Lose Weight Fast: How You Can Shape Up Sharpish This Summer

Do you want to drop a few lbs before a big event this summer? Or is the dread of getting in a bikini killing your pre-holiday buzz? Here are a few simple ways you can shape up quick sharp.

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A few food swaps, easy exercises and come clever tricks are all you need to lose a few pounds in the run up to summer season. It goes without saying that losing weight at a fast pace makes it harder to maintain that weight in the long term, the ideal rate of weight loss is 1lb and 2lb a week, according to health experts, but here are a few healthy ways you can make a start in the right direction:

1. Eat mushrooms. The meaty texture of mushrooms makes them the ideal substitute for meat. An easy and purse-friendly food swap that will help you trim down. Mushrooms are having a moment right now, with stars like Katy Perry and Kelly Osbourne said to be fans of the healthy alternative. Simply swap one meal per day for a funghi-based dish and you'll see results. A bonus is that mushrooms are packed full of B vitamins, iron and zinc.

2. Have a pre-gym coffee. Drink a cup of coffee (a black coffee has just five calories) and the caffeine boost will ensure you have a far more effective workout. As well as giving you more energy, a research team based at the University of Illinois believe that caffeine helps stop the pain processing nerves in the brain and spinal cord from working, meaning you'll feel less pain in your leg muscles during your sesh.

CAFFEINE HELPS YOU EXERCISE

3. More sleep. Try and get half an hour more sleep than you usually do. Feeling refreshed means that you'll be less likely to crave sugary, energy-giving, foods the next day. And, as if you need an another reason to spend more time in the horizontal, sleep also boosts your metabolism and allows your body to build muscles, meaning better muscle tone.



4. Water. Kickstart your metabolism by drinking shed loads of H2O. Don't waste calories by downing sports and soft drinks. Often hunger is mistaken for thirst so if you're feeling peckish always try and drink some aqua first.

5. Yogurt. Put down the crisps and reach for a tasty yoghurt. The benefits are easy to see: 1) the calcium tells your fat cells to pump out less cortisol, making it easier for you to drop pounds, while the amino acids help burn fat, 2) the probiotics help maintain a healthy gut, helping to cut down bloating, and 3) it's crammed with vitamins, including riboflavin, iodine, zinc, plus vitamins B5 and B12.

6. Ditch white grains. That means white pasta, rice and bread. Carbohydrates are digested quickly, leaving you hungry and more likely to overeat later, which is never a good thing. 

7. Olive oil is your friend. According to research at the University of Irvine, the oleic acid in olive oil is transformed into something called OEA. This compound relieves hunger and suppresses the appetite by sending signals to your brain telling it you’re full. So, swap your usual salad dressing for a splash of olive oil, or buttered bread for a dunk in the golden stuff, and you'll be good to go. 

8. Wear tight clothes. Nothing gives your diet motivation a boost more than finding your favourite pair of skinny jeans that little bit uncomfortable. Crowbar yourself into something too tight and we guarantee you'll avoid snacks all day. 

9. Portion control. Serve your food on a side plate or one of your children's plates to limit the amount you eat at dinner time. The logic is simple: if it's on the plate you'll eat it, if it's not you won't. 

10. Distractions. Food cravings usually only last about 10 minutes, so if you start to feel peckish, do something else. Phone a friend, go on Facebook, shop online - do anything, just don't eat. 

11. Eat slowly. You might feel like a plonker eating anything other than sushi with chopsticks but it will sure slow you down, giving your brain time to register that you're full. 

Do you have any other fast weight loss tips? Let us know in the comment box below. 

http://www.marieclaire.co.uk/blogs/542995/lose-weight-fast-how-you-can-shape-up-sharpish-this-summer.html 

21 Flat Belly Tips

Has a little extra padding around your midsection gotten you down? We understand. When you’re as busy as we are, it gets easier and easier to reach for processed or fast foods, and to drive past the gym while shuttling the kids to soccer practice.  Believe it or not, maintaining a slim physique may be easier than you think. By following some simple tips, anyone can earn a flat belly without a whole lot of extra effort. Read on for 21 tips that will help you get the flat belly that you wish you had.

21 Flat Belly Tips:

1. Eat Clean-No number of crunches will eliminate belly fat if you’re not eating a nutritious diet. Aim for clean foods that are free of unhealthy additives and extra calories. Skinny Ms. offers a ton of simple, yet clean recipes to help you out.

2. Watch Portion Sizes- In today’s day and age, it seems like everything is “Supersized”. Go old-school by eating just the amount of food you need to keep your body going. Check out our tips for understanding portion sizes here.

3. Just Say, “NO,” to Soda- Sodas, even diet ones, are horrible for your waistline. Battling soda addiction? Take our No Soda Challenge.

4. Rev up Your Cardio-Regular cardiovascular exercise not only helps the body to burn calories and fat, but it helps prevent a number of diseases, like heart disease and certain cancers. Try these at-home workouts.

5. Snack Regularly-Snacking regularly provides the body with the fuel it needs to continue burning calories all day long. Plus, those who skip snacks between meals are for more likely to overeat at mealtime. Try one of these tasty snacks for fewer than 75 calories each.

6. Keep a Food Journal- Journaling your daily food intake will help you stay on track and will keep you aware of hidden calories. Read more about the benefits of keeping a food journal here.

7. Keep Stress Low- Studies show that stress has quite a negative impact on our bodies. Plus, when we’re stressed, we tend to eat more or choose unhealthy foods. Learn more about how stress can make you fat here.

8. Work Every Angle- Total body workouts help to keep all muscles active so that they can continue to burn calories, even when they’re at rest. Mix your workouts up to keep every muscle group engaged. Try this Total Body Workout.

9. Fill Up on Fiber- Avoid bloating by keeping everything flowing smoothly with a diet filled with fiber. Check out these reasons why you need more fiber in your diet.

10. Get Your Zzzz’s- Studies show that sleep is important to maintaining adequate body function, as it gives the body time to repair the damage done during the day. Learn more about sleep and its connection to weight loss here.

11. Drink Green Tea- The combination of catechins and antioxidants found in green tea helps the body to burn calories and fight fat. Plus, green tea is a superfood! Try our Green Tea Mango Smoothie.

12. Do Plenty of Planks- Plank exercises are great for the midsection because they work the entire core, are easy to modify, and can be done without any equipment right in your living room. Learn how to do a proper plank here.

13. Watch Your Sugar Intake- Refined sugars feed your body a ton of calories and have no nutritional value, and the problem is that they’re hidden in many of the foods you eat. Here are some of the “other” names for sugar to look out for. Be sure to take our No Sugar Challenge.

14. Walk More- Walking just doesn’t get enough credit. It’s so easy to do and is one of the greatest ways to burn fat. Take our 7-Day Fat Blaster Walking Challenge.

15. Watch Your Carbs- Carbohydrates are important to your body, but not all carbs are created equal. Try to avoid simple carbs, like white breads, because they offer a lot of calories and almost no nutritional value. Learn more about the difference between simple vs. complex carbs here.

16. Keep Sodium in Check- Excess salt in your diet can make you retain water and get bloated. Check out these tips for cutting back on salt.

17. Get Into Interval Training- Interval training, like this Tabata workout, gets the body working hard so that it can blast fat away. Learn more about interval training here.

18. Ditch the Diet Foods- Diet foods might sound healthy, but they are often loaded with unwanted ingredients that reduce the body’s ability to function as it was intended. Instead, get on a healthy eating plan, like this Clean Eating Plan for the Family.

19. Eat Slowly- The body can take up to 20-30 minutes to digest the foods we eat. This means, if we’re not careful, we can end up eating food after we’re full. Eating slowly also prevents us from swallowing extra air that will bloat the belly.

20. Become a Probiotic Pro- Probiotics, like yogurt and kefir, use healthy bacteria to fight back against unhealthy ones. This keeps the belly free from infection and prevents bloating.Have you tried our Skinny Strawberry Yogurt?

21. Laugh More- Studies show that people who laugh regularly are often thinner than those who don’t. Not only does laughter engage the stomach muscles and burn calories, but happy people are less likely to reach for unhealthy food choices when they’re feeling down.

http://skinnyms.com/21-flat-belly-tips/