| The holiday season is a time when most people tend | | | | of grapes, strawberries or tangerines. We all get the |
| to let go, throwing caution to the wind. Overspending | | | | feeling where we feel like munching on something and |
| on credit cards, overindulging on alcohol and just eating | | | | most time reach for a little piece of candy. Well the |
| a bit too much are some of the outcomes. Come | | | | little piece of candy does a lot of damage. This may |
| January/February and we get a huge shock when we | | | | take a bit more will power but you need to make a |
| see the credit card bill, or step on the bathroom scale. I | | | | cautious effort. Grapes and strawberries are perfect |
| can't help you with the credit card bill, but can help | | | | when you feel like munching on something and provide |
| loose those extra pounds. | | | | the same feel good factor you get from eating crisps |
| One true fact about weight loss is 'No Pain, No Gain' or | | | | and chocolates. |
| maybe that should be no pain no loss. There is no | | | | 4) Change your walking pace. Believe it or not, but |
| quick fix when it comes to shedding off those pounds | | | | walking faster or slower can increase the amount of |
| regardless of what medical remedies may say. Your | | | | calories you burn for a given distance. We all have a |
| body weight doesn't just consist of fat, some of the | | | | natural walking pace which is always the pace that |
| weight is water weight while some is muscle but we | | | | uses the least amount of energy, and mostly, your |
| are all mostly concerned about weight due to fat | | | | momentum helps in keeping this energy to a minimum. |
| which unfortunately is the hardest to loose. Water | | | | But what we want is to increase the energy we use |
| weight is relatively easy to loose which is also why | | | | whilst walking right? Walking slower means the |
| some of these remedies or drugs that claim to help | | | | momentum of your body is lower; therefore your |
| you loose weight in a matter of days are most likely | | | | muscles do more work in lifting and moving your legs |
| false. You might loose weight when you check the | | | | burning more calories. Walking faster or power walking |
| bathroom scale but is it really fat you're loosing? | | | | also means your muscles have to do more work in |
| Here are five relatively easy tips to get you started in | | | | moving your legs fast enough to keep up with the |
| loosing weight which you should be able to fit into your | | | | speed and distance you are covering meaning you |
| current lifestyle easily but remember, you need to put | | | | burn more calories. So changing your walking pace |
| in the effort. | | | | would help. |
| 1) Get rid of those soda cans and get water bottles. | | | | 5) And the most important is to stick with the above. |
| I am amazed everyday by how many people drink | | | | These tips don't require you to change your current |
| very little or no water at all. Drinking more water in | | | | lifestyle a lot, they're very easy to follow and adhere |
| itself can make you loose weight. The body is made | | | | to. When next you're doing the shopping, pick up |
| up of 75% water and is therefore vital for our organs | | | | bottled water rather than soda or concentrated fruit |
| to have as much water as possible. The liver is | | | | juice or some other nasty drink that's not water. You'll |
| responsible for the breakdown of fat in the body so | | | | soon adjust to the sweet natural soothing taste that |
| by not drinking water, the liver can't work as efficiently | | | | water has and get hooked. I know I am. And no |
| and more fat is retained in the body. | | | | matter how lazy you're feeling that Monday morning, |
| Get a small 500ml water bottle and keep it topped up | | | | drive to the farthest parking spot without even thinking |
| when at work, taking regular sips. Aim to finish about 3 | | | | about it, then you can curse yourself (and maybe me) |
| - 4 bottles a day. This would also mean you make | | | | as much as you want whilst walking down to the |
| regular trips to the bathroom thereby doing more | | | | office, the most important think is you've burned more |
| exercise. | | | | calories. |
| 2) If you drive to work, park on the farthest parking | | | | And never ever say to yourself 'I've been good this |
| spot from your office door available. This shouldn't be | | | | week, I deserve a treat' as an excuse for a nasty bar |
| too hard to do and should most often than not be | | | | of chocolate or pack of crisps, you deserve better |
| empty. More distance to walk means more exercise. | | | | than that, treat yourself to a nice piece of banana |
| 3) Substitute that crisp/sweet/chocolate box for a box | | | | instead. |