Are you tired of listening to your friends boast about this weight loss plan or that diet? Is “gym” a bad word in your house? Do you want to lose weight but need a break from counting calories? You are in luck; here are 11 weight loss tips that don’t mention diet or exercise!
Did you know colors can play a critical role in our energy level and mood? It’s true – a room’s paint color can evoke peace and tranquility or excitement and energy. For example, the colors red, yellow and orange increase agitation and appetite. Think of your favorite fast food restaurants – what color scheme do they use? Most use a combination of these colors so customers will eat a lot and leave quickly. Take this into consideration when you decorate your dining room. Avoid colors that will induce you to eat more. Instead, reach for a can of blue paint. Blue is an appetite suppressant. While you’re at it, pick up some blue dinner plates too!
Colors can influence your eating habits
While you are shopping for your blue dinnerware, take note of the size of the plates you’ll be using. If you serve a meal on a big plate, you’ll feel like you need a bigger portion. A small portion on a big plate just looks depressing! Instead of using standard dinner places that are 10-14 inches, serve your meals on salad plates (usually about 7-9 inches). This is a great way to trick your mind into thinking you are eating more food.
When cooking, consider your ingredient ratio. The ratio should be a lot of vegetables to a little “other.” Make a pasta salad that has more broccoli, carrots, and tomatoes and less pasta. Prepare a stir fry that is loaded with colorful vegetables. Serve up an omelet that is bursting at the seams with healthy goodness.
Don’t serve meals family style. Instead, dish up plates in the kitchen. If you are sitting at the table staring at a heaping mound of mashed potatoes, you are much more likely to take an additional serving (or two). Leave the extra food in the kitchen and you will rid yourself of temptation.
Strap on a pedometer and be amazed! You’ll either be surprised by how many steps you take each day – or devastated by how little you are actually moving! Once you’ve established a daily average, see if you can add 1,000 steps each day. It shouldn’t be difficult. Park in one of the last rows when you go to the grocery store. Use the restroom farthest from your office. Take the kids for a walk around the block.
It’s small and it can help you loose weight.
Don’t even go into the coffee shop. You might think you can avoid the fattening deliciousness and stick to just black coffee. But once you are in there, you’ll probably be seduced by the whole milk, whipped cream, sugar, and flavorful syrups. Brew your beverage at home. Use good beans and low-fat milk; you can still have your caffeine fix without unnecessarily adding to your waistline.
If you need to burn a few extra calories, clean! This is a double-win situation; you can lose weight and enjoy a sparkling clean house. Whether you are scrubbing the floor, windows, shower, or car, a 150-pound person can burn about four calories per minute when they clean!
Be diligent about your healthy eating habits on the weekends. Studies show that people tend to consume an extra 115 calories per day on the weekends.
Throw out your fat clothes. Once you reach your target weight, get rid of anything that doesn’t fit anymore. That way, if you ever gain weight, you’ll have to buy all new clothes. Spending a hefty chunk of change on a new wardrobe will be a strong motivator to watch your weight.
Don’t be a couch potato. Cuddling up to watch the latest blockbuster may be enjoyable every once in awhile, but try to make the majority of your date nights active. Take a moonlit stroll around the lake. Challenge your friends to a doubles tennis match. Go bowling.
When all else fails – kiss! A passionate kiss burns 6.4 calories per minute. Grab your significant other and get to work. It’s all in the name of weight loss, of course!
Try making these simple changes to your lifestyle. See if they make a difference. Then, let us know what you think! We would love to hear from you!
Blogger Lucy Funes is always on the hunt for creative weight loss tips – she is so over the whole running on the treadmill thing! For example, Lucy uses vitamin B12 shots purchased here to boost her energy and make her bike ride through the park more enjoyable!
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