Consider having decaf or half-caff if you don’t want to drink a full cup of coffee or its close to your bedtime. You should avoid caffeine within four to six hours of your bedtime, if possible. Drinking coffee too close to your bedtime can interrupt your sleep and promote weight gain. [3] X Research source
Aim to get 3 liters of water a day if you are a man and 2. 2 if you are a woman. [4] X Trustworthy Source Mayo Clinic Educational website from one of the world’s leading hospitals Go to source Water is important to hydrate you, but hunger may also signal thirst instead of a need for food. [5] X Research source
Drink about 200 mg of caffeine from coffee for optimal results with a workout. This would be the equivalent of a medium Americano or small regular brewed coffee from a place like Starbucks.
Remember that with weight loss, every calorie counts, even if it is in liquid form.
Be aware that heavy whipping cream and half-and-half have 52 and 20 calories per tablespoon respectively. They also have a lot of fat. Table sugar has 49 calories per tablespoon. Adding just one tablespoon of each adds about 100 empty calories. If you usually add more, that can easily end up adding calories that promote weight gain. Eliminate butter if you add butter (as with bulletproof coffee). One tablespoon of butter is 102 calories and has almost 12 grams of fat. Both of these can keep you from losing weight. Try switching to a skim milk or heartier unsweetened nut milk like coconut for richer flavor. [9] X Research source Make sure to get unsweetened creamers and milks. Flavored milks often use sugar or other additives that add empty calories. Reading the nutrition information on the products can help you figure out how many calories each serving of a given product has. [10] X Trustworthy Source Mayo Clinic Educational website from one of the world’s leading hospitals Go to source Consider drinking iced coffee if the taste of plain black coffee is too strong. It often has a milder taste. Just make sure it’s not sweetened with sugar. Add flavors to your regular coffee. Sprinkling in some cinnamon, plain cacao, or honey can sweeten coffee and help you enjoy the taste more. [11] X Research source
Read the nutrition information before you get specialty coffees. If it is not posted, ask the manager for a listing of products and their nutritional information.
Order the smallest size possible and ask for sugar-free syrup, skim milk, and artificial sweetener instead of regular options. Tell the barista, or person making the coffee, to skip the whipped cream on top of your coffee. All of these together can help you save a lot of empty calories. [14] X Trustworthy Source Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Main public health institute for the US, run by the Dept. of Health and Human Services Go to source
Keep in mind that plain coffee is your best bet in terms of losing weight. One cup of black coffee has only 2 calories and no fat. [17] X Trustworthy Source Mayo Clinic Educational website from one of the world’s leading hospitals Go to source Beverages like soda and energy drinks may be high in calories or have hidden sugar that can hinder your weight loss.
Stick to the daily limits as much as possible. For example, if you can safely drink 4 cups of coffee per day, you could have a cup in the morning, one at lunch, one mid-afternoon and a cup at dinner. Adjust the schedule to see what works best for you.
Make sure to read product labels to ensure you’re getting half-caffeinated coffee. The label may also indicate how much caffeine is in a cup. So long as you’re staying within the safe consumption limits every day, you can have as many cups of half-caff as you like. Make your own half-caff by mixing one-half cup of regular coffee with one-half cup of decaf coffee. Another trick is to drink a half a cup of regular coffee with a half a cup of hot water. If you use a Keurig, just leave the K-cup in the Keurig, and brew it again using the same K-cup.
Subtracting 500 – 1,000 calories per day from your current intake is a good rule of thumb to follow when cutting calories. Remember that you shouldn’t go below 1,200 calories a day or you may not see any results (because your body thinks you are starving and is conserving energy and fat) and you will also be miserable because you’re not getting enough to eat. If you want to know an exact number, the National Institutes of Health has devised a new tool that can help you specifically pinpoint how many calories you need every day in order to lose weight. There are many different sites at which you can access this calculator including http://www. healthyweightforum. org/eng/calculators/calories-required/. Incorporate different foods from the five food groups into your daily meals and snacks. The five food groups are: fruits, vegetables, grains, proteins, and dairy. Make sure to vary your choices so that you get a range of nutrients to promote your health and weight loss. Healthy foods often also have a lot of fiber, which can help keep you full throughout the day. [19] X Trustworthy Source USDA Center for Nutrition Policy and Promotion U. S. agency responsible for promoting good nutrition based on scientific research Go to source Eat whole fruits and vegetables such as raspberries, blueberries, broccoli and carrots. Get your whole grains from foods like whole wheat pasta or bread, oatmeal, brown rice or cereal. For protein, eat lean cuts of meat like pork or poultry as well as cooked beans, eggs, or peanut butter. Your dairy will come from sources like cheese, yogurt, cow and nut milks, and even ice cream.
Avoid starchy foods made out of refined carbohydrates like white bread, pasta, rice, and baked goods. Not eating these foods or replacing them with whole wheat versions can help keep you full and lose weight. Read labels for hidden sugar in your food choices. Look for words such as corn syrup, sucrose, dextrose, or maltose, which are types of sugars. Any word that ends in “ose” is a sugar.
Consider beginning by replacing processed foods or junk food. For example, try brown rice with meals instead of white rice. You can also add more vegetables to your plate than rice. You could also make air-popped popcorn or bake kale chips instead of having potato chips. Let yourself cheat once a week or if you reach a certain goal. Cheat days can prevent cravings and overindulgence. [21] X Research source
Plan three meals and two snacks every day. Vary the types of food at each meal. For example, have a cup of yogurt with fresh berries, whole wheat toast, and coffee with skim milk for breakfast. Make a salad with different vegetables, grilled chicken, and some hummus for lunch. For dinner, have a family dinner of fish with a small salad and a side of steamed cauliflower. If you want dessert, have some fresh fruit or a sugar-free popsicle. If you know you will be dining out, include this in your plan. Either look at the restaurant’s online menu or call ahead to see what healthy choices they offer. Select a couple of different healthy options from the menu and put those on your plan. Make sure to stay away from buffets, breadbaskets, dishes in heavy sauces, and fried foods. Have an espresso instead of dessert unless it’s too close to your bedtime.
Aim to get at least 150 minutes of moderate activity or 75 minutes of vigorous activity every week. As a rule of thumb you should try and do at least 30 minutes every day to lose weight. If you can’t do 30 minutes of activity at one time, break it up into manageable sections. For example, you could do two workouts of 15 minutes each. Choose activities you enjoy such as walking, jogging, swimming, or biking. Remember that team sports or other activities such as jumping on a trampoline or jumping rope count towards your weekly exercise.
Consider consulting a certified trainer before you start. This person can help you figure out the best strength-training moves for your needs and abilities. Do exercises that engage your entire body. For example, strengthening exercises such as squats and lunges work on your legs, core, and also your upper body. [26] X Research source Try resistance bands if weights seem too heavy. Practicing regular yoga or Pilates is another way to engage your body’s strength. You can do a yoga or Pilates class by DVD, online, or go to a studio.
Give yourself at least one full day of rest from exercise per week. This helps your body build muscles and recover from exercise or stress. You might want to pair this with your “cheat day” of eating. Sleep at least seven hours every night and aim for eight to nine. Take a 30 minute power nap during the day if you feel tired. [28] X Research source
