1. Get enough sleep

In my opinion, this one is the most important.

I went from sleeping 5 hours every night to 8 hours, and it has definitely made me more energetic and happy. This uplift in my mood made me more determined to reach my weight loss goals.

A study published in the Annals of Internal Medicine had dieter’s sleep different sleep schedules. Those who got enough sleep lost double the amount of fat than a sleep deprived person would while being on the same diet. And those who slept less would feel hungrier and more tired. Research suggests getting 7-9 hours of sleep every night.

 

2. “Out of sight, out of mind.”

This one requires little time, which is great for any lazy person.

I wasn’t so fond of the idea of not buying my favorite snacks anymore, but found that when I was home craving junk food, I was too lazy to go to the store and buy it. So, I opted for the fruits and veggies that I did have at home.

It would be best to throw away any “bad” foods, or better yet, to not purchase them at all. But everyone’s situation is different. So, if you can’t it throw away or take it off your grocery list, then I would suggest to “hide” the junk food in cabinets or just out of sight, and healthy foods out in plain sight.

 

3. Drink a glass of water before each meal

At first, I would keep forgetting to drink the glass before every meal, but after one week I got into the habit, and it really seemed to work. I ate less. I got full faster. Before I knew it my fat started to shed off!

People ask me how much they should drink before each meal. I started off by drinking 8 ounces before each meal and then got up to 16 ounces.

 

4. Black pepper and spices are your best friend

Adding black pepper and spices, such as, paprika, garlic powder, and cayenne pepper are   great for adding to foods that are bland. This has helped me eat a wider range of vegtables, and made me look forward to my meals.

It is worth noting to be careful not to add too much sodium. I, personally, try to stay away from salt as much as possible.

 

5. Meal prepping

If you are lazy and/or don’t have time to cook every meal. Meal prepping is for you.

I pick one day out of the week (usually Sunday) to prepare all my lunches for the week.
Simply cook all of the weeks lunches and place them in plastic containers. Keep them in the fridge and reheat for lunch.

I love meal prepping becuase I don’t have to worry about eating too much or having to figure out what I am going to eat everyday.

 

6. Tea, tea, tea!

No, I do not mean sweet tea. 😦

I prepare my green tea or my red tea whenever I feel hungry inbetween meals. Tea also has so many health benefits, like preventing heart disease and reducing fat. The red tea is my absolute favorite! I can not stress it enough how much red tea has helped reduce my cravings!

 

7. Netflix and workout

If you binge watch Netflix or are totally addicted to TV then this one is for you.

During my binge-sessions of Orange is the New Black, I do my daily cardio workout. I am not only working towards my fitness goals, but I am also enjoying one of my favorite shows.

 

8. Wear cute workout clothes, ditch the sweatpants

I apologize to those who are married to their comfy pair of sweatpants.

When I started to wear my new workout outfits I felt more active and in the mood to get my workout done for the day. Versus, if I wore my comfortable pajamas all day I would feel sluggish and lazy.

 

9. Breakup with Soda

This one takes little to no energy, but may not be for everyone.

I do not reccomend going cold turkey. I suggest reducing your soda consumption little by little. For example, if you normally drink 3 sodas a day, you can reduce it to one a day, then 3 per week and so on. To me weight loss is not a temporary diet, but a change in lifestyle.

10. Surround yourself with people who share your same goal.

Finding people in person who share your same goal can be amazing. Helping one another and talking about your experiences can be super helpful.

My best friend and I decided to go on a weight loss journey together, and it was great to have someone to complain to and workout with.

But when she wasn’t available, I relied on social media. I followed workout pages and people who inspired me to continue.