One of the biggest and best things you can do for yourself is to lose weight naturally. The quickness with which you lose that weight will depend on the level of your commitment. You’ll have to develop the knack of following through on your fitness and nutrition goals, and learn how to maintain your enthusiasm. It’s very easy to hit a wall a few weeks in, and that’s when you have to push through. Most importantly, set a reasonable goal for your 15-pound weight loss. It took some time to put on the extra weight, and it’s going to want to cling on, so be firm with yourself. Stick to a healthy meal plan and an exercise program that keeps you enthusiastic, and you’ll lose the 15 pounds before you know it.
Step 1
Change your eating habits. Losing 15 pounds naturally and quickly means giving up most of the foods that tend to pack on weight and adding those that work with your body’s metabolism. Check out the American Diabetes Association website for healthy food choices. Don’t skip breakfast and don’t skimp at lunch. Fuel up before you leave the house on whole-grain toast, oatmeal or cereal. Get as close to nature as you can with your food choices by using things like natural peanut butter with no additives and fresh fruit. Pack your own lunch, and because losing weight effectively doesn’t mean total deprivation, throw in a couple of healthy snacks like nuts, seeds or yogurt for your breaks. Never make dinner your main and only meal of the day. Eat a well-balanced supper that includes lean meat or legumes, vegetables and whole grains, like rice or quinoa.
Step 2
Pack it in early. Getting more sleep means your body has more time to produce the hormones like leptin that help control your appetite. If you get too little sleep, your body produces more cortisol, the stress hormone, and insulin, which can trick your body into storing more fat. Tear yourself away from the computer and TV at a decent hour and try to get at least eight hours of sleep to lose weight naturally and quickly. Besides regulating the hormones responsible for weight gain, getting sufficient sleep also ensures you have enough energy to commit to a regular exercise routine.
Step 3
Choose a number of different exercises and commit to at least 30 minutes a day. Losing weight naturally and quickly doesn’t mean it has to be boring. Arrange your physical fitness plan so that every day you’re doing something different. Choose several different cardio activities, like brisk walking, dancing — even in your living room to your favorite tunes — step aerobics, jogging or cycling and mix them up during the week so that your interest stays piqued. Add a stretching and strengthening exercise like yoga. Buy some dumbbells and commit to strength training every second day.
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