1. Prepare Mentally:
First step is definitely to prepare mentally. I think you need to really need to focus and think about how are you going to do it How are you going to organise yourself and most importantly WHY you want to do it.
When you start any fitness plan if you don't have a reason to do it you will never succeed! because every time temptation is in front of you you think of your reason and you won't fall for it.
It doesn't matter how silly your reason is. If it is to impress someone, to look good for a holiday, for a wedding or even to fit into a dress. But that reason is going to be your strong thought when it comes to eat unhealthy.
2. Drink water!
As we all know water keep us hydrated therefore will have energy. Water also help to flush toxins out and most importantly to not confuse thirst with hunger.
A hormone called leptin is the responsible to alert our brain to let us know when we are hungry. And it is the same hormone that alert us when we feel thirsty so it is very easy to confuse one with the other. If you are always hydrated you will never have this problem, therefore you will never over-eat.
Herbal teas also helps with our hydration and at the same time they provide us with many healthy benefits. For example: green tea speeds up our metabolism, Chamomile tea helps us relax and black tea is full of antioxidants, etc...
3. Plan your meals!
On this point it is important to do a shopping list and chose more or less the meals you are going to have.
For example for breakfast Monday to Friday I'm going to have over night oats with almond milk and berries and over the weekend I will be having toast avocado and eggs. So you do the same for lunch and dinner and you can shop accordingly.
Also planning your meals help your mind to set on what you are having rather than be thinning: "what could I have? I don't have anything prepared" and maybe end up having something unhealthy!
If you want to read my usual shopping list and what I keep on my presses click here: http://momfitnessdiary.blogspot.ie/2015/06/healthy-weekly-shopping-list.html
(Since I have become a vegetarian my shopping list have changed from the above so I will update you on that soon)
4. Stock up your fridge with healthy foods
The truth is if you have stock up your fridge with healthy foods eveytime it comes to preparing a meal or having a snack. Having fresh suit and veggies available will help you not to fall into temptation!
So make sure you have healthy options at reach at all times!
5. Meal Prep!
Meal preparation is a must! specially if you work! I mean who has time to be peeling vegetables EVERY day! it makes it so easy for me to have veggies washed and chopped and some type of protein cooked for 2 or 3 days in the fridge just ready to heat up!
My chickpea stew is a great healthy option to cook for 3 days, reheat and serve with some stemmed broccoli.
Click here for recipe: http://momfitnessdiary.blogspot.ie/search?q=chickpea+stew
6. Plan Healthy Snacks!
You might think this point is a bit silly. But there is no way to be successful in a healthy lifestyle if you don't snack! Snacking is essential when feeling hungry through the day! specially if you exercise it comes times that you feel you need a little bite with a cup of tea to keep you going!
So there is absolutely nothing wrong with snacking! just snack smartly! But don't let this hunger caught you off guard. Have little ideas planned for when the times come you know exactly what to reach for.
Snack ideas: fruit, yogurt, popcorn, roasted vegetables, peanut or almond butter, etc...
7. Exercise!
Exercise is essential on a healthy lifestyle either to lose fat or to maintain a low body fat. In order to keep yourself motivated and in shape you need to exercise at least 3 times a week.
If you are only starting don't over do it and listen to your body but do it!
And do something that you enjoy and like! exercise should be something you look forward to do it is not a punishment so find an activity that it is for you. I think that lifting weights is not for everyone, running is not for everyone so find something you like!
Try dancing classes, tennis, exercises from home, running, boxing zumba, etc... there is plenty of options!
8. Make veggies the main bulk of your diet!
Make sure you fill your plate with vegetables! vegetables do help you feel fuller with lesser calories. This way you won't feel hungry and you will be shredding the pounds in no time!
9. Dont compensate over eating by not eating!
This is one of the biggest mistake a lot of us have done at some point. Not eating can bring you a lot of metabolic problems that will stop you from losing fat!
To lose fat you have to eat! Eating healthy whole foods will not only help you shred the pounds aways it will keep your body, brain and digestive system healthy!
10. Sleep and Repeat!
It's true: Being short on sleep can really affect your weight. While you weren't sleeping, your body cooked up a perfect recipe for weight gain.
When you’re short on sleep, it’s easy to lean on a large latte to get moving. You might be tempted to skip exercise (too tired), get takeout for dinner, and then turn in late because you’re uncomfortably full.
