Hey everyone! It’s almost the new year and lot’s of people like to make a healthy change in their lives when a new year rolls around. A few years ago I made some changes and lost 70 pounds in less than a year. Today I want to share with you some super helpful Weight Loss Hacks You Probably Didn’t Know. All of these hacks are from my personal weight loss journey and they all worked great for me! If you’re trying to lose weight or are wondering how to lose weight, this post can help you. I hope you all enjoy hearing some hacks from my personal experience in weight loss!
Water Is The Key
I know you probably hear this so much, but it’s true. Water is so important in weight loss. It keeps you hydrated, doesn’t have any carbs or calories, and it keeps your body happy. The rule of thumb is to drink half your body weight in ounces of water a day. It might seem hard, but you’ll feel better, sleep better, have clearer skin, and fewer headaches. Drinking water is a win-win!
Don’t Count Calories
I HATE counting calories, and I especially hate when people limit themselves to an absurd amount of calories a day. You end up starving yourself and to be honest if you choose to count calories you can still be eating unhealthy. You could be counting your calories in sodas and chocolate chip cookies. It’s important to eat healthily and not restrict your caloric intake. If you put good in, you’ll get good out!
Eat Lot’s of Protein
I ate a lot of protein during my weight loss journey. I started my day with a Premier Protein chocolate shake. They have 30 grams of protein and only 5 grams of carbs. Those numbers are hard to find in a protein shake! I would eat chicken or steak for dinner, and lean ground beef hamburger steaks sometimes too. Protein keeps you full and satisfied for a long time.
Cheat Days Are a Bad Idea
Believe it or not but when I was losing my weight I was very strict and never had a cheat day, or even a cheat meal. When I first began changing my lifestyle and eating healthier I found myself still craving all the foods I couldn’t eat. After a few weeks, I had no cravings and was perfectly content in my new lifestyle. It is about balance, but if I gave myself a full cheat meal or a whole cheat day, not only are you putting a dent in your hard work up to that point but once you go back to your “diet” you have all those cravings back for weeks. It’s always better to stay focused on your goals and let the cupcake go. Staying focused and reaching your weight loss goal is the best reward you’ll get.
Carbs Are The Enemy
My motto was low carb, high protein. Everyday. I was so surprised as to how much of my everyday foods had so many carbs in it. Now, there is such a thing as natural carbs that are in fruits and vegetables, that can be eaten in moderation. However, I tried to stay far far away from all the carbs in bread, pasta, soda, junk food, etc. The reason I chose a low carb, high protein lifestyle was because you lose weight by burning more fat than you consume. Fat is sugar, and sugar is carbs. The fewer carbs I ate, the more weight I would lose. The protein was a great way to keep me full without packing in a meal full of carbs. It all worked out well.
The Perfect Time To Weigh
I love telling everyone I know the perfect time to weigh. You would be so surprised at how many people weigh incorrectly. First off, never weigh every day. It’s a great way to get discouraged. Weigh once a week and only weigh in the morning, without any clothes on, before you’ve eaten and after you’ve gone “number 2”. It’s the best purest way to get an accurate weight. Try it!
Don’t Trust Fad Diets
I don’t think it’s a secret that fad diets or nutritional systems don’t work long term, so why do we keep falling for them? They might help us drop a few pounds initially, but if you’re wanting to make a lifestyle change you have to make those changes, not starve yourself or eat tiny microwave meals for the rest of your life. Choosing a “diet” or lifestyle that works for you long-term is so important in the success of your journey.
Snacking Is Important
This might be news to you, but snacking is important in weight loss! I would eat one large meal a day along with my protein shake in the mornings and I would SNACK thought the day! When you only eat once a day, your metabolism slows down because your body doesn’t have any more food to break down. Snacking through the day can keep you feeling satisfied while keeping your metabolism up, intern helping you burn more fat through the day to lose more weight. Pickles, carrots, cottage cheese, an apple with peanut butter, beef jerky, almonds, sliced cucumbers. There are tons of low carb snack options. One of my favorite little snacks I made was homemade popcorn in my air popper. You can add your own butter and salt so it’s way healthier and super satisfying. Look up some low carb snacks of your own!
