6 Simple Tips To Help Your New Year Weight Loss Challenge

A new year weight loss challenge can be daunting. You’ve made the decision to lose that excess body fat and become more healthy but how easy is that going to be?

Whether you’re genetically predisposed to put on weight or your habits have led you to this point, trimming your excess body fat has been shown to increase the length and quality of your life. With each centimeter that you trim off your waist, you’re reducing your risk of dying by many major diseases.

The first step to lifetime health and a trimmer body is accepting some lifestyle changes. By modifying what you eat and increasing your daily activity you’ll not only lose the weight, you’ll keep it off too. Here are 6 tips to help make your new year weight loss challenge easier.

6 Lifestyle Changes To Help Your New Year Weight Loss Challenge

1. Meal Planning

It’s easy to get into trouble with food when you’re not prepared. Meal planning is the best way to ensure that you stay on track with your new year weight loss challenge. Sit down once a week and plan your meals and snacks for the week. Make a list, head to the store, and stock up. This way you’ll always have a healthy meal to turn to and you won’t be tempted by junk food.

2. Cheat Meals

When you’re making lifestyle changes, it’s not uncommon to feel deprived. One way to manage these emotions successfully is to allow yourself a “cheat meal” each week. The cheat meal can be anything that you want, from pizza to ice cream. However, it’s only for one meal. When that meal is over, you’re back on your healthy diet plan.

3. Staying Hydrated

Water helps flush fat and toxins from your body. Cutting sugary drinks from your life doesn’t mean you shouldn’t stay hydrated. In fact, if you’re dehydrated you may be more likely to feel bloated. Your digestive system stalls when it doesn’t have the fluid it needs. Drink water, green tea and other natural beverages. Keep a bottle of water with you at all times. You can add lemons or berries to give it more flavour.

4. Sleep

Sleep is directly connected to weight loss. People who regularly get a good night’s sleep weigh less than those who don’t. Getting an adequate amount of quality sleep helps balance your hormones, mainly those responsible for regulating your metabolism. Sleep also helps you feel more energized to follow through on your exercise plans and it helps you make better food decisions so you’re not craving for high-calorie foods.

5. Fun

Your new year weight loss resolution is about living a better and healthier life. It should be fun. If it begins to feel like too much of a chore, then it’s time to sit down and rethink your plans. It may be difficult to get out the door to exercise, but ideally you enjoy the exercise you do and you feel great afterward. If not, then find an exercise that you enjoy.

Eating should be enjoyable as well. There are thousands of healthy recipes that use whole foods and have tons of flavour. Don’t be afraid to experiment with food. Try new recipes, vegetables and fruits. The goal here is to eliminate sugar and white flour, not to eliminate flavor.

6. Celebrate

Enjoy your successes and celebrate them. When you lose an inch off of your waist, go buy a new pair of jeans. Do something that honors the accomplishment and helps you feel inspired to continue losing inches and pounds.

Your body is resilient and powerful. Fuel it well, make it move and burn calories and it’ll shed those extra pounds. Do it for yourself and your health – you deserve to live a long and healthy life.

5 Exercise MistakesTo Avoid In Your New Year Weight Loss Challenge 

Weight loss challenges may not be as easy as flipping a switch, but they don’t have to be complicated. Take some time to assess the lifestyle habits that are contributing to your weight. Then systematically replace those habits with good habits that support weight loss and healthy living. This free checklist reveals 5 exercise mistakes which slow down your weight loss and will help you succeed with your new year weight loss challenge.