by Khyrana Oktivia Pambudi

Created on: June 20, 2009   Last Updated: June 22, 2009

Losing weight can be a great ordeal for most of us. Just the thought of whipping up unappetizing healthy meals or making the time and effort for exercise is enough to stir the butterflies in your stomach. The fact is, if you want to lose weight, you have to watch your food and break a little sweat. So the real challenge would be how can we make the change from our sedentary lifestyle into a healthier one as smooth as possible. Below are listed five guidelines that would make your transition feels less of a chore.

1. How good your day tomorrow would be is largely influenced by how well you sleep tonight. Everyone knows that when you have enough rest, you would most likely waking up fresh and ready for a new day. So your first step in losing weight can begin by getting a good night sleep. Try to relax before you go to bed. Turn off your TV, dim the light, perhaps some music. Give yourself that peaceful feeling you deserved. Just remember that people who are feeling stress, most of the time fill the void with food.

2. Start your day with a good stretching work out. If you are a beginner, then just do this on the bed. Nothing excessive, just a little stretch on the neck, hand, shoulder, and legs. This would help get your blood flowing and you won't believe just how good that feel until you try it. Once you're done with the stretching, help yourself with a glass of warm water. It help purge the toxins out of your body and personally, it always helps me with my bowel in the morning. Last but not least, never ever forget to have your breakfast. That would act as your fuel for the whole day. If you don't feel like changing your diet drastically, just have your normal food only in a smaller portion. Add a portion of fruit to complete your meal.

3. Keep a bottle of water nearby to help hydrate you throughout the day. You need at least 2 litres a day. Sometimes we feel that we are hungry, when if fact our body is feeling dehydrated. So before you reach that bag of chips or a bar of chocolate, do yourself a favor and drink a glass of water. Give it about 20 minutes before you decide whether you need some food. Some diets will not let you nibble on the best things in life, or swap them with nuts and dried fruit instead. Which are great choices. But when you just started, the thought of not consuming the things you love could drive you out from your diet completely. If you are like me, then I suggest you start by getting a healthier version of what you normally have in smaller portion. Instead of fried chips, get the baked version. Bring a small portion in a zipper bag, along with a few cubes of dark chocolate and a bottle of pure fruit juice. You can bring any fruit of your choice. One thing to remember is, always eat your food slowly, because your brain need time to tell when you are full. Besides, it also would help your body to digest the food better.

4. We can not ignore the fact that you need exercise of some sort to lose weight. Try to make it a part of your life, that way you won't look at it as a chore. Park your car a bit further then usual, or stop a few floors below your office so you can walk up the stairs. Find an outdoor activity that you could enjoy. The fresh air would benefit your lungs, and your effort can burn a few extra calories.

5. Always be positive. Even if your scale doesn't budge, that doesn't mean your effort is a waste. You might not loose kilos, but inches. But the most important thing is, look into the mirror, if you look healthier and fitter, won't you feel happier? If you falter every now and then, forgive yourself and keep going. You are human after all.

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