There are many ways to lose weight such as dieting, exercise, and even surgery. While it may sound more appealing to go the convenient route and choose artificial ways to shed weight, it’s better to go natural. Our article ‘7 Factors to Consider When Choosing Weight-Loss Diets’ notes how weight loss procedures that involve surgery run the risk of blood clots and wound infections that could lead to worse health conditions.
However, as a very busy student, you may wonder how you’re going to lose weight. Luckily, we have compiled a list of practices that will help you—and they’re all doable with a busy schedule.
Track your food intake
The first thing to do is to track what you eat. This doesn’t necessarily mean counting each calorie and avoiding certain foods. Rather you should note down what you eat and how often. WeightWatchers emphasizes how the most successful weight loss programs are those that don’t limit the types of food that you need to eat. You can still consume your favorite snacks and drinks as long as there is a healthy balance of nutritious food as well.
Depriving yourself of certain “unhealthy” food that makes you happy for the sake of weight loss brings more harm than good. Clinical psychologist Paula Freedman outlines how restricting what you eat only sets you up to binge, going against your goal of losing weight. Be more mindful of the food you eat each day and you can track your food intake by listing them on your phone.
Plan ahead
When you’re busy, you’re prone to eating whatever’s available and the options you have to hand will often be unhealthy. This is why planning is a must. If your schedule is packed to the point that you can’t even meal prep or make meals in advance to reheat in the future, then stock your fridge and cupboards with healthy options. This way, the food you’ll reach for is good for your health—even when you’re in a rush.
Nutritious food to keep in stock include baby carrots, granola, and nuts. If you’re one for meal prepping, some easy options are overnight oats, pesto chicken with vegetables, and breakfast burritos.
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Walk more
There’s barely time for exercise with a busy schedule, so it’s a good thing that you can lose weight with an activity you most likely already engage in: walking. Whether you’re running errands or going to university, choose to walk when possible. Brisk walking for 30 minutes burns 125 calories, so the more you walk, the more weight is lost.
Stay hydrated
Staying hydrated may be overlooked when you’re focused on your tasks. Still, it’s an important part of natural weight loss that mustn’t be forgotten. This is because if you are properly hydrated you will be less likely to feel hungry. It is also recommended to drink a glass of water before a meal to prevent overeating. While all water will keep hydrated, it is possible to make your intake both hydrating and calorie burning. The Montreal Times explains that drinking cold water with ice burns more calories because it takes about 5 calories to melt an ounce of ice. Keep a jug of iced water with you at all times so you don’t forget to drink water. It’s better if it’s an insulated jug so that it retains the coldness of the water.
Consume more protein
Yahoo reveals that consuming more protein is beneficial for weight loss because it reduces your appetite, keeps you full for longer, and boosts metabolism. As a busy student, you may be reaching for snacks more often than not in between classes. It’s best to eat protein-packed food during these times, to ensure you get your fill of protein for the day. Some high-protein foods that are easy to carry as snacks include trail mix, jerky, and protein bars.
We at View the Vibe assert that weight loss despite a busy schedule is very possible. By keeping hydrated, eating protein, tracking meals, walking, and planning ahead, you’ll lose weight naturally.
