store the meals in your freezer so you always have something healthy on hand when hunger strikes. For example, my go-to meals include my daily dozen spaghetti sauce or chili – both contain plenty of nutrients. Other nutrient-rich favorites are hearty vegetable stews or lentil soup with whole grains.
Grains like brown rice, quinoa, or farro can be made weekly and kept in the refrigerator. They can be combined with any leftover vegetables and a drizzle of lime or lemon juice, soy sauce or tamari.
4. Eat Breakfast Daily
Get this: 78 percent of National Weight Control Registry members—who have lost an average of 66 lbs and kept it off for 5.5 years—regularly eat breakfast, according to obesity studies.
Starting the day with something healthy and wholesome helps set a happy tone for the rest of the day. You can stabilize your metabolism by not starving your body. When you skip meals, your body stores extra calories and fat and slows body processes. It is a natural protective measure our bodies are designed with for survival.
5. Be Consistent
People who remain lean, stick to their healthy habits. The most successful people are the ones who are consistent throughout the year. They don’t let anything get in the way of getting up and out and moving! It’s like putting on your pants or brushing your teeth and is something that you wouldn’t think of not doing. Walking, gardening, biking, and swimming are excellent ways to get exercise.