I Accidentally Lost Weight – And You Can, Too!
We’re always looking for the new weight-loss miracle.
In reality, losing weight is actually pretty simple as long as you make a conscious effort in your everyday. When I moved to New York on my own, I managed to lose 10 pounds and 3 inches off my waist. While I did not mean to lose weight, I sat and thought about how I actually did it, and here is what I came up with:
Drink Water, Ditch the Juice
When I moved to the expensive city of New York, I had to make some sacrifices. Juice was one of them. I just drank water from the tap because it’s free. Not only did I save a ton of money by not buying bottled water or juice, I also cut out plenty of unneeded calories from my diet. This not only added to my weight loss, but my skin cleared up as well. I finally saw why water is so important. And although water from the tap gets a bad rap, there is fluoride in tap water to help strengthen your teeth, too.
Walk If You Can
Another big portion of my weight loss came from walking. Since New York City is so accessible, I basically walked everywhere. There were plenty of times where I could’ve taken a cab or the subway, but — again with my frugality — I walked instead. There were only the occasional times where I would walk really long distances, like from Chelsea to SoHo (I know, I’m so cheap), but my average walking distance from home to work or my internship was about 20 blocks. For those who aren’t familiar with the area, that is about a 45-minute walk. Now I know everyone doesn’t live in the city, but there are ways to get your miles in. Find ways to walk more. If it means taking the stairs, walking around during your lunch break, or just finding places to walk to in your free time, it will pay off.
Say No to Sweets
Now I’m not saying I was a saint about it, but I definitely made sure to limit my sweets intake. Instead of getting candy whenever I wanted it, I did it only once a week. Sweets can serve as a great reward after a week of disciplined behavior.
Snack All Day
I know it sounds counterproductive, but I swear it works. Eating four to six smaller meals a day energizes you and is great for weight loss. Because I would be running around all day between classes, work, and my internship, I would bring healthy snacks along with me to keep me going. I would pack pretzels, raw veggies, yogurt, sandwiches, Sun Chips, and plenty of water. It is better than eating three big meals that make you tired.
Eat Half of Your Meal
This is a trick I learned before I moved, but it was definitely incorporated into my new lifestyle as a broke person in the city. When I have a meal — whether at home or in a restaurant — I divide my portions by two and save the rest. For example, if I were to get a sandwich wrap at a restaurant, I would cut it in half and take the other half home for later. I would still feel a little hungry, which leads me to my last tip.
Wait Before Seconds
I always try to wait at least 15 minutes before going in for seconds. Usually this waiting period gives food the time to digest, and for your body to realize if you are full or still hungry.
These are the easy steps I inadvertently followed to lose weight. I wear a smaller size and am still losing weight even though I no longer live in the city. These are great tips to lose weight, but I think that one should not forget that exercise is also a very important part of any lifestyle. Even with my busy schedule, I managed to work out at least twice a week. While walking is great exercise in itself, try to do a little more and make sure it’s fun so you’ll want to do it. Good luck, health nuts!
article sponsored by fitness zumba
