Need to lose a few to slip into that little black dress for your Valentine’s Day rendezvous? No need to starve yourself and then end up proving to your date that though you may not eat animals, you sure can eat like them. Here are 5 easy ways to drop 5 pounds before the holiday of romance.
Need to lose a few to slip into that little black dress for your Valentine’s Day rendezvous? No need to starve yourself and then end up proving to your date that though you may not eat animals, you sure can eat like them. Here are 5 easy ways to drop 5 pounds before the holiday of romance.
How to lose 5 pounds fast
1. Add 10 to 15 minutes to your workouts
If your goal is to drop weight by date night, you should already be motivated to stick to your fitness plan. To accelerate your calorie-burning and boost your fitness level, simply add 10 to 15 more minutes of exercise to your day. It can be as simple as walking an extra mile with your pup, running around the yard with your kids, or spending 10 extra minutes on your favorite cardio machine. You can also download a variety of fitness apps to keep you motivated for the next month and beyond.
2. Cut the junk
As a vegan, you may eat less junk food than the average person, but being vegan doesn’t mean you’re eating clean. Throw out the processed vegan cookies, dairy-free ice cream, and high-sodium snacks. Rely on fresh foods (fruits and vegetables), complex carbohydrates (quinoa, wild rice, and oats), lean proteins (nuts, beans, and tofu), and healthy fats (olive oil, avocados, and flax). You’ll not only feel better, you’ll consume fewer calories and sodium, which will slim you down in days.
Even the healthiest selection of foods can hinder your weight loss efforts if you’re eating too many of them. We love the new Yum Yum Dishes, also a favorite of svelte actress Halle Berry, for stylish portion control; the 9-inch plate and 4-ounce bowls keep portions in perspective and can be proudly used at the dinner table. Other practical ways to rein in your eating is to simply dish out less than you normally eat, skip second helpings, don’t eat anything that doesn’t really do it for you (why waste the calories), and use portion control gadgets to get to know proper serving sizes.
4. Stay hydrated
Mild dehydration doesn’t just sap your energy so you ultimately burn fewer calories all day, it also mimics hunger, fooling you into eating when you aren’t indeed hungry. Keep a water bottle with you at all times and aim for 64 ounces of water every day. Use a reusable bottle, like the 16-ounce BPA-free Hydros Filtering Water Bottle, so you’re being kind to the environment while being kind to your own body. Bonus: Staying well-hydrated also promotes beautiful, radiant skin.
5. Sleep in
Believe it or not, staying in bed an hour longer can help you slim down. Lack of sleep puts stress on your body, chronically increasing your body’s cortisol (stress hormone) levels, which promotes emotional overeating and your body’s survival mechanism to hold on to fat in times of duress. Prioritize eight hours of shut-eye every night — it will boost your energy levels, help keep your hunger in check, and give you that happy well-rested beauty your Valentine’s Day mate will find irresistible.
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