Saying you’re ‘too busy’ is usually an acceptable excuse. When it comes to losing weight though, it’s a thin explanation, as you don’t need much time to chop off calories.
With these savvy weight tips, you won’t need extra time in your day to get fit. You’ll only need a few minutes – or, seconds actually – if you adopt a few of these habits into your routine.
We’ll break down each tip based on how much time they take to incorporate – you’ll be shocked at how quick and easy these changes are, and the positive impact they’ll have.
In Just Two Seconds…
Order a coffee, black. A cup of coffee, complete with cream and sugar, is around 80 calories. A plain ol’, black cup of Joe? Zero. If you average two cups of coffee a day, cutting out the added creams and sugars will shave 14 pounds in a year.
Can’t stand that bitter taste? Maybe these weight loss teas are more up your alley.
In Just Five Seconds…
Follow your nose. Studies have shown that smelling fresh fruits can keep your appetite in check, and reduce cravings for sugary dessert alternatives. The scent of the produce supposedly subconsciously makes you want to defer to healthier options. Keep some fruit nearby your desk, unless you have a problem with flies, of course.
In Just 15 seconds…
Take a trip to candyland – in your mind. Amazingly, daydreaming about eating a ton of your favourite candy before actually consuming the real thing will make you eat less of it. In a study, a group of participants were asked to think about eating 3 or 30 M&M’s. When they were offered the real thing afterwards, the participants that imagined eating a lot, ate less in reality.
In Just 75 seconds…
Blast frozen vegetables. Canned foods just don’t get the job done. Frozen veggies on the other hand, retain a lot of the nutrients found in fresh ones. A study in the Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture found that for some vegetables, canning degraded as much as 95 percent of the vitamin C.
In Just 100 Seconds…
Choose stone fruit. According to new research, ‘stone fruits’ – so produce like plums, peaches and nectarines – ward off belly fat, high cholesterol and insulin resistance. These flexible fruits make for a great midday snack, or you can chop them up and throw them in a salad/morning cereal.
In Just Two Minutes…
Pregame that dinner. Now eating before you go out to eat may not make sense, but go with it for a second. Studies out of Penn State found that chowing down on an apple, or slurping a broth-based soup before heading out for a meal can reduce your total calorie intake by 20%.
An average restaurant meal packs on 1,128 calories; saving 20% a day results in a loss of 23 pounds after 12 months.
Finally, in just 10 minutes…
Prepare the beef feast. Compared to the rest of the list, 10 minutes is an eternity, so maybe save this one for a jammed weekend. Heat one tablespoon canola oil in a pan over high heat, and brown a three-pound chuck roast on all sides for about 10 minutes.
While that’s cooking, get some onions and mushrooms sliced up. When the meat’s done, toss it in a slow-cooker with the onions and mushrooms, along with two tablespoons of red wine vinegar, one tablespoon of Worcestershire sauce, some bay leaves and a can of dark beer.
Cook on low. After six hours, you’re ready to serve a wicked tasting meal that’s just 345 calories/serving.
Photo credit: Adumm76/Shutterstock
