With Spring Break right around the corner, everyone is getting ready to put on that bikini. What most people don’t realize is looking good doesn’t have to mean spending hours at the gym everyday. Have that friend that never works out but has a great bod? Here are her secrets to staying in shape without going to the gym.
Make little changes in your diet –
I always thought the idea of whole-wheat pasta was ridiculous. Why ruin such a perfect food? Here is why: whole-wheat pasta is full of fiber, protein, unsaturated fat, and B vitamins. With over double the amount of fiber, whole-wheat pasta slows the rate that your stomach empties, meaning you feel full longer. If you are not a fan of the taste (there is a subtle difference), try Angel Hair pasta – the thin noodles make it hard to tell the difference!
Drink a glass of water before your meal. A lot of time people mistake thirst for hunger, and water will help fill your stomach before you eat. Scientists at Virginia Tech studied two groups of people on the same diet, and the group that drank water before meals lost an average of 15.5 pounds as opposed to 11 pounds in the other group.
Eat breakfast! Skipping breakfast is one of the biggest mistakes you can make. By eating breakfast, your body begins to burn calories; skipping breakfast makes your body think it is starving, so it stores extra fat!
Eat fruits and vegetables. People have been telling you this since the time you were born, but let’s be honest, it’s not the first (or middle…or last) thing we grab at the grocery store. Just try it. Next time you are at the grocery store grab a bag of baby carrots for 68 cents or a couple of apples. No one ever got fat eating carrots, after all, the key to a healthy body is what you put in it.
Still craving a late night sweet? Instead of getting fat filled ice cream or candy, grab a Jell-O Mousse Temptations in dark chocolate for only 60 calories a pop! Chocolate not your thing? Sugar Free Creamsicles are only 20 calories—you could even have two!
Burn more calories and fat in your everyday life –
Squats in the shower – Yes, I am serious. No one is looking. While you are just standing there enjoying the hot water after a long day – do squats! Do 3 sets of 20 to work your leg, thigh, and butt muscles. They will take you only a couple of minutes, and they result in a nice perky butt for the beach!
While you are driving – Flex your stomach muscles. One time I was at the gym with some guy friends, and they told me to lie on my back and they would drop a medicine ball on my stomach. I thought they were just being jerks trying to be funny and hurt me, but they finally convinced me to do it. The next day I was sorer than I have ever been in my life – just from flexing my stomach muscles to protect myself from the ball! I am not recommending having someone drop a weight on your stomach – but you can get this same workout in the comfort of your own car or desk. The great thing is that no one will even know you are doing it!
Crunches at commercials – Too tired to go to the gym, so you sit on the couch and turn on the Kardashians. Completely understandable. Instead of fast-forwarding the commercials, use that time to do some crunches.
Take Vitamin D – Studies show that woman lacking Vitamin D lose weight more slowly than woman who consume at least 2,000 milligrams daily.
Take the stairs – You are rushing to class and automatically go towards the elevator? Change it up and go for the stairs and you won’t have to spend hours on the stair stepper at the gym.
What not to do –
Go on some crazy “Lose Weight Fast” diet – Generally speaking, the faster you lose weight the faster you will gain it back. Starving yourself or skipping meals will only slow down your metabolism and make you gain more weight later on.
I know it sounds cliché, but instead of going on a “diet,” go on a new lifestyle. Create great habits now for a longer, healthier life!