While the holidays are “the most wonderful time of the year”, they tend to also be a time when overeating and unhealthy eating is common. After the holidays are over and you step on that scale for the first time, you may be tempted to go on a crash diet to shed the extra pounds fast, but quick-fix methods are not only unhealthy but also do not produce long-term results. Valley suggests eating foods that will boost your metabolism naturally or introducing fun new exercises into your everyday life to help shed the holiday weight.
When most people think of eating healthy to lose weight, they assume that their meals have to be boring, bland, and lacking creativity, but that couldn’t be further from the truth. If you are someone who enjoys a little heat in your cuisine, Dr. Scott Isaacs, endocrinologist and weight loss specialist for Health Magazine, suggests chopping up a tablespoon of hot chili peppers and mixing them in your meal. The chilies contain a chemical called capsaicin, which is known to boost your metabolism while adding some flavor to your dinner. Pair those chilies with grilled chicken and a serving of black beans for a fun Mexican dish that will fill you up as well as help kick your metabolism into gear.
According to HealthAmbition.com, green tea, grapefruit, almonds and turkey, along with chili peppers, are among the best foods to boost your metabolism. The higher your metabolism, the faster you can shed the weight!
Dr. Isaacs also suggests drinking ice-cold water throughout the day. If you are even slightly dehydrated, it can put the brakes on your metabolism and make it harder for your body to process fat in the most efficient way. Additionally, drinking ice water forces your body to heat up so it can be digested properly, burning calories in the process.
Another way to help ditch the extra weight in the New Year is to make exercising a key part of your everyday routine. Invest in some cute new workout clothes and challenge yourself to form a habit and adore the benefits. According to research from the University College London, it takes sixty-six days for a new habit to be formed. Start with an exercise that you like and choose a time everyday that will work in your schedule. The key to being successful is not forming any excuses for why you can’t workout that day.
“It’s so easy just to quit and say you’ll pick it up tomorrow, but soon tomorrow turns into three weeks and suddenly you have lost any progress you have made on the way,” says Kellen Redcay, a West Chester University sophomore, about the struggles of forming a good workout habit.
“Try your hardest to make it fun; make a playlist with all your favorite songs, go with a friend that will motivate and challenge you and switch up the exercises you do so you don’t get bored,” says Samantha Collina, a Penn State sophomore. “Working out is only as terrible as you make it seem.”
While Valley thinks you are perfect the way you are, remember that losing weight the healthy way by making small lifestyle changes is much more rewarding than a crash diet.
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