How to Lose Weight in a Week
Healthy weight loss requires dedication to diet and exercise over a period of time, but you can lose some weight in as little as a week. Following a few simple steps can produce noticeable results in matter of a few days that will have you looking and feeling better.
Fad diets are the wrong way to try to lose weight in a week. The right way to lose weight in a week requires the same discipline that any successful weight loss program requires. If you follow these tips, you’ll lose weight in a week, and you’ll look and feel better.
Losing Weight Tips
The following are 10 losing weight tips to help you get started.
- Cut 500 calories from your day. One pound of fat equals 3500 calories, so cutting 500 per day will result in a pound of total fat lost in a single week. You can choose to eliminate those 500 fewer calories by eating less, by burning off an extra 500 calories exercising, or by doing a combination of both.
- Drink more water. Most people carry 5 pounds of unnecessary water weight. Our bodies like to cling to water in case of emergency situations. Drinking plenty of water signals your body that it doesn’t need to store water.
- Avoid salty foods. If you drink plenty of water to flush out the extra water you have been holding on to, eating a meal high in sodium will be counterproductive. Salt will cause you to bloat up by starting the water holding process over from the beginning.
- Clean out your intestines. By incorporating at least 40 grams of fiber into your diet, you can remove an average of 7 pounds worth of putrified waste and fecal matter. Not only is this buildup adding extra weight, it is also leaving you feel sluggish and weak due to the toxins it is releasing into your bloodstream. Bananas, apples, and beans are great sources of fiber, but you may consider investing in a fiber supplement.
- Make minor adjustments to your diet. Switching from soda to water can save up to 200 calories, for example. Many changes are barely even noticeable because of the greater attention to quality that companies are placing on diet food products. Fat free dressing often tastes no different from the original and can cut out up to 10 grams of fat.
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Pay attention to how much you move. In the same manner as making minor adjustments to what you eat, do the same for your activity level. Take the stairs instead of the elevator, or walk to the drugstore if it is nearby. Not only will you burn extra calories during, you will also help to raise your metabolism to burn more throughout the day.
- Eat spicy foods. Spicy foods have been reported to raise metabolism by 50% in some cases. When making your normal dishes, add cayenne pepper, cinnamon, or simply snack on a pepper.
- Learn to tell when you are hungry and thirsty. Even though you think you may know the difference between being hungry and thirsty, your body sends out the same signal for both. Most people confuse thirst for hunger and end up eating every time they are thirsty. Next time you think you are hungry, try chugging a glass of water and then wait 20 minutes before deciding to eat.
- Graze throughout the day. Instead of having 3 solid meals, opt for 6 or 7 smaller meals every couple of hours. When you wait 5 or 6 hours between eating, your metabolism slows down drastically and has a more difficult time burning off what you have eaten. Eating every 2 or 3 hours never allows your metabolism the chance to slow down.
- Sit and stand up straight. Slouching is not only bad for you posture, but it can also restrict muscles. Standing and sitting up straight does not take that much extra effort, and it allows you to burn calories during the entire time. Also, you will notice your abs becoming more developed, less back pain, and a more alert feel.
Following these ten simple tips will show dramatic results in the way you look and feel. When they are all combined together, it is possible that in a single week to lose 15 pounds of unneeded water and waste that your body was holding for no reason.
If you continue following these guidelines past the week, you will continue to see results. You will lose fat, increase your energy, and improve your appearance. These changes will also produce a more positive outlook on yourself and life.