There are those among us who wish to lose a few pounds rather than 20 or more pounds. While many of us would be grateful if that were the case for us, most will find that the smaller the amount of weight needed to lose the more difficult it seems to remove. The good news is that those with little weight to lose generally do not face the painful issues with exercise and physical activity that plague those with far more weight to lose.
There are some great products on the market that will assist those with relatively little weight to lose enjoy the weight loss process without feeling deprived. The new market of 100-calorie snacks is an excellent tool for just this situation. You can get the treats you need to get you through the day without exactly packing on the pounds in the process. You can count calories to no end but if you have only a few pounds to reach your goal weight and aren't delighted with your tight and tone new body, then perhaps it's best to work on tightening and toning rather than more dieting.
The thing that far too many people forget along the way is that dieting can only get you so far when it comes to results. There will come a time when weight training and cardio exercises of some sort are the only thing that is going to get you to the body you so rightly desire. Dieting is good for dropping the pounds, but dieting alone is unlikely to bring you the body of your dreams. You should also keep in mind that exercising and ramping up your fitness routine is a great way to renew your dedication to the process and your enthusiasm. This is particularly true if you have found a fitness routine that is appealing to you.
The fitness routines of today are not the tired old aerobics workout of the 1980's. You have many options ranging from kick boxing, Tae Bo, Yoga, Pilates, and even belly dancing for those that dare. The point is that you are not as limited as you may think when it comes to entertaining options for your workout routine. Find a workout that you can actually be excited about doing and do it. There is a lot of truth to the old Nike commercials that boldly proclaimed: "Just Do It". Whatever it may be in your fitness routine, it will not do itself. You must be an active participant in your weight loss and fitness endeavors in order to achieve any results that will be favorable.
Whether your weight loss and dieting goals are to shed a few pounds or many pounds along the way it is quite likely that you will at some point reach a plateau in which you discover that you need to ramp up either your level of physical activity or calorie burning methods or you will need to ramp up your calorie cutting exercises. Either way, dealing with the setback is almost as important as your decision to lose those pounds in the first place. Get back in the game and renew your efforts. In no time you should have lost those few pounds that you were hoping to lose and established the body you were aiming to create.
Lose A Few Pounds
[1] Switch to Sugar-Free Sodas
According to the American Dietetic Association, eliminating soda alone could help you lose 11 pounds per year and the less you drink the less you will crave it. Consider a soda a splurge, like a dessert, and choose the low-calorie options. Coca Cola recently released Diet Coke with Splenda, which is considered a better option than aspartame to many weight watchers as well as Coke Zero, which tastes a lot like Coca Cola, but without the sugar.
[2] Eat a Salad First
In a 2004 study published in the Journal of the American Dietetic Association, Dr. Rolls reports that women on average ate 7 percent less pasta if they first had one and one half cups of salad with reduced fat or non-fat dressing. If only her name wasn't Dr. Rolls!
[3] Drink Water
Few people get enough water and certain medications can make you even more dehydrated. If you want to burn more calories, drink it chilled. One gallon of ice water will help you burn 200 calories more than if it was room temperature. You burn about 1 calorie per ounce of chilled water that you drink. Always have bottles of water with you, especially in the car on hot days. You'll be less likely to run through a drive through and get a soda.
[4] Get a Pedometer
It's actually a fun way to watch the calories you burn. 1000 steps equals 50 calories burned, so wear it on your errands and it just may motivate you to add a few extra steps to your daily routine. For under $20 you can get one that has an automatic voice tell you how many calories you've burned and inform you when you've met your exercise goals.
[5] Get More Sleep
According to many studies, just one week of sleep deprivation reduces the production of the growth hormone that helps control the body's proportion of muscle to fat. When the body produces less of this hormone, there is a tendency for the body to store fat.
[6] Buy Controlled Servings of Food
Okay, so if you have to snack, spend the extra few cents on the new 100-calories packs of cookies or crackers, the small cans of cola that are just 100 calories, or the mini-bags of popcorn. The calories are easy to keep track of, you won't be tempted to overeat ? just don't open that second bag!
Both Jackie Serta & Lisa Copen are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
Lisa Copen has sinced written about articles on various topics from Wellness, Parental Care and Video Games. Don't miss Lisa Copen's new consumer magazine, HopeKeepers, for people who live with chronic illness or pain and the sponsor of Invisible Illness Awareness Week. Articles, chat, groups.. Lisa Copen's top article generates over 27100 views. Bookmark Lisa Copen to your Favourites.
