Hydration and Weight Loss

Importance of Water

Almost two thirds of the human body is made up of water. Its roles include everything from removing waste to regulating body temperature to lubricating joints, just to name a few. Water also acts as a natural appetite suppressant and aids in metabolism. With all these functions, the consumption of water is vital to the normal functioning of the body.

Effects of Dehydration

A lack of water consumption can be detrimental to your body. If your hydration levels drop by only 2 percent, you may experience fuzzy thoughts, lack of concentration and difficulty focusing visually. If you often feel fatigued in the middle of the day and cannot figure out why, dehydration is likely the culprit, which in turn makes exercise difficult to perform. When you are not properly hydrated, you may also feel a burning sensation in your stomach that is similar to hunger pangs. This feeling can mistakenly lead you to unnecessary calorie consumption. It has also been linked to increased risk of cancer, premature aging, irritability, anxiety and numerous other ailments. Links have even been made between chronic dehydration and obesity.

Drinking More Water Helps You Consume Less Calories

Dieting can be particularly challenging, especially if your body feels deprived. But research has shown that drinking more water can help you eat less.
A 2010 Virginia Tech study[ii] followed 48 adults over 12 weeks who were dieting. Participants were split into two groups: one that followed a low-calorie diet and another that followed that same diet, but drank 500 ml (about 2 cups) of water before breakfast, lunch and dinner.
After 12 weeks, the participants who were drinking more water had lost about 5 pounds more.
Why? For one, they were eating less; the second group ate about 75-90 less calories per meal.  Plus, by drinking more water, the research team concluded that they were drinking less sugary drinks.

 How Water Aids Weight Loss

According to Revive Your Life, a study conducted at the University of Washington found that drinking one 8-oz. glass of water eliminated midnight hunger pangs in 98 percent of the subjects, thus decreasing caloric intake from midnight snacks. Water may also cause an increase in energy, allowing you to push harder through those workouts. "The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism" published a study in 2003 examining the thermogenic effect of water. Researchers led by Michael Boschmann found that consuming 16 oz. of water caused a 30 percent increase in metabolism, mostly attributable to the body warming the water to body temperature.

What Drinking Ice Cold Water Does to the Body:      The most direct way that water helps increase calorie burn and weight loss lies in the way your body absorbs water. The body must first warm (or cool) fluids that enter the body to 98.6°F (body temperature) before they can be utilized. This process requires energy (calories) to either create heat (if drinking something below body temperature) or remove heat (when drinking something above body temperature). The calories required to do this are not a lot, but over time it can make a big difference.

     The following example is specific to cold fluids but the effect of hot fluids is the same though the numbers are slightly different.

     You burn roughly one calorie for every fluid ounce of water you drink, but this only counts if the water is extremely cold. Lets say you drink a liter of ice cold water - that is an extra 32 calories burned without doing any extra physical activity. That does not sound like much but keep this in mind; if you drink only one liter of ice-cold water everyday that is an extra expenditure of 224 calories per week, 896 calories per month and 10,752 per year - that is equal to 3 pounds of fat that you will have lost (or at least not gained) by simply drinking cold water. Though every individual has varying hydration needs, it is likely that you need a lot more than just one liter of water per day (particularly if you are physically active), so these numbers could easily be more impressive if you just increased your intake. How easy is that! Now keep in mind that this is just the first and most direct effect water has on the body. In actuality, being properly hydrated can have an even more significant effect on calorie burn.

Other Drinks

Pure water is the most beneficial form of liquid to consume. Sugary drinks contain empty calories, plus they can cause your body to struggle to absorb the water it needs. Caffeinated drinks can be even more damaging due to caffeine’s diuretic effect, causing the amount of excretion of water from the body to be elevated.

How to Trick Yourself Into Drinking More Water Every Day

 If you already have a good morning and bedtime routine, make drinking water a part of it. You can still have your morning coffee, but add a glass of water in beforehand. The Natural Choice blog recommends having a glass at the same time and in the same place during your routine every day:

...get in the habit of drinking a glass of water right after you get out of the shower, or right before you wash your face at night. This is an easy way to add at least two glasses of water a day to your routine.

Wake up, have a glass of water. Get ready for bed, have a glass of water. Just by doing that you get a head start on the rest of the day. If you’re having a hard time remembering to incorporate it in your routine, find ways to make your water more visible. Put a glass of water on your nightstand so you see it before you go to bed or have a glass waiting by the coffee maker so you remember to have a glass while your coffee is brewing.

Get a Decent Water Bottle and Mark It with Time-Oriented Goals

 Water bottles are an excellent way to increase your water intake. Get a high-quality one, even if it costs you a little more. A good stainless steel or heavy-duty plastic bottle should do the trick. Once you’ve found one you like, take it with you everywhere.

 You can take your water bottle usage to the next level by coming up with your own timed drinking goals and marking it on the bottle. Get some tape or a label maker and start marking how much water you’d like to drink by a certain time every day. This way you can actually see your water drinking goal and you’ll know whether you need to play catch up or if you’re ahead of the game.

Whether it’s your favorite color or a unique design, the more you bond with your bottle, the less likely you’ll be to lose it. Slap an inspirational sticker or image onto it, or even write on it with a permanent marker. Now you’re ready to drink from it throughout the day—don’t forget to refill it as soon as it’s empty.

There are a lot of good options for water bottles out there, but the most important thing is that you like it. You’ll never stay on track with a water bottle you hate using or are embarrassed to be seen with.

Make It a Game

 Gamification is an effective way to get yourself to do a lot of things, and drinking water is no exception. Incentivize your new water habit by rewarding yourself when you reach milestones. Go a whole week drinking your goal every day? Treat yourself to something you don’t normally get. It goes both ways too. Forget to drink enough water yesterday? No Netflix or video games until you’ve made up for it.

Competition is a great way to keep your drive too, and on her blog, the “Tri Sport Girl” suggests a race is the perfect way to compete with yourself:

Everything is more fun as a competition.... Apply the same concept to water consumption, and suddenly you’re racing to see how much water you can drink by lunchtime (my current PB is 1.25L) or how soon in the day you can finish 2L (my PB is 2:36pm).

Just be sure you’re not just drinking a bunch of water in the morning and none for the rest of the day. It’s best to spread it out, but a challenge is always a good way to keep yourself engaged. However you like to gamify your life, find a tool that works for you and track what you do. When you can see how well you’re playing your own game it can only help you.

Set a Timer and Create Mental Triggers

If you’re still having a hard time remembering to drink water, set a timer on your phone. Create a few alarms set to go off throughout the day and when one goes off chug a big glass of water. This might seem like overkill, but nothing snaps you back into a routine like a phone screaming at you to drink.
Part of building a new habit is finding a way to do things without the need of outside help, however, so it’s a good idea to create your own mental triggers. For example, if you start to feel hungry, have a glass of water. This does a few things for you: it’ll help your stomach and intestine on the digestive front, keep you hydrated, and possibly even curb your hunger. In fact, you may not even be that hungry and your brain just sent you the wrong signals for what it needed.


You can also make mental triggers for other things like having a glass of water every time you use the restroom or taking a sip of water every time you stop working. Have a sudden craving for junk food? Grab a glass of water instead. Triggers can be requirements you have to meet as well.

Jazz Up Your Water Drinking Experience

 You might be more inclined to drink water if it was a little more interesting. If that’s the case, there are plenty of ways to go beyond plain, boring H2O. Some fruit or cucumber in your water adds a little flavor without adding in the sugar you’d find in straight fruit juice. Freeze some lemon slices in ice cubes for an easy water upgrade or try a little ginger and herbs to switch things up a bit. If you’re missing the fizz from your soda, try some sparkling water or club soda. You’ll get the bubbly without the other not-so-great stuff. Check out my detox and fat flush water recipes.

Eat Your Water

Yes, food has water in it too. It may not have enough for you to only eat your daily intake of water, but there are some foods you can snack on that can help. Fruits and vegetables are a great source of water, and also make for a healthy alternative to chips or candy. Here are some of the fruits and veggies with the highest water content:

Cucumber, Lettuce, Celery, Radishes, Tomatoes, Bell Peppers, Cauliflower, Watermelon, Spinach, Strawberries, Broccoli, Grapefruit, Apricots, Cherries, Grapes, and Zucchini.

Pick your favorites and keep those around. It’s important to note, however, that when you cook these things, they lose a lot of their water, so they’re best eaten raw.

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Drinking more water can literally change your life for the better. When you’re properly hydrated, you can digest easier, sleep better, and think clearer. Learn to love the taste of water, because every single sip is good for you.

Morning routines to help you lose weight

The best part of mornings is that they’re so full of potential! No matter whether you laced up your sneaks yesterday or overindulged on a co-worker’s birthday cake, it’s a fresh chance to get closer to your health goals. To keep that get-fit momentum going all day long, start your day off right with these morning habits that will motivate you even more.

 

Get Some Sun

Basking in the sun’s rays can help you drop pounds, according to research published in the journal PLOS ONE. Study authors had 54 participants wear wrist monitors that recorded their exposure to morning light for seven days. During that period, participants kept food diaries to track their calorie intake. The people who spent more time in morning light had lower BMIs than those who were in the dark, no matter their age, activity level, or what they ate. Why? Morning light helps regulate your internal clock, which aids your sleep schedule (crucial for weight loss). Morning sunshine also contains higher levels of blue light, which has the strongest effect on your circadian rhythm. You only need 20-30 minutes of morning sunlight between 8 a.m. and noon to get in on these benefits!

 

Sleep In

This one goes hand-in-hand with the previous tip. Spending more time on those precious Zzzs can help you eat less and have fewer cravings than people who skimp on sleep. Researchers at the University of Chicago and the University of Wisconsin tracked the sleep of 10 overweight young adults who were at risk for obesity and who self-reported fewer than six and a half hours of shut-eye each night. For the first week of the study, they stuck with their regular sleep schedules. For the second and third, the study authors had them bump it up to eight and a half hours. On average, they slept around an additional 1.6 hours and experienced a 14 percent decrease in appetite and a 62 percent drop in cravings for sweet and salty junk. If you’re groaning each time your alarm goes off, try to rearrange your schedule so you can spend a little more a.m. time in bed.

Get in a Mindful Mood

Mindfulness is a key strategy when it comes to weight loss. It’s all about taking a focused, intentional approach to your life by really tuning in to your body and mind. Even better, it can stabilize your emotions, potentially making you less likely to give into stress-based eating. Researchers at the University of Utah had 38 people between ages 20 to 45 fill out a survey that measured how mindful they were naturally. For two days, participants rated their emotions throughout the day in addition to tracking their physical and cognitive arousal before sleep to measure anxiety. Those who were naturally mindful had experienced less irregular mood swings. Rather than trying to kick-start this habit when faced with your first meal, begin your morning with mindfulness instead: Take a few minutes at the start of each day to sit quietly and focus on the rhythm of your breath. 

Change Up Your Commute

Driving to work is easy, but it may not be best for your waistline. A study published in the journal BMJ shows that people who walk, bike, and take public transportation have lower BMIs and body-fat percentages than those who depended on their cars to get to work. The University College London team of researchers collected the BMIs and body-fat percentages of more than 7,000 people. Participants then completed a survey about how they usually got themselves to the office. The women who used a method other than a car had a BMI that was around 0.7 less than the others, which is about a 5.5-pound difference on the scale. Note that this doesn’t exclude public transportation! Even walking to the closest bus stop or train station can be beneficial.

Go High-Protein

While the jury’s still out on whether breakfast is essential for weight loss, a healthy dose of protein in the morning looks like it can help you drop pounds. Scientists at Biofortis Clinical Research and the University of Missouri department of exercise physiology and nutrition gave 35 women from the ages of 18 to 55 three different breakfasts. One was just a glass of water, while the others clocked in at around 300 calories each (and had equal fat and fiber counts). One of those had three grams of protein, while the other had 30 to 39 grams, which is more than two-thirds of the RDA. Those who had high-protein breakfasts felt less hungry and ate 175 fewer calories at lunch. Protein takes a long time to digest and pushes your body to secrete the gut hormone Peptide YY, which helps increase feelings of fullness.

Work Up a Sweat

Obviously, working out at any point is going to be a good thing! But beside giving your metabolism a boost that lasts well into the day, a study in the journal Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise found that women who exercised in the morning were less distracted by pictures of delicious food. They had 17 participants with healthy weights and BMIs and 18 obese participants walk briskly for 45 minutes in the morning. Apart from not being as interested in pictures of unhealthy food, study subjects were more active throughout the day, no matter their weight.

Pack the Day’s Snacks

Avoid the afternoon dash to the office vending machine with this one: Take just a few minutes each morning to make sure you’ve got enough snacks to take you through the day, suggests Keri Glassman, M.S., R.D., a Women’s Health contributor. When you’ve just woken up, it’s easy to underestimate how much fuel you’ll need throughout the day and just throw an apple in your bag. Instead, budget extra time to whip up some quick, healthy snacks that will keep you on the road to weight-loss success. Even better, just throw them in your bag after prepping them the previous weekend.

Courtesy of:  Women's Health Magazine

25 Easy Ways To Fit In 10 Minutes Of Exercise

Experts recommend working out 45 minutes to an hour a day (30 minutes for beginners) for weight loss and fitness. But if you're like most women, you don't always have a block of 30 to 60 minutes a day to devote exclusively to doing your workouts.
Lest you think that short bursts of activity have a negligible effect on your fitness program, think again. One study found that women who split their exercise into 10-minute increments were more likely to exercise consistently, and lost more weight after five months, than women who exercised for 20 to 40 minutes at a time.


In a landmark study conducted at the University of Virginia, exercise physiologist Glenn Gaesser, PhD, asked men and women to complete 15 10-minute exercise routines a week. After just 21 days, the volunteers' aerobic fitness was equal to that of people 10 to 15 years younger. Their strength, muscular endurance, and flexibility were equal to those of people up to 20 years their junior. "It would be useful for people to get out of the all-or-nothing mind-set that unless they exercise for 30 minutes, they're wasting their time," says Gaesser.
Breaking exercise into small chunks on your over scheduled days can also keep your confidence up, since skipping it altogether can make you feel tired, guilty, or depressed. Keep in mind, though, that short bursts of exercise are meant to supplement, not replace, your regular fitness routine.

Here are simple, practical ways to work exercise into your day even when you're short on time:
Around the House
1. When you go outside to pick up your morning newspaper, take a brisk 5-minute power walk up the street in one direction and back in the other.
2. If you're housebound caring for a sick child or grandchild, hop on an exercise bike or do a treadmill workout while your ailing loved one naps.
3. Try 5 to 10 minutes of jumping jacks. (A 150-pound woman can burn 90 calories in one 10-minute session.)
4. Cooking dinner? Do standing push-ups while you wait for a pot to boil. Stand about an arm's length from the kitchen counter, and push your arms against the counter. Push in and out to get toned arms and shoulders.
5. After dinner, go outside and play tag or shoot baskets with your kids and their friends.
6. Just before bed or while you're giving yourself a facial at night, do a few repetitions of some dumbbell exercises, suggests exercise instructor Sheila Cluff, owner and founder of The Oaks at Ojai and The Palms, in Palm Springs, CA, who keeps a set of free weights on a shelf in front of her bathroom sink.

While Waiting

7. Walk around the block several times while you wait for your child to take a music lesson. As your fitness level improves, add 1-minute bursts of jogging to your walks.
8. Walk around medical buildings if you have a long wait for a doctor's appointment. "I always ask the receptionist to give me an idea of how long I have left to wait," Cluff says. "Most are usually very willing to tell you."
9. While your son or daughter plays a soccer game, walk around the field.
10. Turn a trip to a park with your child into a mini-workout for you. Throw a ball back and forth and run for fly balls.

At Work

11. Walk to work if you can. "I walked to work for months, 1½ miles each way," says Mary Dallman, PhD, professor of physiology at the University of California, San Francisco, and she really saw results.
12. If you dine out on your lunch hour, walk to a restaurant on a route that takes you a little bit out of your way.

13. If you have a meeting in another building, leave 5 or 10 minutes early (or take some time afterward), and do some extra walking.
14. On breaks, spend 5 to 10 minutes climbing stairs.
15. If you're pressed for time and must wait for an elevator, strengthen your core with ab exercises. Stand with your feet parallel and your knees relaxed. Contract the muscles around your belly button. Then elevate your upper torso, and release. Finally, contract your buttocks for a few seconds.
16. Use a ringing phone as an excuse to stretch your back. Stand with your feet astride. Imagine that you are encased in a plaster cast from your waist to your head. Gently tilt the lower part of your pelvis backward. Contract your abdominal muscles. Then gently tilt your pelvis forward.

When You're Watching TV

17. Put away your remote and change channels the old-fashioned way—by getting up and walking to the television set.
18. Dance as if you were 16 again. Put on a music program or MTV. Then dance like crazy, advises Peg Jordan, PhD, RN, author of The Fitness Instinct. "Free yourself to think of movement as something that you have a right to do," she says.
19. During commercials, jog in place. A 150-pound woman can burn up to 45 calories in 5 minutes. Or try a TV Show Workout
20. Do leg exercises and lifts with small weights while you watch The Weather Channel, cooking shows, movies, or the news.

While Traveling

21. Pack your sneakers and a fitness DVD. Call ahead to make sure your room has a DVD player. If it doesn't, ask to rent one from the hotel.
22. If you're traveling by car, stop twice a day for short, brisk walks and some stretching.
23. During layovers at airports, avoid the mechanized  moving carpets  that transport travelers from concourse to concourse.  If you're in between flights, walk around the concourse as much as you can
24. Book a hotel room between the fifth and eighth floors, then ignore the elevator. Better yet, take two stairs at a time. (Check with the hotel first because for security reasons some hotels do not allow guests to use stairs except for emergencies.)
25. Do calf stretches while riding in elevators.

Main thing is get up and move and get your heart rate up. 

Don't forget to love yourself!

Hey you! Did you know that you’re very special? 

There is no other person in this world like you. You deserve to be loved not only by those around you but by the most important person in your life — YOU. Practicing self-love can be challenging for many of us, especially in times when we face serious challenges. It’s not about being self-absorbed or narcissistic, it’s about getting in touch with ourselves, our well-being and our happiness. We practice self-love so we can push through our limiting beliefs and live a life that truly shines.

So do yourself a favor, take a deep breath, give yourself a little hug and start practicing the following:

1. Start each day by telling yourself something really positive. How well you handled a situation, how lovely you look today. Anything that will make you smile.
2. Fill your body with food and drink that nourishes it and makes it thrive.
3. Move that gorgeous body of yours every single day and learn to love the skin you’re in. You can’t hate your way into loving yourself.
4. Don’t believe everything you think. There is an inner critic inside of us trying to keep us small and safe. The downside is this also stops us from living a full life.
5. Surround yourself with people who love and encourage you. Let them remind you just how amazing you are.
6. Stop the comparisons. There is no one on this planet like you, so you cannot fairly compare yourself to someone else. The only person you should compare yourself to is you.
7. End all toxic relationships. Seriously. Anyone who makes you feel anything less than amazing doesn’t deserve to be a part of your life.
8. Celebrate your wins no matter how big or small. Pat yourself on the back and be proud of what you have achieved.
9. Step outside of your comfort zone and try something new. It’s incredible the feeling we get when we realize we have achieved something we didn’t know or think we could do before.
10. Embrace and love the things that make you different. This is what makes you special.
11. Realize that beauty cannot be defined. It is what you see it as. Don’t let any of those Photo shopped magazines make you feel like your body isn’t perfect. Even those models don’t look like that in real life.
12. Take time out to calm your mind every day. Breathe in and out, clear your mind of your thoughts and just be.
13. Follow your passion. You know that thing that gets you so excited but scares you at the same time. The thing you really want to do but have convinced yourself it won’t work. You should go do that!
14. Be patient but persistent. Self-love is ever evolving. It’s something that needs to be practiced daily but can take a lifetime to master. So be kind and support yourself through the hard times.
15. Be mindful of what you think, feel and want. Live your life in ways that truly reflect this.
16. Treat others with love and respect. It makes us feel better about ourselves when we treat others the way we hope to be treated. That doesn’t mean everybody will always repay the favor, but that’s their problem not yours.
    
17. Find something to be grateful for every day. It’s inevitable that you are going to have your down days. This is fine and very human of you. It’s especially important on these days to find at least one thing you are grateful for as it helps to shift your mind and energy around what’s going on.
18. Reach out to family, friends, healers, whomever you need to help you through the tough times. You are not expected to go through them alone.
19. Learn to say no. Saying no sometimes doesn’t make you a bad person, it makes you a smart person.
20. Forgive yourself. You know that thing you did one time (or maybe a few times) that made you feel bad, embarrassed, ashamed? It’s time to let that go. You can’t change the things you have done in the past but you can control your future. Look at it as a learning experience and believe in your ability to change.
21. Write it down. Head swimming with so many thoughts it’s giving you a headache? Write them all down on a piece of paper, no matter how crazy, mean, sad, or terrifying they are. Keep it in a journal, tear it up, burn it, whatever you need to do to let it go.
22. Turn off and inwards. Grab a cup of your favorite tea, coffee, wine, whatever your choice of drink, and sit down for a few minutes on your own. No TV or distractions, just you. Think about the wonderful things that are happening in your life right now, what your big dreams are and how you can make them happen.
23. Give up the need for approval from others. “You can be the ripest, juiciest peach in the world, and there’s still going to be somebody who hates peaches.” — Dita Von Teese
24. Be realistic. There is no person on this earth that is happy every single moment of every single day. You know why? Because we are all human. We make mistakes, we feel emotions (good and bad) and this is OK. Allow yourself to be human.
25. Get creative and express yourself in whatever way you like. Painting, writing, sculpting, building, music, whatever takes your fancy, and make sure you leave your inner critic at the door. There are no right ways to be creative.
26. Let go of past trauma and wounds. This can be a really tough one and it may be one of those times you need to turn to others for support. The truth is though, when we let go of things that have happened to us it’s almost like a weight is lifted off our shoulders. We don’t have to carry that around with us anymore. We deserve better.
    
27. Find your happy place. Where’s the one place you feel totally at ease, calm, happy, positive, high on life? Go to that place when you are going through hard times, or imagine yourself being there. Think about how it feels, what it smells like, what it looks like.
28. The next time you are feeling happy and on top of the world make a list of your best qualities and accomplishments. It may sound a little corny, but it can be a wonderful reminder when you are having a day that’s less than amazing.
29. Get in touch with your inner dialogue. If it’s anything less than loving, encouraging and supportive, it’s time to make a change. You deserve to be spoken to in the same way you would speak to your best friend, sister, brother, daughter, or son.
30. Have fun! Get out there and do the things that light your fire. Enjoy them, enjoy being you and enjoy your incredible life.

I feel better already :)

Fun Ways to help you lose weight this Summer

1. Swim

Swimming is one of the most rewarding ways to exercise and lose weight in summer.

On a hot day, there is nothing better than to take a dive into swimming pool and swim the day away.

On an average, a person of 140 pounds can burn approximately 190 calories in 30 minutes of moderate swimming, and who can stay in a cool pool on a hot day for just 30 minutes?

2. Hike

For the most part, those who vacation in the mountains find that it's much cooler in the summer, and thus makes for great hiking days, even in summer months.

Even on summer vacation, you can lose weight, all the while enjoying the stress-relief of the mountain outdoors.

Take a hike and walk the weight right off!

Not only is walking and hiking a great exercise, sweating is great for your health as well.

30 minutes of moderate hiking will also burn you approximately 190 calories, and that doesn't count the extra climbing in mountain hiking!

3. Walking the Beach

There is no place better to lose weight in summer than at a beautiful beach!

I find the beach to be so incredibly soothing that I simply want to live there and never leave.

However, if you've ever walking in sand before, you know the extra workout you get by a simple stroll.

In fact, you will burn more calories walking in sand that you will walking and jogging on the road, since your muscles are working harder with every step.

But the benefits don't end here.

You will also find that walking in sand is easier on your joints since it's soft.

Next time your beach walking, alternate between the soft, deep sand and the hard packed sand closer to the water for a full joint-easy workout.

4. Listen to Your Body

I don't know about you, but during the summer, when it's super hot, I tend to naturally have less of an appetite.

I have known people who shared that lack of appetite, and still feel the need to force themselves to eat full meals and stuff themselves.

Your body is an amazing invention, and has the ability to know what it needs and doesn't need. But, DON'T starve yourself, just eat smaller meals.

Naturally, in the winter, our bodies want us to put on a little weight in order to keep warm, but in the heat of the summer, it knows that weight gain isn't necessary, and shifts into a weight loss mode, so to speak.

If you follow your body's natural urges, you may find weight loss easier for you.

5. Keep Track

Another great way to lose weight in summer is to simply keep track of what you eat in a day.

For some, it's an eye-opener when they actually see on paper what all they're consuming in a 24 hour period.

Summer can be filled with lots of ice cream and fattening foods (which I know tastes good, but should always be in moderation) or lots of healthy snacks, such as fresh fruit and veggies and yummy salads!

Whatever you choose to eat, keep track and make changes where needed. I like to use my fitness pal, but there are several really good apps out there to use.

6. Grab a Friend

Who wants to go swimming alone?

Who wants to walk alone?

Who wants to diet alone?

Nobody!

It is human nature to want to share things with someone else.

If your hubby or significant other isn't interested in joining a more healthier you, find a friend who is.

7. Play Mind Games (on Yourself)

Whether these things have been proven, studies show that playing simple games on your mind will encourage you to lose weight.

Some say that the color blue will suppress your appetite, which is why you find few fast food places decorated in blue.

So, try surrounding yourself in the color blue when eating.

Also, if it's possible, eating in front of a mirror is said to aid weight loss as well, as most humans find it odd to see themselves eating.

Can't hurt to try these things, right?

 

 

8. Hydrate

Water is your best friend, especially in the hot months of summer.

Your body needs to stay hydrated to be healthy, and water is the best drink for weight loss.

In fact, it's been proven that making the simple change to drink only water every day is enough to help you start losing weight.

So hydrate and lose weight in summer!

Losing weight in summer doesn't have to be something to dread.

In fact, using these 8 Easy Ways to Lose Weight in Summer, you will be having so much fun you won't even realize you're actually losing weight!

 

 

Remember this chart when reaching for a something to hydrate you, best to choose water for all its healthy benefits.