With summer still chuggin’ along and wedding season here for, like, EVER, there’s no better time to look and feel our best. And to achieve this, we all know the drill: eat healthy, drink lots of water and exercise. But even if you can’t make it to the gym or find time to cook the most nutritious meal in the world Monday through Friday (come on, Saturday and Sunday are brunch days, duh), there are still plenty of ways you can work towards getting healthy(er) stat. Here are 20 simple tricks and tips to get you feeling and looking fab today.
1. Find a Friend: Be social, you butterfly, you! Sharing your health goals with a friend will make it harder for you to break them, and workouts are always more fun when you’re not sweating alone. (via Your Weight Loss Aid)
2. Drink More Water: The average American drinks 245 calories a day from soft drinks — yikes! If plain water isn’t your thing, try adding cucumbers, strawberries or other fruits for a kick of flavor. (via Good Taste, image via Brit + C0)
3. Go For Red: Research studies have shown that people associate the color red with danger and stopping. What?! We know you color lovers like us are already well-stocked with red plates, but if they can help curb overeating that’s a protip we did NOT know about before. (via Daily Mail)
4. Brush Your Pearly Whites: If you get into the habit of brushing your teeth after meals, the minty flavor will send signals to your brain that you’re done eating, helping you cut back on midnight snacking. (via Drs. Rohrer)
5. Take It To Go: Restaurant portions are notoriously large, so don’t be afraid to ask the server to bring you a to-go box with your meal. Pack half of it away before you even start eating — you’ll not only eat a healthier amount, but you’ll also have a ready-made lunch for the next day. Score! (via Be Well With Arielle, photo via Julia’s Album)
6. Move During Commercials: Just because you can’t make it to the gym doesn’t mean you have to be a couch potato. When watching TV, use the commercial time to get up and do squats, crunches or leg raises. We’re a big fan of the 7 Minute Workout (DL this app!), which is easy to do while binge watching your fave show. (via MSN Howzit)
7. Send the Bread Basket Back: It’s easy to say you’ll skip the rolls before dinner, but even easier to tell the waiter to send the basket back (or not bring it to the table at all). Wait, does this mean we can save room for dessert? What…(via Science News)
8. Take a Seat: Eating snacks from the bag makes it hard to track how many calories you’re taking in. Serve yourself and sit down to eat so you avoid eating too much or for too long. Um, and so you have more fun. (via Eating Simple, image via Glitter Inc.)
9. Grab Some Zzz’s: Go ahead; hit the sack! A lack of sleep can slow the metabolism and raise stress levels, which makes it harder to lose weight. (via FitSugar)
10. Clean Out Your Pantry: If it’s not in the house, you can’t eat it. Go through your cabinets and pantry to get rid of foods that contain artificial sweeteners, trans fats and high-fructose corn syrup. (via Kul Healthy You, image via Brit + Co)
11. Stand Up Straight: Maintaining proper posture helps you strengthen your core muscles and tone your middle, and the effort involved burns calories, too. (via JSOnline)
12. Turn Up the Heat: Spices like cinnamon, cayenne pepper and turmeric can suppress your appetite, boost your metabolism and help digest fat. Plus, the spicier the food, the more water you’ll drink. (via Only My Health)
13. Substitute Tea for Coffee and Soda: Make yourself a cup of tea instead of grabbing a soda or coffee. Sweeten it up by adding honey, not sugar. (via WikiHow, image via Brit + Co)
14. Take the Stairs: It’s tempting to shuffle onto the elevator, we know, but hitting the stairs is a great way to torch calories. If you live or work on a high floor, consider climbing at least the first five flights. (via Huffington Post, photo via Woman’s Day)
15. Use Smaller Plates: We tend to associate portion size with plate size since, psychologically, humans like to see plates that are fuller. If you switch from dinner plates to salad plates, you will end up eating less over time. OMG — and what if they’re red plates?! (via On The Road ToFit, image via Quirky)
16. Meditate: It may sound strange, but give it a try. Meditation can help you reduce stress, which makes it easier to avoid stress-eating. (via Dr. Oz Fans)
17. Turn Off the TV: We all know it’s very easy to get caught up in what you’re watching and continue eating for longer than you should. Hit the power button and focus on your food alone. (via Can Get Fit)
18. Get Up From Your Desk: Even if you work out regularly, staying sedentary for eight hours a day can hurt your weight loss goals. Get up and take a five minute walk every hour or so — they’ll add up. (via Foo Webs)
19. Wear a Pedometer: We’re supposed to walk about 10,000 steps a day, and keeping track of your movement will help to make you aware of your progress. (via Walking About)
20. Everything in Moderation: Losing weight doesn’t mean giving up everything you love, but it’s important to keep things balanced. If you have a glass of wine with dinner, consider skipping dessert. If you can’t work out one day, be sure to lace up your sneakers the next. (via Be Well Buzz, image via Brit + Co)
What are your favorite weight loss tricks and tips? How do you avoid overeating? Let us know in the comments below or on Facebook.
