It happens to all of us at one time or another. You step on the scale and then stare in shock as the number creeps higher and higher before landing on a digit you never imagined possible. How did I possibly gain this much weight?! Don’t panic when the weight creeps up on you, just spring into action and work to lose the extra pounds. Here are 7 ways to drop 5 pounds this week. Use these methods to kick start your weight loss program or to bust through a stubborn plateau.
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1. Drink More Water
The average woman should drink a minimum of 8 glasses of water every single day. Water will help you flush out toxins quickly. You will see a pretty immediate drop on the scale as you increase your water intake. This isn’t fat loss, but it’s still encouraging and it is working to get your body into optimal condition to burn fat. Drinking water will also help you curb hunger between meals and feel full longer.
2. Cut out Sugar
Sugar is the enemy when you need to lose weight. When you eat sugar laden treats, it causes your insulin levels to spike and your body can store those calories as fat rather than burning them for energy. To combat this process and start burning fat, cut out sugar completely. Throw out soda, candy, cookies, and anything else in your house that contains sugar. If you get a craving for something sweet, reach for fruit.
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3. Pass on the Bread
Bread can cause a similar reaction to sugar in the body. Eliminate all white bread, pasta, and rice from your diet completely. If you want to lose weight fast, pass over the bread completely. Even the whole grain varieties are carbohydrates that could stall weight loss if you eat too many. After you start seeing progress, you can slowly reintroduce whole grains into your diet. In the beginning, try to go without.
4. Eat Asparagus
Asparagus is the dieter’s best friend. It is a natural diuretic so it will help you get rid of excess fluids and keep your kidneys working. Some doctors recommend that you eat asparagus at least three times a week if you want to lose weight. Preparing asparagus is really easy. Just snip off the ends of the stalks and wrap the spears in a damp paper towel. Microwave on high for 3 minutes and they will be soft and ready to enjoy. Add some lemon pepper for taste!
5. Amp up the Cardio
Cardio burns calories and leads to weight loss. If you want to drop some weight quickly, amp up your cardio. Shoot for at least 30 minutes three times a week for heart health. If you are trying to shed some pounds, go for 50-60 minutes of cardio five times a week.
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6. Eat 5 Times a Day
Keep your metabolism going by eating at regular intervals. Don’t skip meals! In fact, you should be eating every 3 hours if you want to lose weight quickly. This keeps your metabolism going all day long so you burn fat while you go about your normal daily activities. Instead of eating 3 big meals each day, aim for 5 mini-meals.
7. Eat Smaller Portions
Try lowering the size of your portions when you need to lose weight. Instead of eating your food on a full size dinner plate, choose a small dessert place. The stomach is only the size of your fist so you only need a small amount of food to feel satisfied. Overeating is what causes weight gain so try to cut your portions way down.
These are just 7 ways to drop 5 pounds this week. Each of these suggestions shouldn’t be used for crash dieting. If you want to see lasting changes in your body, you need to make lasting changes in your lifestyle. What do you do when you need to lose a few pounds?
Top Photo Credit: PanthereOs
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