For all those of you who have always wondered whether it is possible to achieve a leaner look in a matter of days, the answer is yes. Losing weight and being fitter is all about the kind of lifestyle you lead, and making a few tweaks. Here are some tips that will help you lose 2–3 kgs in just 10 days.
Drink water
Keep yourself hydrated throughout the day. Water has a very important role in helping flush out toxins from the body.
“Drinking water first thing in the morning gets your metabolism running. It also helps in curbing those hunger pangs which make you crave for snacks,” says Ishi Khosla, a clinical nutritionist at the Centre For Dietary Counselling in Delhi, and also the founder of The Celiac Society Of India.
Walk after meals
A short, five-minute walk after meals not only aids digestion but also helps in burning some calories. It has been found that a post-meal walk helps in clearing glucose from the bloodstream in part. This is because a lot of it is taken by the muscles for activities.
Eat more fibre, cut added sugars
“Increase intake of vegetables, salads and soups. Dedicate one meal only to vegetables or sprouts. Cut back on cereals after 7 pm. Snack on nuts, chana, seeds or fruits. And of course ditch hard drinks as far as possible,” advises Khosla.
Eat at home
This one is a no-brainer. We have all heard our elders advising us to eat home-cooked food.
“With the kind of busy lifestyle people lead today, it is not uncommon to eat outside or get something for later. However, such food is often high in fat and oil and therefore, over time, can make you gain weight in an unhealthy manner. Cooking at home allows you to have control over the ingredients,” explains Tanisha Mehta, a Bangalore based nutritionist at Columbia Asia Hospital.
Eat less salt
“Do not stock up on all those processed items available over the counter. This includes chips, biscuits, and the like. These are high in salt, which is added as a preservative. Consuming extra salt can leave you looking and feeling bloated,” says Mehta.
Exercise
Indulge in minimum 30 minutes of physical activity every day. Combined with a healthy diet, this is one of the best ways to lose weight without harming the body. Pick an exercise routine that suits you and your schedule.
Stick to this regimen and you are sure to see visible results in a matter of few days.
Destress
Another thing to consider is your stress levels. Turns out higher stress levels equal higher levels of cortisol -- and that equals wanting to eat more. When you're under stress, there's emotional eating, there's less sleep, and in general less mindfulness. So relax! Your waistline needs it.A good place to start? Meditation or yoga. Yoga also burns calories, so that's two birds with one stone. If nothing else, take 15 minutes a day to sit down and get some zen. Too many days pass by where you don't get any "me" time!
Sleep
More science! It seems that those who sleep more, weigh less. And it makes sense -- you feel good, you're body is running normally, and you have less time to eat! So get in your 8 or so hours. You'll feel all the better for it.It has to do with your hormones leptin and ghrelin. Your levels get all sort of messed up and it leads to them telling your body you're hungry when you're really just tired. And to top it off, when you're sleepy, you load up on sugar, grab take out for dinner because you're tired, and skip the gym for the same reason. That's three strikes right there.
Carefully consider fad diets
Let's tell it like it is: if you spend the next 10 days drinking nothing but lemonade and Sriracha, you're going to lose a ton of weight. You'll just feel like crap a week from now and all the weight will come back when you reintroduce food to your body. It totally messes up your metabolism and if you're looking for a long-term solution, this isn't it. But if you're looking to fit into that dress? Well...maybe. Just be careful. And don't tell your mom we mentioned it.wikiHow's How to Lose weight fast has a great section on fad diets. Whether you're looking to only drink maple syrup, eat cabbage, spend days in the sauna, or get your colon cleansed, it has everything you'd ever want to know.
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