After working with hundreds of different women over the years, I’ve seen time after time woman who are working out consistently and eat a balanced diet but still can’t manage to lose weight.
We all know diet and exercise are key components of weight loss, but many other factors play a role. Studies show that everything from sleep quality to stress levels can have a major impact on hunger, metabolism, body weight, and belly fat.
Below are my top 3 tips to help you burn fat and get the results you want in an accessible and sustainable way.
Squeeze in More Steps
It’s estimated that non-exercise-related activity may account for 50% of the calories your body burns throughout the day. One of my favorite ways to get more steps is to simply walk!
Walking is effective for staying lean because it is still a form of cardio and great for fat and calorie burning weight management! It’s accessible, sustainable, and can be easily integrated into daily routines no matter where you’re at or how you’re feeling!
Ideas to get more steps: listen to a podcast and go for a walk on your lunch break, take the stairs instead of the elevator, or pick the furthest parking spot from the door!
Prioritize Decreasing Stress
Stress can cause your body to hold onto fat due to hormones like cortisol. Looking after your mental health and making sure your nervous system is regulated will help get and keep you in a place where your body feels safe and comfortable enough to lose fat.
Here are some practices to start incorporating to bring your body back to harmony and out of fight or flight:
- Identity core stress triggers and start figure out how to minimize them
- Meditation
- Journaling
- Therapy
- Spending time with loved ones
- Breathwork
Get Serious About Sleep
Lack of sleep can increase your appetite by altering certain hormones in your body responsible for helping keep you full. Make sure you’re getting 7-8 hours of sleep nightly to help you get the results you crave.
To get a better night’s sleep:
- Go to bed at the same time each night
- Sleep in a dark, cool room
- Use a white noise machine
- Avoid caffeine late in the day
- Use blackout blinds or an eye mask
- Limit blue light before bed
- Try supplementing with magnesium
