The 15 Best Weight-Loss Tips from the Sexiest Trainer Alive
To help as many people as possible sculpt the body of their dreams and shed belly fat, I've teamed up with the editors of Eat This, Not That! to bring you my 15 best-ever weight loss tips of all time. Pick the one piece of advice you know you can commit to and make it a lifestyle habit before adding another item to your weight loss to-do list. Though it may seem like a slow-moving process, it's the best way to ensure you'll trim down and stay lean for life! And for more get-fit tips—and hot bods—check out these 25 Weight Loss Tips From The World's Fittest Men.
Cheat Smart
"Bad" days still require "good" food. If you're going to indulge in a cheat meal, make sure it still has some redeeming nutritional qualities that your body can benefit from. If you're craving ice cream, for example, top your scoop with protein-filled nuts and vitamin-rich fruits. You'll still get the treat you crave while doing right by your body.
Start the Day Right
Pick one healthy morning ritual that works for you, and stick with it. Starting your day off on the right foot will keep you in a productive, healthy mindset for the entire day. My healthy ritual is drinking a green nutrition shake and then downing four glasses of water. Then later in the morning, I'll have a proper breakfast. Looking to add a healthy smoothie or shake to your AM routine? Check out these 56 Best Smoothies for Weight Loss.
Eat for Health, Not Weight Loss
To see real results, you need to eat real food. When your eating habits consist of eating a variety of real foods that provide the body with nourishment, a healthier body is created. And the healthier you are, the faster you'll recover post-workout and the better chance you'll have at losing fat and building muscle. And if you must eat processed food, do yourself a favor and stay away from these 150 Worst Packaged Foods in America.
Stock Up on Produce
Sick of apples and bananas? Make eating veggies and fruits more exciting by exploring new and exotic options like starfruit and guava. Stock your home with the stuff and always carry around something fresh to ensure you're prepared with a healthy, unprocessed snack whenever hunger strikes.
Eat This! Tip
My favorite fruit is watermelon. Not only is it hydrating and delicious, University of Kentucky research suggests that that eating watermelon may improve lipid profiles and lower fat accumulation. But that's not all, Spanish researchers say that watermelon juice can help reduce the level of muscle soreness, getting you back to the gym, sooner rather than later, post-pump. Whip up a glass by blending watermelon chunks with ice.
Switch to Black
If macchiatos and lattes are your coffee go-tos, try to acquire a taste for a coffee beverage without milk and added sweeteners. Over the course of a month, this simple switch could save you up thousands of calories and shave a couple of pounds off your frame. Tea is another healthy way to get your caffeine boost. The folks at Eat This, Not That! love the stuff so much that they even created a diet centered around the stuff called the The 7-Day Flat-Belly Tea Cleanse!
Have Some Go-Tos
Trying to cook a new healthy meal every day can be overwhelming. Instead, find two go-to nutritious meals that you can cook easily whenever needed. My favorite go-to meal is scrambled cage-free whole eggs with spinach, onions, tomato and pepper. It's simple and quick to whip up, and all of the ingredients are relatively inexpensive.
Eat This! Tip
Weary of the yolk? Don't be! It contains many metabolism-stoking nutrients, including fat-soluble vitamins, essential fatty acids and — most significantly — choline, a powerful compound that attacks the gene mechanism that triggers your body to store fat around your liver. Worried about cholesterol? New studies have found that moderate consumption of two whole eggs per day has no negative effect of a person's fat profile and may actually improve it. For more ways to rev your metabolism, check out these 55 Best-Ever Ways to Boost Your Metabolism.
Cut the Cheese
It may be delicious, but cheese is packed with calories and only offers minimal health benefits. My advice: Skip the cheese and add healthy fats like avocado and hummus to your salads and sandwiches instead. When eaten in reasonable amounts, both foods have been connected to fat loss.
Looking for more food that will help you trim down? Check out these
30 Foods That Melt Love Handles.
Don't Make Your Mornings Sweet
Don't start your day with processed sugar. Once you start, you're likely to crave it for the rest of the day. It's lurking in popular breakfast foods like yogurts and cereals. To make sure you stay on a path toward success, check out our exclusive report 50 Best Breakfast Foods for Weight Loss—Ranked.
Sneak In Exercise
Exercise shouldn't just take place in a gym; it should be part of your daily routine. Walk to your destination instead of driving, use the stairs instead of taking the elevator, or wash your dishes by hand instead of putting them in the dishwasher. Believe it or not, an 180-pound person will burn 122 calories in 30 minutes scrubbing pots and pans—that's what you'd find in about four Nabisco Ginger Snaps! Totally worth the effort.
Chose Whole Body Exercises
The workouts that burn the most calories and fat are the ones that challenge and require every part of the body to work together. Pushups, weighted squats and lunges all fit the bill.
Enjoy Life
Enjoying your life is essential to reaching your weight loss and fitness goals. If you want to have a beer, glass of wine or treat once in a while, do it—just stick to one of these 16 Best Wines for Weight Loss. And better yet, don't make it an everyday occurrence.
Find an Active Hobby
Choose an active hobby over a sedentary one. It's a fun and easy strategy that allows you work off hundreds of extra calories without feeling like you're doing any actual work. Walking, bike riding and hiking are all great ways to sneak in some fitness while hanging out with friends and unwinding.
Don't Sit Down at The Gym
Avoid workouts or exercises that require you to sit and lay down. There are many other types of exercise that will give you results more quickly. When you're sitting or lying down, it's near impossible to get your heart rate up enough to make any significant change to body composition.
Order Smart
Just because you're trying to lose a few doesn't mean you have to cook all of your meals at home. Taking a few nights off from cooking won't kill your progress so long as you find local restaurants that have healthy options. When in doubt, get a grilled piece of protein with sauteed or grilled veggies and a whole grain like brown rice or quinoa. Meal delivery services (like my favorite, Indie Fresh) are another great option if you're without groceries and unable to leave home.
And speaking of restaurant food, discover the best and worst dishes for your waistline from McDonald's in our exclusive report: Every Menu Item at McDonald's—Ranked!
Close Your Eyes
Get at least 7 hours of sleep every night. Slacking on sleep increases levels of the stress hormone cortisol, which triggers fat storage. Sleep deprivation also interferes with workout recovery and muscle building.
Angelo Grinceri, personal trainer to some of the fashion world's' hottest bodies and author of the forthcoming book Intrinsic Strength Training, was recently named the Sexiest Trainer Alive by People Magazine. He works and resides in NYC.
Image credit: Michael Polito
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