Candy may not grow on trees.
But everywhere you look, candy canes ARE hanging from Christmas trees. And that doesn’t even begin to scratch the surface of the junk we’re surrounded by right now.
No wonder stepping on the scale around the start of the year is such risky business.
If you’re worried about the impact the holidays will have on your waistline, you’re hardly alone. By Jan. 1, nearly everyone will be vowing to drop the extra pounds they gained over the holidays.
However, not everyone will succeed. Heck, most will quit long before the Groundhog pops out to look around for his shadow.
But YOU can pull it off. Because there are ways to lose weight without making dramatic changes to what you eat. And they work in all seasons… even this one.
Lose weight the easy way
Now I’m sure no one needs to tell you the healthiest way to lose weight and keep it off long term is to switch to a proven “good-for-you” lifestyle such as the Mediterranean or Ketogenic diet and stick to it.
But maybe you aren’t ready to make that total commitment yet. Or, perhaps you simply want to kick off your new lifestyle with a head start.
In those cases, you need a solution that will provide some quick and safe results. And I’ve got three suggestions for you today that can help you lose weight:
Intermittent fasting:
This style of fasting isn’t just an effective way to lose weight. It’s easy, too. You don’t even have to drastically change what you eat. Only WHEN you eat. And you can start as soon as tomorrow.
There are several ways to do intermittent fasting. But the most common form is when you limit your eating to an 8-10-hour window.
The rest of the time… the other 14-16 hours… is your “fast.” And honestly, it’s far easier than it might sound at first since you’re asleep for about eight of those hours.
During your 8-10-hour window, you simply eat sensibly. Avoid bingeing on junk food, of course. But then go ahead and enjoy your favorite foods and meals while you let your body’s natural circadian rhythm handle the rest.
One study earlier this year found that along with weight loss, intermittent fasting can help burn off abdominal fat, cut blood pressure, reduce cholesterol, and control blood sugar, too.
Turn on Your Burners:
God gave you a pair of pretty effective fat-burners. And that is your own two feet. So go ahead and use them, and it will help you lose weight.
A brisk walk doesn’t just burn more calories than sitting around. That same walk also fires up your metabolic furnace. So, your body becomes more efficient at burning through stored energy (aka fat) at all times.
Aim for at least 30 minutes a day at a decent pace. But for best results, hit the pavement for an hour or more. Try giving yourself a destination sometimes to stay motivated, like meeting a friend for coffee.
One study of older women found a 50-70-minute walk three times a week cut body fat by 1.5 percent over 12 weeks, taking more than a full inch off the waistline.
Quit ONE Thing:
We all have (at least) one bad habit when it comes to food that can make it harder to lose weight. Maybe it’s late-night snacking. Perhaps it’s a favorite dessert you eat DAILY, like ice cream. Or maybe it’s lasagna night when it’s easy to go overboard.
Find that one questionable habit and eliminate it (at least for now). It won’t be easy, but so worth it.
You’ll be surprised at how effective dropping just a single source of empty calories can deliver quick results.
The WRONG way to lose weight
Weight loss surgery can be tempting. And whether or not to have it is, of course, a personal decision you need to make with the help of your doctor. But if your weight issue isn’t extreme, there are typically less invasive and far safer options to lose weight.
The surgery comes with risks. It’s a major operation requiring anesthesia which has hazards of its own. And post-surgery infections are a real possibility that can turn septic and ultimately be deadly.
After the surgery, your smaller digestive tract can’t process and absorb nutrients as effectively. Plus, you have to dramatically change what you eat for the rest of your life, as the surgically shortened stomach handles food very differently.
The new diet meds hitting pharmacies aren’t typically a great option for losing weight, either. The drug’s results are lackluster at best, and, as with all meds, there are potential side effects.
They can come with a huge hidden catch I shared with Healthier Talk readers in this earlier issue. Plus, they require you to make significant changes to your diet too. So why even bother? Skip the surgery or meds and head right for the changes.
Low-carb (keto)diets are terrific for faster weight loss and quick blood-sugar control, making them great for folks with diabetes and prediabetes. And the Mediterranean lifestyle delivers safe, steady weight loss and proven protection against heart attack and stroke.
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