Slimming up for the summer

The countdown to summer has begun, and the excitement is rising! Summer clothes are flooding stores, coats are being thrown off, and we’re all set for some fun in the sun. Unfortunately, lots of us are suddenly self-conscious, because the cutest of styles invariably make us feel chubby and inadequate. This leads to either low self-esteem, or extreme diets and bouts of exercise that are in no way good for us!

No matter your body type, it’s important to accept yourself and feel beautiful – loving yourself is one of the most important health and beauty tips there is! But looking to shed those winter pounds and have a healthy, active summer is good for both your mind and body – so if you’ve decided to take that step, here are a few simple tips to make sure you get slim – safely and gradually!

Don’t give in to fads!

Be very, very wary of diets or regimes that promise instant results – they’re likely going to take a terrible toll on your body, and won’t produce lasting effects – the second you stop them, you’ll put all that weight back on again! Avoid weight-loss pills, as well – many of them haven’t been tested for long-term health results. Most things worth having don’t come quickly and easily – so if you’re looking to wear bikinis in June and July, this is a good time to start!

Absolutely don’t skip meals.

This may sound odd, and you may already be skipping meals to cut down on your calories. That’s terrible – what you’re actually missing out on are nutrients and energy! In fact, skipping breakfast, which is the most important meal of the day, lowers your metabolism and makes it harder to lose weight! Eat all your meals, and make sure to have a good, healthy breakfast! It’ll boost your metabolism for the day, allowing you to burn more fat when you do eat. You’ll also avoid all the other health issues that skipping meals leads to!.

Eat less, more!

Split your food intake for the day into several small meals rather than three large ones. Have a good breakfast, then a mid morning snack, then a small lunch, and then a 4 PM snack, and then dinner. Eating less food more often cuts down cravings, keeps your energy up, and lets you avoid being hungry and obsessing about food. And when you do eat, you eat less!

Eat filling foods that are good for you!

Don’t load up on empty calories like bread and pasta. Filling, nutritious foods like porridge, oatmeal, soups, potatoes, eggs, beans, avocados, apples, bananas and nuts keep you full and consuming less calories. Or you can supplement your meals with high-fibre carb substitutes like Slim Pasta.

Cut down on junk and alcohol.

It’s safest to eat food you’ve made at home, as you know exactly what went into it! Plan out healthy meals and prepare ingredients in advance, to make it easy for you to make your meals. When you do go out, avoid eating junk food, and cut out alcohol (empty calories!) as much as you can.

Eat slowly, chew your food, and stop when you’re full.

A huge portion of digestion happens in your mouth! Wolfing your food down interferes with this, and also stops you from figuring out when you’ve eaten enough. Chew your food slowly, in small bites and swallow before taking the next spoonful. It’s worth the little extra time! Stop eating when your body tells you you’ve had enough. Never force yourself to finish your food – pack it and put it in the refrigerator if you’re afraid of wasting.

Stay mobile!

Get exercise any way you can! Don’t make it a chore. Just make it something you do everyday! Try walking wherever you go, instead of driving short distances or taking a bus. Take pleasant walks around a nearby park or lake. Try standing while watching TV or reading – you burn more calories that way! Start your day with a few push-ups, sit-ups or crunches. Have a game of football or some other sport with your friends. Just stay active! If you’ve got a regular exercise or gym routine going, that’s great, but if you can’t or don’t want to, there’s so much else to do. Just stay mobile.

Slimming down slowly and gradually is the best and most sustainable way to lose weight! Do your body a favour and try it before you subscribe to the latest fad diet or gruelling workout regime.