10 easy lifestyles changes to help you lose weight!

With the lovely weather we have been having over the past few days I have been getting so so excited at the prospect of summer 2014. I am definitely a summer girl, I love absolutely everything about it. So with summer 2014 rapidly on its way I decided to do a quick blog on the top 10 easiest ways you can change your lifestyle to help you lose weight. These are some of the rules I try and follow in my everyday life so we will all be well on our way to looking like my fitspiration - Victoria Secrets angel Candice Swanepoel. Beach Bod 2014 WHOOOO!!!

1. Eat regularly- Ok this doesn't mean running every 5 minutes to the vending machine to get another packet of crisps. This means have you 3 main meals a day and small healthy snacks throughout. A small feeling of hunger is healthy for us, however skipping a meal can often mean that when it comes to dinner or lunch we make poor food choices and binge on unhealthy foods.

2. Portion Precision- I am the worst in the world for this, if a plate of food is set down in front of me, I'll do my best to scoff it all. If you are used to big portions try cutting your portion size down, we are programmed to not want to waste the food on our plate.  So even buying a smaller plate to trick yourself into thinking you are getting the same amount.

3. Liquid Calories- a simple way to cut out major calories is to stop drinking them. Fizzy drinks and sugary lattes can often be a hindrance when it comes to weight loss. That's not forgetting the alcoholic beverages we consume, a light beer contains about 100 calories, but it won't satisfy you the way food would.

4. Get more sleep!- Research has shown that those who do not get enough sleep tend to be more overweight. We have all been there, having to go to work after a late night always results in poor food choices-for me it's always something of the sugary variety! The lack of sleep will lead to a greater consumption of food and a poorer energy level for work outs. So aim for your 7-8hrs a night!

5. Keep active and stay active- Having regular exercise is necessary for a healthy lifestyle and for effective weight loss. However many of us now work in office based jobs, so a majority of our day is spent sitting on our bums. 30 minutes of cardio a day will help with weight loss - anything that gets your heart rate up will burn calories. And when it comes to our stationary office lives we need to take the stairs more often, make the trip to the printer or get off the bus one stop earlier.

6. Drink more water- apart from being great for your skin, water can also stop you from feeling hungry. Drinking a glass of water before a meal will leave you feeling fuller instantly and stop you from overeating. As well our bodies often confuse the feeling of thirst with hunger, which means we snack more (often on the unhealthy things).

7. High fibre is the way forward-Whenever the hunger pains hit, it is important to make sure we do make the right food choices. So avoid all those foods which provide you with empty calories (biscuits and crisps) and choose high fibre foods which will fill you up for longer. Fewer calories and you'll still be left feeling satisfied.

8. Make simple food swaps- Pick a lower calorie alternative when making food, choosing low fat mayonnaise on a sandwich or vinegerette instead of a dressing on a salad can save you loads of calories!

9.Wean yourself off sugar- Possibly one of the hardest things to do, but you can slowly reduce the sugar content of your diet.  You can replace those sugary empty calories with a natural sugar alternative and while fruit may not be able to compete with the sugary taste of sweet, It is important that you retrain your body to learn what is good for you.

10. By failing to prepare you are preparing to fail- be organised in your weight loss endeavor.  You can't eat healthily if you don't have good food to eat. So plan your meals and have the right food ready for you so you can't turn back.

Hopefully these weight loss tips work for you, let me know how you are getting on if you are on a lifestyle overhaul :) 

Lou <3