A quick Google search for the phrase “Weight loss tips” will return nearly 200 million results in less than half-a-second. While it’s easy to appreciate and admire the search engine giant for such a response, it’s just as easy to become overwhelmed with the number of choices with which you’re presented. When seeing this massive list of possibilities, the phrase “What do I do now?” comes to mind.
In an effort to help you make your way through the clutter, I would like to share with you a great article at WebMD.com weight loss archives that offers you 10 Painless Ways to Lose Weight – Easy weight loss tips you can slip into your everyday life.
I’ll try to summarize the points I believe most important, knowing that you can click over to the article if you want more information.
How to change the way you think about exercise
Perhaps the most valuable of the weight loss tips in the article, at least for me as a health coach, is the advice they give about adjusting your mindset. In fact, of the 10 tips they share, I would say at least half of them relate directly to changing your thinking about what it takes to lose weight – and keep the weight off. For example, the very fact that you might seek a “painless” way to lose weight implies that you’re also looking for an “easy” way to lose weight. This type of thinking can set you up for failure, if you refuse to accept that there will be some sacrifice involved in losing weight.
Points one and two concern exercise, and developing a mindset that will help you increase your commitment to physical activity. I know many of people who “hate to work out” (to be honest, it’s not my favourite thing to do either) so, just as the article suggests, I work with them to shift their thinking from “working out” and “exercising” to “being more physical” instead. This simply means taking advantage of the things you enjoy doing, such as playing tennis perhaps, to increase the amount of exercise you’re getting. This way, your focus is on the game, not the “workout,” which makes it far more pleasurable.
You can also employ some of the regular tasks you must perform to increase physical activity. Need to make a business meeting nearby? Walk to it instead of driving. Need to clear the yard of leaves and mow the lawn this weekend? Pick up the rake in favour of the leaf blower, then make mowing a workout. Heading out to visit a client at their offices? Park your car at the back of the lot and walk to the entrance, then use the stairs instead of the elevator.
You see, simply by changing your mindset about physical activity – by seeking more of it instead of always avoiding it, you can begin to burn excess calories without consciously forcing yourself into a dreaded “workout.”
If you would like to get some help with changing your mindset, and get more weight loss tips, get in touch with me today for your FREE 30-Minute Wellness Consultation.
Thanks for reading and keep well.
Tara