Five Random Tricks that Will Save Your Figure

We all know that weight loss boils down to calories in, calories out. But most of us have a slew of additional opportunities for shedding pounds that we’d never even think of. Try these 5 out-of-left-field tricks to ramp up your fat burning. Who knows? You might even have some fun while you’re doing it. 

1.  Do The Raid.

Teenagers are big fans of raiding the kitchen – after school, they tear through the cabinets and fridge in search of a junk food fix. So trying doing a raid of your own – with the opposite approach in mind:

  • Grab a cardboard box — the bigger, the better.
  • Next, go to your pantry. Take anything that’s unhealthy off the shelves and put it into the box. This is not the time to second-guess your “unhealthy” selections. Here is a guide for what to box up.
  • Anything with trans fats, hydrogenated fats, high-fructose corn syrup, added sugars, or artificial sweeteners
  • Sugary beverages, including fruit juices and soda
  • Chips, crackers, cookies, ice cream, candy, and packaged sweets, including crunchy, salty snacks, trail mix, pretzels, kettle corn, chocolate, and other packaged snacks.
  • Now what do you do? Donate it, of course. That food is not good for you at this point in your life, but maybe someone else could use it. Don’t let this box of temptation stay in your house too long. You need to get rid of it fast. At the very least, take it to your neighbor’s house. 

Even the steeliest self-resolve gives into temptation now and then. When you do the raid, you have entirely removed the possibility of unhealthy eating. You can control your environment to support a healthy lifestyle. When you eliminate the health-harming substances in your home, you replace it with a positive energy that can inspire and maintain optimal health. Make a clean break, and you’re likely to succeed. 


2. Plan, Shop, Done.

Nearly every unhealthy bit of food you eat originates at the grocery store. Impulse buying leads to impulse eating, which leads to dangerous diet choices. The more you go to the grocery store, the more likely you are to make unwise purchases. There is a way to succeed.

  • Plan. Chart out your menu for a month. Yes, one month. Decide ahead of time what you’re going to eat for each day. Make it simple. For example, pick out two or three breakfasts and rotate them the entire month. Plan out six or seven lunches, and use those on a weekly basis.
  • Shop.  Go to the grocery store, and buy only the ingredients that you’ll need for your first week of meals.
  • Done.  Each day, stick to your plan. Eating well requires a plan. Executing your plan takes discipline. Discipline has its rewards.

3. Splurge.

Sometimes, instead of rewarding yourself after completing a goal, you’ve got to reward yourself IN ADVANCE. That way, you’ll be motivated to achieve. And sometimes that motivation comes in the form of a mini splurge. Here’s how it works.

  • Buy a juicer or a blender. This is your splurge — the reward that obligates you to use it.
  • Commit to using the juicer or blender every day for a month.
  • Replace or supplement one meal per day with a juice or smoothie.

You can check out my easy protein smoothie recipe here.


4. Party on!

Who doesn’t love a good party? This time around, instead of the cheese dip and super-sugary spiked punch, transform your next soiree into a fun and festive fitness celebration.

  • Some of the best parties revolve around movement. You don’t have to be a professional dancer to enjoy some simple choreography. Crank up the music and get your guests on the dance floor. Need a little extra motivation to get them on their feet? Try popping in a Latin Dance DVD, so that everyone can follow along.
  • Jazz up your bar selection. If cocktails are on your party-planning menu, try mixing up some fun new options. Ginger margaritas and pomegranate martinis are surefire crowd pleasers, and they even offer a little superfood bonus boost. Shake them up from scratch to get a better tasting, lower calorie cocktail than anything you’d get from a sugary, pre-made mix.

5. Eat breakfast.

Eating breakfast is a nonnegotiable law of good health. When you eat is just as important as what you eat. Breakfast, as a rule, should be eaten within the first hour after waking up. Why the insistence on breakfast? First, it boosts your metabolism, giving you an instant edge on calorie shredding for the whole day. Second, you can squash the big-appetite urges that otherwise might hit you later in the day. Third, breakfast is your fuel for higher energy and a better attitude. It’s a great way to fight sleepiness, improve brain function, fuel your workout, and enhance your mood. What if you don’t feel like it, lack the time, or just don’t have the inspiration? Here are two tips.

  • Set aside your oatmeal and berries the night before. When you wake up, all you have to do is add water.
  • Adjust your alarm clock ten minutes earlier in the morning. With your extra ten minutes, make your breakfast shake.

Little adjustments in your lifestyle can give you a huge overall gain in health and enjoyment. Breakfast is where it begins.

Getting healthy isn’t about embarking on some dreadful, life-ruining drudgery. It’s about making the most of all the adventures that life holds in store. So break out of your old routines and try shaking things up for a change. You’re going to enjoy the results!