5 Tips To Lose Weight That Might Surprise You
What if losing weight could happen without so much struggle? And what if it was possible to actually release that extra weight for the very last time?
For those of us ‘of a certain age’ – let’s say over 45, the whole weight loss thing can become a bit more daunting. Some of us have struggled with our weight for our whole lives, and now it’s getting even harder to drop a few pounds.
Others of you never had to worry about their weight, but suddenly the hormonal changes are morphing your body in ways that are distinctly not what you want.
There’s nothing more frustrating than realizing you no longer fit the same in your favorite dress or blouse!
I’m one of those that wrestled with her weight from adolescence onward. Through stringent exercise programs and a fairly healthy diet, I was usually able to maintain it at a manageable level.
But, all that changed with the advent of menopause!
As the years pass I’ve become even more acutely aware of the importance of keeping this ‘meat suit’ strong and fit—so I can continue to participate in all the physical activities that bring me joy.
The most important thing I’ve come to realize is that achieving a healthy weight—and maintaining it— requires deeper awareness along with self-care measures. These things are even more important than what you are eating or the calorie burn at the gym.
Here are some of my top tips and practices for healthy weight maintenance and fitness—at every age.
Get Enough Sleep
I alluded to this above, and it took me a long time to really grok the importance of this. I mean after all, it can sometimes seem like a choice between sleep or exercise. Yet, science has proven again and again that inadequate sleep can result in hormonal changes that cause us to actually hold onto the weight!
So, that’s another reason they call it ‘beauty sleep’. If it feels like a competition on some days and you’re tempted to skimp on sleep to fit in your exercise routine, don’t do it! Just make sure you put in a little extra walking or stair climbing on those days.
Love Up the Body You Have
This is probably the most important thing you can do to get your head in the right place for sustained weight loss and healthy weight maintenance. It’s also probably the hardest habit to cultivate—especially if you’ve spent the last several decades frowning at yourself in the mirror as you suck in your gut.
And yet, ‘hating yourself thin’ is so unpleasant it becomes impossible to sustain. This is why so many diets don’t work in the long run. Most fail to address this essential ‘inside game’ that will give you the foundation you need for easy, fun weight maintenance.
It’s unlikely you can simply switch on your love light for the body you are wanting to change. But you can start by pausing in front of the mirror and taking a moment to admire ONE body part that you do like. Maybe it’s your hair, or your smile, or even your favorite toenail polish. Start there.
Drink, Drink, Drink
No, I’m not talking about a champagne toast or hitting the bars. This is about simply hydration with humble and basic water, preferably purified. Water is my favorite beauty tonic. It assists in body cleansing and moving out anything unneeded. Plus, if you are making it a point to drink half your body weight (in fluid ounces) of water, then you just aren’t leaving as much room for less healthy beverages.
Half your body weight in water means if you weigh 150 pounds, you would drink 75 ounces of water. That’s a bit more than two quarts. My rule of thumb is at least two quarts a day. Try it for a few days and notice if any other habits and cravings change.
Cultivate a Love Affair with Veggies
Sure, you already know that eating more vegetables is part of any weight loss plan. But, I’m talking about going beyond simply choking down the veggies because they’re good for you. What if you could fall in love with veggies? What if after a single day without them, you felt full-on cravings for fresh greens?
You might already have a few favorites. If so, make it a point to buy those veggies and include them in your meals as often as possible. Doctor them up with some delicious seasonings if desired, and be sure to savor those bites and tune into how satisfying and delightful it is to enjoy this gift of plant food from the Earth.
Use EFT Tapping
This is my personal ace in the hole, and it helps me with all of the things mentioned above and more. EFT Tapping—an easy-to-learn modality that involves tapping your body on specific meridian points—has been proven to reduce stress hormones.
More importantly for this conversation, Tapping has also been proven to reduce food cravings in an incredibly short amount of time. So, if you find yourself literally unable to resist certain foods and beverages that you want to reduce or eliminate, you’ll want to give tapping a try.
EFT stands for Emotional Freedom Techniques, and when practiced regularly it will minimize emotional eating and neutralize the emotional triggers that get you popping cookie after cookie into your mouth.
If you’ve never tapped before, you can learn how to do it in this video.
