Six ways to lose weight before Summer

Do you want to improve your health and wellbeing before Summer but don’t like the thought of dieting?

Food is only one part of the equation.  There are other simple steps you can take that will have a positive impact on your wellbeing as well as your waistline as we approach the Summer season.

Cut back on alcohol: Alcohol impedes digestion and sleep, and it also has a big impact on your liver and metabolism.  Studies have shown that just one drink can slow your metabolism down by up to 30% for up to 3 days!    Unfortunately, swapping to low carb alcohol alternatives won’t help much either because they still contain alcohol.  Give yourself as many alcohol-free days as possible for optimal health.

Just walk:  No need for long workouts at the gym: walking is fantastic for health. Studies have shown that even a quick 5-minute walk after a meal can significantly reduce blood sugar levels.

Go to bed 30 minutes earlier:  It’s not necessarily how much sleep you get that counts, it’s the time you go to bed.  The deep sleep you get before midnight is particularly restorative and some experts believe that each minute before midnight is worth double what you get after midnight.  So, going to bed 30 minutes earlier may give you the benefit of an extra hour of sleep.  Lack of sleep has been linked to increased appetite so going to bed earlier will also help you feel less hungry during the day.

Make water your first drink of the day and try to get at least 1.5 litres of water in before midday.  This can really help reduce tiredness in the afternoon.

Eat as early in the day as possible and stop eating 3-4 hours before you go to bed.  This gives your body enough time to fully process the meal, so when you go to bed it can use energy for other important health processes instead of digestion.

Hang a mirror in your kitchen:  An interesting study done in 2015 that showed that when participants had a mirror in their kitchen, they made better food choices , and it made unhealthy foods more unappealing.  It just goes to show, there’s always something new to try!

What we eat is important but other lifestyle actions are equally as important when it comes to overall wellbeing. Simple steps repeated daily will add up to great results by the time you're ready to hit the beach.