When people workout at RC Fitness in Houston, TX, they expect to work hard and eat healthier to lose weight. That doesn’t mean that weight loss has to be difficult all the time. There are sneaky ways to burn more calories and shed extra weight that you can start using today. Making small changes in your lifestyle, like taking the stairs instead of the elevator or parking further from the store and walking, can increase the weight you lose and improve your fitness efforts. Even simpler is drinking a glass of water a half hour before eating. Studies show you’ll eat less and feel fuller faster.
Just make a small change and see if you eat less.
Instead of rushing through a meal, plan extra time and chew longer. That’s right. Chewing your food longer does two things. First, it helps digestion. Part of digestion takes place in your mouth. It’s both the crushing of the food and the saliva that makes that change. If you are drinking a green smoothie, chew it too. It may sound odd since it’s already blended, but chewing it gives your saliva time to start the digestion process. Chewing your food until it’s a liquid also slows down eating. Your stomach has time to contact the brain to let it know it’s full, so you’ll eat less than you would if you ate your food faster.
Your dishware could help determine how much you eat.
Choosing smaller plates can trick your eyes and brain into believing you’re eating more. You don’t have to eat off saucers to benefit. Dinner plate sizes range from 9″ to 13″ in diameter, with most people using 11″ to 12″. Switch to a 9″ plate. Restaurants with big serving sizes use 13″ plates. If you eat at one of those, ask for smaller salad plates. Divide your meal into two portions, one for home and one to put on the smaller plate.
Save time and money with a meal plan.
Our RCF meal plans are created to meet personal preferences, special needs, and goals. All you do is shop and cook. You cook all meals one day, using some ingredients in several ways to create different meals. It includes healthy snacks and delicious food you’ll love. It makes dinner time quicker than going through the drive-through and saves you money since there’s no waste..
- Drink more water. Hunger sometimes feels like hunger. Carry a bottle of water with you at all times. It boosts your energy, so you’ll burn more calories and can curb your appetite.
- Have fruit and vegetables washed, cut, and ready in the refrigerator for snacks. You can also use it as an ingredient for another meal. When it’s ready to eat, you’ll choose it as a healthier, easier option.
- Get more ZZZs. Getting adequate sleep is vital for weight loss. Lack of sleep causes your body to make more ghrelin—the hunger hormone—and less leptin—-the one that makes you feel full.
- Make family time and time with friends more active. Take walks for lunch or hikes with the family. Buy everyone hula hoops and jump ropes and have family contests.
For more information, contact us today at Reggie C. Fitness