Generally in an age when technology and office life often trumps health and exercise, it's easy to forget the basics when it comes to well being. It is easier to reach over the desk for a donut, or, 'one more' piece of chocolate, than it is to leave your work, put on your trainers, and go for a jog around the block. As a Western society we are obsessed with excuses, such as 'one more wouldn't hurt' or 'I've had a terrible day' or even 'it's that time of the month again'; but losing that extra bit of weight means gaining that extra bit of self control. And you know, as well as any other woman out there, that's tougher than it sounds. When a lot of people think of weight loss, they seem to envision some 'miracle' solution, such as is often advertised on those oh-so-common right hand internet ads, here, I'm going to break it off for you, unless there are drugs involved (a big no-no, just to clarify), there is no 'miracle solution', you cannot cheat your metabolism, you can only aid it. So, here, I've put together a few tips that probably will work for you (don't expect any miracles, though!)
Snack, and snack often
Of course I'm not talking about the chocolate bar! It's okay to reward yourself once in a while, but when health experts refer to snacking, they most often mean on healthy matter, like carrot sticks (sorry to disappoint). And so, here's my solution- replace that bowl of sweets or chocolate on your desk (I know you have one) with a plate of freshly chopped salad- carrot sticks, cucumber, and so on. Don't feel the need to gorge all at once, but if you get peckish, or have a craving, take the odd nibble while you continue on with your work. This not only replaces the chocolate, but adds one of your five a day to your snacking routine, and slightly increases your metabolism too!
Weekend runs
You don't need to commit to a gym membership to get a bit of exercise. In fact, running outdoors, as opposed to sticking to the treadmill, actually burns more calories, due to varying landscape, and wind resistance factors. Not everyone has a lot of time to take out of their busy work schedule, but if you have the weekends off, you should give it a go. It also gives you a great way to explore your local area on foot, and running is one of the best forms of exercise to speed up the metabolism.
Avoid ready meals
This goes without saying, so I shall be brief. Cooking yourself puts you in direct control of what goes into your meals, and so, is a good way to control the calories.
No-one said that losing weight was easy, in my mind, the key factor is perseverance, it can sometimes take months before you witness any noticeable change on the scales, but don't give up.
