TIPS TO LOSE 5 POUNDS

Feeling a little soft around the belly? Did you eat a few too many sugar cookies over the holidays? I have five tips to help you lose five pounds while still enjoying all the meals.

I got the idea to lose a few pounds from our veterinarian.

I know.

We are a big dog family after rescuing a Bernese Mountain dog.

Owen came into our lives and hearts with pounds to gain. As he adjusted to his FUR-ever home he gained a few more pounds than our vet preferred.

Our veterinarian prefers his patients to be lean, and he says the same tips he advises for his four-legged patients, work for their human family members.

Our veterinarian suggested that Chloe lose five pounds without feeling angry. Are you ready? 

Eat less. Move more.

It sounds so simple when you read those fifteen letters.

I noticed after the holidays my jeans were snug, and my waistline had an extra inch (or two) on both sides. Oh wait, were those love handles?

I work out regularly but started a few bad habits during our extended staycation.

It was time to end a few bad habits like when I quit this one.

5 TIPS TO LOSE THE LOVE HANDLES

And you know what I rediscovered? A feeling I had not experienced in years. Years!

Hunger pains.

Over the past few years, I got into a terrible habit of snacking whenever my tummy grumbled. And my 45 Goldfish for 140 calories turned into a half bag of Goldfish …. every afternoon.

Here’s how I lost a few pounds and tackled those love handles.  And I mean a few. I hate to diet and do not do well with restrictions.

Here’s how I did it.

1.  Start every morning with 20 sips (gulps) of water.

Think about it what is the first thing you drink in the morning? If you say coffee, this tip will work well with your early morning routine.

While my coffee percolates, I drink 20 sips (gulps) of water. I like my water in a glass and  I don’t love a Nalgene bottle. My daughter uses something like this to get her water in for the day.

2. Stop eating  3 hours before bedtime.

This unhealthy habit snuck up on me. Last year, I would snack my way through an entire Costco-size bag of popcorn while watching Netflix.

Now, I go to bed hungry which was a feeling I had not felt in years. I make exceptions when we have dinner out with friends or family, but I think this tip is the one that jumpstarted my metabolism

3. One glass of wine.

Glass, not a bottle.

Nothing goods happen when I pour a 2nd glass of Sauvignon Blanc. Again, there are exceptions, but one glass of wine forces me to slow down and drink water.

4. Make less look like more

I have the same breakfast most mornings- one egg + one egg white and 2 strips of turkey bacon. The first thing I do when I reach for the turkey bacon is to use my kitchen shears and cut the bacon strips in half.

Visually I have two strips of turkey bacon. And after a few days, you won’t miss that 2nd, 70-calorie strip of bacon.

I did the same thing with my turkey sandwich. I went from a whole sandwich to a half. And, then,I added apples and spinach to my sandwich.

It’s so good that my younger sostarted to stack his sandwiches.

5. Add greens to everything

Now, if you are a real foodie, this may be unconventional, but I add spinach leaves to many meals. I add spinach to my sandwiches,

I layer my plate or bowl with spinach when we have pasta or nibble on spinach leaves as I prep for dinner.

6. Serving Size Chocolate

In my kitchen, I have a drawer dedicated to my sweet tooth. The second I cut out chocolate (or give it up at Lent), I will binge my way through a bag of M&M’s (full size).  And over the course of the year, I grabbed larger handfuls.

Now I pay attention to the serving size and deduct a few M&M’s or my favorite cocoa-dusted almonds from that serving size. Here is a sweet and salty snack recipe when a craving hits.

I am not a fan of scales. I get weighed at my annual exam, and I weigh myself in January.

But there is a little accountability on Tuesdays when I weigh myself.  Tuesdays are a good day for me because I enjoy the weekend and get back on track on Monday.

Now, I can’t even imagine not starting my day without 10 ounces of water before coffee. I also finish the day with water or hot decaf tea if we are watching Netflix.

Thanks for stopping by today! I would love it if you signed up for The Weekend Edit- an easy three-minute read that recaps the week’s projects, tips, or a funny short story.

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