How to Jump-Start Weight Loss

One of the biggest obstacles to losing weight is getting started. Sometimes just the thought of starting a diet can make you turn the other way and head for the kitchen. The key to any successful diet or weight-loss program is to set realistic goals that you will be able to achieve. Adjusting eating and exercise habits is essential. There are some very basic things you can do to jump-start your weight loss that you should begin at least four days before you start your weight-loss program.

Instructions

1




Drink six to eight glasses of water every day.

Drinking six to eight glasses of water every day will help to boost your metabolism, which in turn will help your body burn more calories. Water also helps you feel full, less tired and offset any cravings.

2




Drink green tea every day.

Drink two to four cups of green tea every day. Green tea has antioxidant properties as well as metabolism-boosting properties. Drinking green tea by itself will not help you to lose weight. But when combined with other activities such as exercise, drinking lots of water and reducing calories, it is an effective tool for furthering weight loss. Prepare green tea by placing a tea bag in a cup of hot water. Let steep for five minutes before drinking.

3




Take a walk to jump-start your weight loss.

Increase your activity. Starting a new exercise program can sometimes be daunting. Here are some simple steps to get started: walk around the block once a day, do 10 jumping jacks every time you walk into the kitchen, park far away when going to the store, take the stairs and go for a short bike ride. Start with just five to 10 minutes every day and gradually increase the time over several weeks.

4




Picture yourself fitting into smaller-sized clothing.

Think "thin" thoughts. The mind is a powerful tool when it comes to weight loss. According to Pamela Peeke, MD, author of "Fit to Live," in an interview on WebMD.com, "Cut the mental fat, and that will lead to cutting the waistline fat... Visualize your future self, six months to a year down the road, and think of how good you'll look and feel without the extra pounds. Dig up old photographs of your thinner self and put them in a place as a reminder of what you are working toward. Ask yourself what you did back then that you could incorporate into your lifestyle today." And, Peeke adds, "Think about activities you would like to do but can't because of your weight."