In most cases, doctors suggest taking your time when you are trying to lose weight. Losing just 1-2 pounds a week is ideal, even when trying to lose weight in the short term. However, if you have a special occasion coming up, you might be looking for ways to improve the success of your weight loss plan and fitness routine. While it isn't safe or healthy to lose too much weight at once, you may notice the pounds come off quickly simply by changing a few lifestyle habits. Also keep in mind that the more you have to lose, the faster it will come off in the beginning. If you are on your last ten pounds, it is going to be a bit more difficult and challenging than someone losing 100 pounds. Either way, these tips will help anyone lose weight the right way before a special occasion.
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Don't Skip Breakfast
Start by making sure you eat a regular diet throughout the day, never skipping a meal. Breakfast is your most important meal of the day, providing energy for you to start your day, and should never be skipped. If you are pressed for time, make a smoothie, eat some whole grain toast with peanut butter, or grab a yogurt and piece of fruit when you are walking out the door. While a hearty breakfast is good, it isn't plausible to have one every day. Just make sure you eat a healthy breakfast every single day.
Eat More Often, Less at Each Meal
How much you eat and what times of the day you eat also make a difference. Instead of eating three large meals a day, cut down your meals to smaller portions and eat 5-6 times a day. It actually helps you lose weight more quickly by avoiding cravings since you're eating every few hours, and keeping your body and energy up. Your body begins to get used to having fuel regularly and because of this, it does not try to store it. If you're eating three times a day, your body tends to store some of those calories because it is used to going 4-5 hours between meals.
Fill Up on Protein
If you have a problem with being hungry in between meals, it can lead to unnecessary snacking, which halts your weight loss. Fill up on protein during every meal and snack to help avoid it. It can be lean protein such as dairy, nuts, seeds or tofu. There are many ways to sneak in more protein into your meals, keeping them healthy and keeping you fuller for longer.
Stop Eating After Dinner
Eating too late at night can be a problem for some people. Try not to eat after dinner for about a week and see if it makes a difference on the scale. If you don't really notice much of a difference, it may not be a real concern for you. Others find that they are losing weight more quickly or their clothing starts feeling loose just by stopping the snacking around 6-7pm. This lets you burn off some of those calories before heading straight to bed.
Exercise Regularly
Diet is only the beginning to losing weight. Exercising regularly is the other half of the puzzle. Diet and exercise go hand in hand for losing weight, being more healthy and keeping off the weight. You don't have to work out seven days a week for two hours each time either. In fact, this is a common misconception in people trying to lose weight for a special occasion, or get rapid weight loss. You are better off exercising about an hour, a few days a week. This gives you appropriate rest days to let your body rest and recharge before the next workout.
Don't Overdo It
Burnout and the negative effects can happen in both diet and fitness. If you exercise too much, your body may stop working so hard because it is not getting enough rest. Try to limit yourself to no more than five days a week of heavy exercise. If you must move the other day or so, take a short walk with your dog or play a dance game for a little while. With dieting, overdoing it means eating too little. If you don't supply your body with enough fuel and nutrients, it starts going into starvation mode. Starvation mode means every time you eat anything, your body stores it because it doesn't know when the next time it will get food again.
With these tips, you have the best chance possible at losing weight and getting fit before a special occasion. Whether it is a wedding, a beach vacation, or your first day of college, you want to look your best. You can do so in a healthy and manageable way with these guidelines.
For more more weight loss tips the healthy way, check out Six Tips for Losing Weight Before Your Wedding.
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