Let's face it...losing weight isn't always hard.  It's keeping it off once you've lost it that is more challenging.  Losing weight comes down to moving more and eating less.  It's a pretty simple formula but for some reason so many people get it wrong (approximately 66% of North Americans!).

So here are 5 weight loss tricks that can help burn those excess calories starting today.

Weight Loss Trick #1 - Start Your Day With Vigorous Movement

Exercising first thing in the morning is a fantastic way to crank up your metabolism for the day ahead.  If you're body's not used to getting out of bed and moving right away then just start with some brisk walking.  Eventually, you want to build up to working up a good sweat for at least 20-30 minutes to get your day started.

Here are some ideas:

• Hill walking (with a knapsack to make it more challenging)
• Walking or running on the soft sand of your local beach
• Skipping rope, jumping jacks, or walking/running stairs
• Body weight exercises such as push-ups, lunge walks, squats, and pull-ups

Weight Loss Trick #2 - Strengthen Your Muscles

How much more research do you need to hear to realize that strengthening your muscles is the KEY to maintaining a healthy lean body for life?

The more muscle you have, the greater your metabolic rate - it's that simple.  This means that even at rest you'll be burning more calories than someone who has less lean body mass than you.

Here are some ideas:

• Train your muscles at least 2-3 times per week with a weight that will only allow 6-10 reps (women too!) for 2-3 sets.
• Use full body exercises such as squat presses, lunges with biceps curls, or dumbbell cleans; instead, of single muscle exercises like seated biceps curls.  The more muscle you involve, the more calories you burn.

Weight Loss Trick #3 - Jog, Sprint, Jog

If you guessed interval training, you're right!  By now, you probably know that interval training is by far the best form of cardio for burning fat.

Weight Loss Trick #4 - Go Raw!

Eating more raw foods is one of the most powerful dietary strategies to losing weight for good!  I know of no raw foodist who is overweight and in fact, the first thing most people notice when they start eating a greater amount of foods in their raw (or living) state is that the weight simply disappears.

Although you don't have to become 100% raw, enjoying more of your fruits and vegetables in their living state through the use of fresh juices, smoothies, and salads will literally transform your life!

Here are some ideas:

• Make 1 green juice each day
• Make 1 green salad each day
• Try a raw vegan restaurant in your area - you'll be surprised at how amazing it is!
• Try Eating for Energy

Weight Loss Trick #5 - Set Yourself Up For Success

First, start by determining what you want to achieve.  Do you want to lose 5 lbs, 20 lbs, etc...?  You need to be specific here!

Second, what are your reasons WHY?  This is the most powerful component of any transformation because it is your reasons for doing something (or your WHY) that will keep you going even when the going gets tough.  List as many reasons WHY you want to lose weight and make them emotionally compelling.

Third, believe you can do it!  Believe you have the ability (no matter what may have happened in the past) and that you deserve the result you're after.

Remember, if it's been done before (even by someone else), you can do it as well.  All you have to do is model an effective weight loss strategy.

 

Written by Yuri Elkaim, BPHE, CK, RHN
Visit http://www.eatingforenergy.ca/blog for more tips on how to live a healthy and energetic life.

< Prev		Next >