1. Try eating more regularly, even if it means more frequently. Eat an average of 5 small meals a day, instead of 2 or 3 large ones, where you stuff yourself. Be conscious about what you eat. Keep a food diary and note down everything you eat. You may be shocked at the results.
2. Take before and after photos. There’s no easier way to illustrate your progress. The “after” photos are far more fun to capture and share, admittedly.
3. Drink a lot of water. This reduces hunger pangs and gives you more energy. If you’re not drinking enough water, your body will let you know. Thirst is an amazing sensation - quench it. If you’re not hydrated, your body won’t be working at peak levels. Most of your body happens to be water, by the way. If you’re worried about “water weight,” remember that you’re likely to retain more water when you’re not giving your body enough of it in the first place. Besides, that’s what those workout sessions are supposed to help with every other morning.
4. Join an aerobics class. It's more disciplined and it's always better to work out in a group.
5. Stay busy. Don't just sit around wasting time. Chances are your mind will wander to that delicious chocolate cake? Partake in activities that are not conducive to eating. Join a singing class, take up oil painting or gardening - cultivate a hobby. When you reach for the refrigerator, stop and question yourself. Are you just bored or are you really hungry? In most of the cases the answer will be the former. Stick little post-it notes on the refrigerator saying, Stop! Or Reach for a glass of water.
6. Don’t compare yourself to others. Every body is different. It stands to reason that everybody will lose weight differently. Even if you do the exact same things that I do, you won’t lose weight at the same rate. The key is in finding your triggers. Keep your goal in sight, and do whatever you have to do to meet that goal. When you start looking at someone else’s habits, you’re only going to become discouraged and quit without even realizing that it’s physically impossible to be anybody but yourself.
7. If you have to snack, try this. It’s okay to snack between meals, really. Small meals throughout the day are enough to keep you satisfied, as (much like the sensation of being full) you never want to feel hungry. Let your body know it’s going to get a regular regimen of calories. Plus, if you starve yourself for the regular meals, you’re probably going to eat more before your brain tells your mouth to stop. Think about it: breakfast, lunch, and dinner are social constructs at their very core.
8. Sleep it off. To be an efficient fat-burning machine, your body requires at least eight hours of sleep a night. If you think that you’re doing yourself a favor by sleeping less, you’re mistaken. Give your body time to rest, both mentally and physically. Sleep is very important.
9. Visualize how you will look without those extra kilograms. Buy clothes a size smaller and work towards fitting into them.
10. Set realistic goals. You can lose 50 pounds in a week if you work out 12 hours a day and eat nothing but celery - but not if you’re human. Slow and steady wins the race. Don’t bite off more than you can chew - literally. Make small goals on your way to the bigger goal(s). In the end, you’ll have achieved more.
11. Get motivated. No one is going to lose your weight for you. You're going to have to do it all by yourself, and if the motivation doesn't come from within you, no amount of friends and family pushing you to lose weight is going to help.