Six Unusual Ways Of Losing Weight Without Going To The Gym
|
|
Although it may be hard to believe, there are people out there who actually *gasp* do not like the gym. Yes, it is true, not everybody enjoys working out at the gym, not everybody can get to the gym, and not everybody enjoys working out full stop. Whilst exercise is incredibly important, that does not mean that you should force yourself to the gym several times per week, if doing so makes you miserable in the process. The reality is that there are countless other ways of exercising and working out, so if you are looking to lose weight but cannot stand the gym, or if you simply cannot attend the gym, please do not think that you are destined to live your live being overweight. Of course you can lose weight through clean eating as well, but ideally you should combine a healthy diet with a fairly active lifestyle, which can actually be done without going to the gym. If you are looking to lose weight, here are a few slightly unusual tips that you may not have previously considered beforehand.
Review any medications you may be using
We rely on medications for all sorts of reasons, yet what many people don’t often realize, is that their medications could be the reason why they are gaining weight, or why they are finding it hard to lose weight. Take allergy medicine for example: studies have shown that certain brands of allergy medications can actually result in weight gain, causing people to gain an excess of, on average, 10 pounds when they use the drugs. The main reason for this is that these medications are designed to block histamines produced by your body, which cause allergic reactions to certain stimuli. However, histamines produced via the immune system, are also blocked, which ordinarily play vital roles in fat metabolism, and in overall levels of hunger. By blocking them, these medications are indirectly slowing down the rate in which your body burns fat, plus they are causing your appetite to increase in the process. If you medically rely on medications then there is little you can do, but if you don’t, try weaning yourself off them for a while and see if you find it any easier to lose weight.
Have more sex
Okay, stop giggling, we’re all adults here. As mentioned, not all exercise has to be done in the gym, and in actual fact, some, ahem, exercise, can be performed in the bedroom with your partner. Numerous studies have found that a typical sex session, lasting anything from 15 minutes through to 30 minutes, can burn off as many as 300 calories. Sex also stimulates the production and secretion of pleasure chemicals and hormones such as endorphins, serotonin, and dopamine, so you not only burn fat, but you will feel fantastic in the process. Without going into too much detail, the more, erm, energetic and enthusiastic you are, obviously the more calories you and your partner will burn off.
Try to eat in more
Whilst eating out can be a treat that many of us look forward to, if you eat out on a regular basis, I.E more than once per week, you may find it especially tough to find healthy foods and drinks that will help you to reach your weight loss goals. Though there are healthy options out there, if you are hungry and are faced with the choice of a bacon double cheeseburger, or a grilled chicken breast salad with fat-free vinaigrette, it will take a lot of willpower to choose the salad over the burger. By eating in however, you are in control of the foods and drinks that you consume, so if you make something healthy, obviously you are going to eat it, otherwise you will simply go hungry.
Be careful where you sit
If you serve your meals in serving dishes, and basically allow everybody to serve themselves, when you sit at the table, make sure you sit away from the unhealthiest foods, otherwise you run the risk of eating more than you should. If for example, you have roasted potatoes on one side of the table, and a bowl full of steamed carrots on the other, make sure you sit next to the carrots, otherwise you may find yourself eating more greasy potatoes than you should, as you will be more likely to pick at them if they are within arm’s reach, even if you’re hungry.
Consume more pickled foods
If you enjoy pickled foods, I.E pickled vegetables such as Sauerkraut, you may be in luck, because not only are these vegetables and the vinegar that they are pickled in, very good for your health and well-being, but they are also very good for your waistline as well. One of the main reasons for this is the fact that they contain high levels of acetic acid, which regulates blood glucose levels, and brings them down to safe and healthy levels. This in turn lowers insulin secretion, which has been found to lead to increased storage of body fat within the body. They are also rich in antioxidants, as well as vitamins and minerals, which will detoxify your body, boost your immune system, and help keep your metabolism firing on all cylinders.
Do more walking
Believe it or not, but walking is actually one of the most beneficial forms of cardiovascular exercise that you could ever participate in. Just because walking doesn’t, or shouldn’t, at least, leave you drenched in sweat and gasping for air like a fish out of water, don’t for one second, think that it is not beneficial for losing fat. Walking is a perfect example of steady state cardio that will gradually increase your heart rate and get it at an optimal rate for burning fat. Walking at a steady pace will burn hundreds of calories in a fairly short duration of time, and it will increase your aerobic conditioning in the process.
Recommended for you
