Everyone has had our share of weight loss advice. There are also hundreds of weight loss programs out there to follow. It's well-known that the way to lose weight is to eat fewer calories and exercise more. But what if the weight loss programs are not working for you? Maybe it is just taking too long for you to shed the extra pounds. What if instead of eating less, there were things you can do more of to lose weight? Here are four surprising things that you can do more of that may help speed up your weight loss.
1. Eat More Often
Dieting is not about eating less but eating food that is better for you. It is best to eat five or six smaller meals a day instead of two or three large meals to keep your metabolism active. This can help your body to burn more calories throughout the day. Try having three healthy meals a day and two to three healthy snacks between meals.
2. Get More Sleep
It is very important to not skimp on sleep when you are trying to lose weight. Several studies have shown that the amount of sleep that you can get each day has a great effect on weight loss. Getting less than five hours of sleep has been shown to increase your level of certain hunger hormones, decrease your metabolism, and reduce your self-control, which can cause you to make poor food choices. Aim for at least eight hours of sleep per night.
3. Drink More Coffee
The caffeine in coffee can increase your metabolism and cause you to burn more fat during your workout and throughout the day. Just skip the sugar and cream and drink the coffee black. The caffeine in coffee also helps to reduce muscle pain, so you can exercise longer.
4. Find More Time to Relax
When your body is stressed, it builds up a hormone called cortisol. When your cortisol levels increase it is harder for you to say no to the things that can wreck your diet, like alcohol, sugar, and carbs. If you are experiencing excess stress regularly, it may be hindering your weight loss. You should try your best to remove yourself from the stressful situation and find time to do things that are relaxing, like meditation, yoga, or even relaxing with a good book or movie.
If you need more assistance with maintaining your health, contact various companies that offer weight loss programs.