How to Lose The Freshman 15

We’ve all heard about the freshman 15.  Some of us have even become well acquainted with it.  You know, that flabby little friend that showed up somewhere between high school and now, and just kind of hangs out.  While some of you have made friends with it, most of us have not.  We don’t enjoy it’s company, it takes up too much of our space in clothes, and it doesn’t really do us any good.  Well no longer does the old freshman 15 get a free place to sleep atnight.  It’s time to kick it out, and keep it out for good.  With a few tips and a strong mind, we’ll rid ourselves of the old freshman 15 once and for all.

There are plenty of fad diets that claim to shed weight quickly, but you and I know that those methods aren’t healthy, safe, or even effective.  What we are headed for is a change of lifestyle; a couple of life hacks that will have you flat instead of fat, lean and mean, and of course, harder, better, faster, and stronger.  Buckle up, cause in the next few paragraphs you are going to commit to a change that will take you 10 steps closer to the perfect you!

Reduce Stress

I probably don’t need to tell you that stress plays a huge factor your body’s ability to control weight effectively.  Since this is the case, the fastest and easiest thing we can do is find ways to cut the stress.  Make a list of anything in your life that weighs on your mind daily, then strategize ways to cut down or eliminate those things.  They stay on your mind for a reason, so get rid of them, and you’ll already feel 20 lbs lighter.

Also a lack of organization often leads to procrastination, and both of those problems are easily solved.  When you have a commitment, work on it early and often.  You’d be surprised how wonderful it feels to have a project completed before the due date.  And a clean room/home will make for a mind free of stress and clutter.

Finally we all need to just slow down.  Life is moving at 90 mph, and unless we hit the brakes it’s going to keep that pace.  Nobody says you have to go that fast though.  Stop, take a walk, take a break, take a breath.  For gosh sake, slow it all down every once in a while.  The more often you do this the more often you are going to want to.  It’s truly exhilarating to forget about all of life’s commitments every once in a while and just enjoy the silence.

Here are some truly wonderful Relaxation Techniques from PickTheBrain.com.

 

Nutrition and Diet

Paying attention to what you eat is the easiest way to start the weight loss process.  I’m not saying to give up burgers, and replace them with spinach and peas.  What I’m saying is to recognize what is necessary for weight maintenance, and work towards incorporating those things into your daily life.  Then look at what you are having in excess (soda, candy, chocolate, desserts), and work on limiting your servings of those.  There is nothing wrong with having a coke or slice of chocolate cake.  In fact, to give these things up completely is to give up on some of the finer things in life.  But there is also no reason you need each of those things daily.  That just takes away from the pleasure of it.

Pay special attention to breakfast.  I say this because if you are anything like me, you may have forgotten that there was a meal before noon.  But as we all know, breakfast is the most important meal of the day, and without it, your metabolism doesn’t really start till lunch.  And for anyone trying to achieve weight loss, this can be truly devastating.  Here are some great things to bring to the breakfast table: eggs, fruits, yogurt, granola, cottage cheese, and even a protein packed breakfast shake if you’re thus inclined.  Also be sure you are drinking a lot of water throughout the day.  Hydration is really important to weight loss.

Here are a few healthy eating ideas to help your nutritional mind grow

A Few Healthy Eating Ideas

And if you really want to make sure you’re eating right, track your caloric intake with FitDay

Fitness and Exercise

You knew it was coming.  Exercise is actually the fastest way to lose weight.  If you made no other lifestyle change other than incorporating exercise into your daily routine, you would notice changes.  Remember, 1 pound is equal to 3500 calories.  That means if you burned 3500 calories per week with exercise, you’d lose 1 pound of weight regardless of everything else (assuming you aren’t eating more calories than necessary for maintenance…).

I could sit here and write about ways to start exercising, increasing workout efficiency, and even a couple of exercise hacks, but why would I do that when Leo at ZenHabits.net has already done the hard work for me?  Check out his great advice.

31 Ways to Motivate Yourself to Exercise
16 Tips to Triple Your Workout Effectiveness
Top 42 Exercise Hacks

Then check out the RirianProject’s Top 10 Ways to Build Muscle Mass Fast

And for a really interesting read, learn how to lose weight while watching TV.

Lifestyle Hacks

Lastly we have a few lifestyle hacks that will really boost your weight loss.

• Stop looking for the closest parking spot.  Park far and walk.
• Find a weight loss buddy with similar goals.
• Eat smaller meals more often throughout the day.
• Use smaller plates for your meals.  You’ll automatically eat less.
• Eat a piece of fruit or a raw veggie before every meal.
• Switch to low fat or non-fat milk.
• Eat at home more often.
• Eat slowly and enjoy every bite.
• Chew gum.
• Eat fruit instead of drinking fruit juice. It has more fiber and other vitamins and minerals than it’s juicy equivalent.
• Always take the stairs
• Make at last 1 social outing per week an outside event.
• Take a walk after dinner.
• Brush your teeth after every meal.  It will tell your mind eating time is over.
• Add hot sauce to meals.  Capsaicin, the chemical in hot peppers, aids in digestion and fat oxidation.
• Avoid High Fructose Corn Syrup.  It’s had to digest and makes you fat.

So join me in my path to rid myself of the freshman 15.  With all of this great information, it should be a piece of cake.  Actually, make it a peice of fruit!