We’ve all been juggling a lot lately, while doing our best to stay healthy and sane. Our weight certainly hasn’t been a priority whatsoever, but as time has progressed, being home a lot can also mean snacking more and exercising less. So why not incorporate these 5 little changes to help lose weight while at home?
Move, even a little
Studies have shown that even 10 minutes of exercise per day can have great impacts on your health and fighting off chronic diseases like dementia. Short bursts of movement also burn calories throughout the day helping with weight loss.
Exercise can be whatever you want it to be from just walking around your house or neighborhood, gardening, cleaning or even pacing back and forth while chatting on the phone.
Eat fiber
Did you know that eating more fiber helps you to lose weight? Why? Because it keeps you regular and feeling fuller longer. It also improves gut health; which has a tremendous impact on your overall health. The best way to incorporate more fiber into your diet is by eating more fruits and vegetables, including the skins whenever possible.
Eating more beans is also a fantastic way to increase fiber intake so add them when you can. Always choose whole grains like oats, whole wheat pastas and quinoa over white flour foods. (I incorporate vegetables into whole grain rices and quinoas to really pump up my fiber; so good!)
Drink fluids to stay hydrated
Most of us are dehydrated on a consistent bases because we don’t drink enough water. Learn how much water should you be drinking everyday. And did you know that you can THINK you are hungry when really you’re just thirsty? Dehydration leads to overeating and lack of energy, so simply put, staying hydrated helps to lose weight.
I know, I know, you hear this all of the time, but who wants to drink boring water all day? Make it fun by squeezing in a lemon or lime, having a seltzer instead or a sugar free flavored water.
Sleep
Yes, sleeping helps you to lose weight because it plays a role in balancing out your metabolism and controlling your eating. What was discovered is sleeping less than 6 hours per night can increase the possibility of obesity because lack of sleep causes cravings to kick in, where if you sleep 7-8 hours per night, those cravings are eliminated.
Sustaining a regular sleep and wake schedule is critical for a healthy lifestyle. And the best part is all of the things on this list will help you sleep better each night.
Stop sitting
The American Heart Association made it official; too much sitting increases the risk of heart disease. And there’s a misconception that if you exercise each day, it makes up for all of that sitting. Wrong! Anyone who spend lots of time sedentary, whether they exercise or not, is at risk. So stop sitting, it’s literally killing you.
The good news is studies have found that people who stand 6 hours per day can lose up to 5 pounds per year, just from the extra calorie burn. If you must sit, set a timer to stand up and do some light stretches each hour. It’s important.
