8 Simple habits to Lose Weight Without Even Trying

I’m willing to bet that you’ve heard in order to lose weight you need to eat healthily and exercise daily. It’s no secret. So why is it, that so many people struggle trying to get to a healthy weight and stay there? One obstacle is the actual working out and preparing healthy foods but there’s something else holding you back. Your daily activities and habits could be sabotaging your efforts.

Working out 45 minutes per day is not enough to negate what you are doing with the other 23.25 hours
of the day. For instance, if you sit at a desk all day, walking on a treadmill for 30 minutes will not give you the 10,000 steps you need each day to maintain cardiovascular health. Or maybe you’re eating healthy foods but neglect to drink adequate amounts of water.

There are many factors that go into losing and maintaining a healthy weight. First and foremost you need to make sure you are taking a lifestyle approach to weight loss and not using a temporary fix such as a restricted calorie diet.

​The same goes for exercise programs. Don’t expect to workout for one month, two months, or even one year to get in shape and then stop. This is about changing your habits so that you can liver a longer, healthy life even when you reach your 80’s!

8 DAILY HABITS TO GET YOU LOSING WEIGHT

We all know you need to eat right and exercise in order to lose weight, but here are a few specific habits that are easy to implement and add to your day to boost your weight loss success.

1. Increase Water Intake

Water is needed for every single function in our bodies, including fat burning. Depending on your activity level, you should be having anywhere from 8-12 cups per day.

2. Count Your Steps

Awareness is the first step to getting yourself moving. Use a tracker and be sure to get a minimum of 10,000 steps per day for better health. For weight loss, aim for 13,000 steps.

3. Reduce Meat and Dairy Products

​Animal products are loaded with saturated, artery clogging fat. They are also acidic and difficult to digest. If you are not trying to go vegan, try going 1 or 2 days per week meat and dairy free.

4. Decrease Alcohol Intake

Alcohol is a toxin which our bodies cannot use for energy; either immediate or stored energy. Therefore, it is broken down and stored as fat.

5. Get a good nights sleep

Lack of sleep can actually cause weight gain! While you are sleeping, your body is repairing and regenerating itself. Everyone's needs are different, but try for 7-9 hours of sleep each night.

6. Fill Up on Greens

No one ever gained weight from eating vegetables! Not only are they low in calories, but they are loaded with vitamins and minerals.

7. Eat Meals, Not Snacks

Snacking leads to grazing, which is one of the easiest ways to put on weight. Sit down and have a meal or at the very least, when eating on the go, balance your macros.

8. Shop After You Eat

​Never go to the grocery store when you're hungry. You're more apt to purchase items not on your list as well as make bad choices.

Once you start incorporating these practices into your daily routine, you’re going to find it a lot easier to not only lose the weight, but also maintain your new healthier, leaner body!

​Remember that everyone is different and in order to progress you need to not only know where you are starting, but where you want to go! Set concrete achievable goals and you’ll be on a solid path to reaching them.