If you’re looking for some tried and tested weight loss tips for women, then look no further. Here are ten tips that have helped me lose weight over the years. Some are obvious, others are more subtle, but I’m confident that they can help you achieve your goals of losing weight and getting into better shape.
Hire a Personal Trainer
There’s no better way to work out than with a trainer by your side, motivating you to push through those last few reps. Hiring a personal trainer may not be in your budget (although, if it is, that’s great), but there are plenty of other weight loss tips for women that won’t put too much of a dent in your bank account. Need some? Here are 10 tried-and-tested ways to help you get fit fast.
Cut Down on Alcohol
While it may not be a weight-loss pro tip, cutting down on alcohol can do wonders for your waistline. Alcohol contains seven calories per gram—more than both carbohydrates and protein—and is packed with sugar. If you’re having one glass of wine or beer (or any other form of alcohol) with dinner or in place of dinner, consider substituting that drink with one of these healthy dinners that won’t ruin your weight loss progress! And remember: don’t replace alcoholic drinks with sugary sodas and juices.
Cut Down on Sugar
Sugar is one of those things that people don’t realize just how much they consume. Many weight loss experts recommend consuming less than 100 grams of sugar per day in order to drop pounds. That seems like a lot, but it can be done by cutting down on processed foods and soda. Even better, get your sweet fix from fruit rather than sweets; you’ll be doing your body a world of good. Plus, eating healthy fats found in avocados and nuts has been shown to help with losing weight. These healthy sources of fat keep us feeling fuller longer while helping our bodies burn excess calories more effectively.
Eat Breakfast
Research has shown that eating breakfast is important if you want to lose weight. It will help you lose weight faster, make you feel less hungry later in the day, and keep your energy levels high throughout your morning. All of these factors help prevent snacking on high-calorie foods during mid-morning or mid-afternoon hunger pangs. Start your day off right by eating a healthy breakfast before you head out to work or school!
Reduce Portions
Portion sizes have ballooned over recent decades, leading many of us to consume more calories than ever before. Cutting back on portions can be a major factor in successful weight loss. In fact, research suggests that women who cut portion sizes by an average of half a serving were able to lose almost 4 times as much weight as those who did not [7]. Next time you’re planning your meals, try weighing or measuring servings rather than eyeballing them. For example, if you want two cups of pasta but only have one cup measured out, try using two servings instead and saving the rest for another meal. You could also use smaller plates so everything seems bigger by comparison!
Eat Whole Foods First
Not only are whole foods generally more nutritious than their processed counterparts, but there’s also a good chance they’ll be healthier than any packaged alternatives. If you need some ideas of what to eat, start with my list of 23 whole foods every woman should know how to cook. We do our best to source organic and local foods when possible—and while it might cost us a bit extra, we feel that both our bodies and our taste buds reap the benefits. As you work on building your grocery-shopping skills, check out these recipes on Cooking Light as well; not only will you find many healthy options here, but many of them use affordable ingredients that keep your budget in mind as well.
Exercise Regularly
You’ve heard it a million times: Exercise more! Despite being incredibly cliché, there’s no denying that it works. Exercise regularly to lose weight. If you need some inspiration to get started, here are our top 10 tried-and-tested tips to help you lose weight quickly . Plus, adding regular exercise is also good for your overall health. We don’t often think about how exercise can have such a huge impact on things like heart disease and arthritis—but it does. All in all, your life will be so much better if you exercise regularly. Don’t believe us?
Eat an Apple Every Day
One of our favorite simple weight loss tips, because it’s healthy, effective, and won’t break your bank: Eat an apple a day. That’s right—one whole apple. Apples are full of fiber, which will make you feel fuller longer—helping you resist mindlessly munching all day long. One study even found that eating an apple before meals leads to a 40% reduction in daily calorie intake! [1] And they don’t just keep you feeling full; apples can also help with your waistline, thanks to their ability to kick start digestion and suppress appetite-boosting hormones like ghrelin. Want more reasons why apples (and other fruits) can be good for you? Check out these 22 Benefits of Apples (Science Proves They're Good For You). Do you need any more encouragement to snack on an apple instead of cookies or chips?
Try Intermittent Fasting
On intermittent fasting, you restrict your calorie intake over a certain time period (usually between six to 12 hours) each day. Doing so forces your body to go into starvation mode which means that it burns fat instead of carbohydrates. For example, during an eight-hour feeding window from 11am until 7pm, only drinking water and non-caloric beverages will be allowed. No solid food or calories are consumed within these eight hours.
Get Enough Sleep
When it comes to weight loss, getting enough sleep is critical. Studies have shown that people who don’t get enough sleep tend to weigh more than those who get an appropriate amount of shut-eye each night. One study even revealed that women who got fewer than six hours of sleep a night put on two and a half times as much belly fat as women who slept at least seven hours per night. Yikes! If you think you’re doing everything right when it comes to your diet but still can’t lose weight, make sure you are also getting enough quality sleep on a regular basis.