Let's Get Tipsy

With any weight loss journey, there are always little tips and tricks along the way that can aid in your progress. Today I'm going to share with you some of the ones I personally use and that have helped provide me with results. I tried not to state the obvious, that so many people and places constantly regurgitate at the world, so here we go.

• Read The Label - Read them all, see what you are putting into your body, see the calories, see the trans fat, see the serving size. Make your self aware of what you put in your mouth.

• Look Up The Calories - Eating out? No problem, most restaurants, especially chain ones, have the nutritional information on the website or in store. Never be scared to ask!

• Count Calories - Keep track of how many calories you do eat, try to stay around a certain amount. What ever works for you. I stay between 1200 and 1500 calories a day.

• Forget Pop - I don't know about you but I like food, so I would much rather eat my calories then drink them. Plus pop is bad for you, especially diet ones. Try to drink alot of water, you will fill fuller and its good for your skin and body. If plain water is to boring try the calorie free water enhancers in the drink mix isle, or my personal favorite, UnSweet tea!

• Get Moving - Excersise is everything, now I don't mean you have to spend hours at the gym each day, unless you want to, but to aid to any weight loss adventure or healthy lifestyle, try to incorperate atleast 30 minutes of activity to your day. It can be walking the dog, biking around town, a workout dvd, playing wii sports, or even just dancing around while you clean. I like to do ab workouts while I watch tv at night.

• Take Pictures / Record Measurements - Keep track so you can see your progress! Take a begining picture and then in a couple weeks, take another, in the same clothes. Take a before, during and after shot. Also record your measurements in inches and your actual weight with each picture. Its such great motivation to see how much your body really does change!!

• Set Goals, Short And Long Term - Set yourself a goal of how much you want to lose over all. Like in 6 months, a year or 2 years, whatever! But also set short term goals along the way. Like how much you want to lose each month. Or even how many sit ups you can do, or how fast you run a certain course.

• Limit Eating Out - Fast food is the fastest way to rack up unwanted calories and grease with out even knowing it. They don't pay attention to portion sizes or which ingrediant is better for you so what seems like a healthy option is really a calorie monster in disguise.

• Eat Sitting Down - You digest better when you are sitting down, vs standing up. You are also less likely to overeat if you avoid TV while eating as well. Eat slowly and drink water during your meal, you will find it easier to tell when your full this way.

• Eat Breakfast EVERYDAY - When you skip breakfast to "save calories" you are really actually hindering your progress. Your body will go into starvation mode and feed off of its muscles aswell as stored fats and your metabolism will slow WAY down to reserve energy! There are PLENTY of healthy options out there for breakfast that are filling and will jump start your metabolism!! I like to have whole wheat/ light Ego Waffles with Light Maple Syrup. I can have two waffles with syrup for 170 calories!!!

• Give Into Cravings - It is totally okay to eat sweets or 'crap food', every now and then. But the key is moderation and proportion. If you don't give into your cravings every now and then you are more likely to binge later.

• Don't Reward Yourself With Food - You are not a dog. After a walk or a workout, don't reward yourself with a treat. You can have a treat of course but don't make it a reward and take into consideration if that 'treat' is going to undo all of your hard work you just put it.

• Swap - Start saving calories but swapping out for the low fat, low carb, low sodium, sugar free and light versions of foods. Try 1% or Skim Milk vs Whole or 2%. Little changes here and there can really add up in the long run.

• Sleep - Try to get 6-8 hours of sleep. The more sleep you get, the more energy you will have to be active the next day, and it gives your body plenty of time to do the things it does at night, like digestion.

• Take Hot Baths - Take hot baths, with epson salt if possible. The epson salt will relax sore muscles and help draw toxins out of your body. The hot or even just warm water will help with relaxation and to draw out toxins also.

• Eat Yogurt or Take Probiotics - Either eat a yogurt with live cultures or take a daily probiotic, this will aid in proper digestion and will reduce belly buldge and bloat.

• Don't Drink Your Calories - Like I said about pop same goes for all sugary drinks and adult beverages. I would much rather eat my calories then to not knowingly consume half of them by throwing back a few drinksw. Try to limit your intakes or make swaps for lower calorie alternatives.

• You Don't NEED a Gym - if you have access to a gym then great! But don't think that that is a mandatory thing to have to lose weight. Their are plenty of at home excersises or dvd's that you can use as well. I personally have lost over 40lbs and have not stepped into a gym once.

I hope these will help some of you on your journey towards a better lifestyle. Just remember little changes are important just like big things.

If you have any great tips, please share!

- J