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Painless Ways to Lose Weight

06 Apr, 2010 Optifast Weight Loss, Weight Loss Tips , , , , , ,

 belly-2473_640Is losing weight hard? It can be. But working these five simple tips into your life can make weight loss programs easier.

Five Tips for Easy Weight Loss

  1. Share. Specifically, share your meals, especially when dining out. Practicing portion control is one of the easiest ways to cut back on your calories, but restaurants are notorious for their oversized servings. When you’re dining out, split a meal with someone else. Don’t order dessert or an appetizer unless you can share. If no one at the table wants half of what you’re having, ask for a to-go container at the start of your meal and put half of it away for later.
  2. Add foods to your diet. Instead of thinking about all of the foods you should be giving up, focus on adding new, healthy foods that you enjoy to your diet. Experiment with fruits and vegetables, and when you find something you love, find creative ways to add it to meals.
  3. Walk, walk, and walk. Walking is an easy and effective form of exercise, and it doesn’t require any money or special equipment. Ideally, you should try to walk at least 30 minutes a day. If you can’t find 30 minutes all at once, walk for 10 minutes before work, 10 minutes at lunch, and 10 minutes after dinner. You can also add walking into your daily life-park farther away from the door, take the stairs instead of the elevator, or consider getting off the bus a few stops early.
  4. Make TV time tone-up time. As part of its Go Red for Women campaign, the American Heart Association (AHA) recommends toning up while you tune into your favorite TV shows. You might dance or walk in place while you’re watching TV, or do curls with small free weights. Don’t have free weights? Try lifting canned foods or bottles of soda.
  5. Use smaller dishes. Experts agree that a big part of portion control is psychological. Eating a little bit of food off of a large plate can leave you feeling like you need more, but eating the same amount of food on a small dinner plate gives you the visual cue that you’ve already had plenty. Don’t stop with plates. Using smaller bowls and cups can have the same effect, and using smaller spoons can make you eat more slowly, which is also conducive to weight loss.