5 Easy Ways to Lose Weight

Getting more activity into your day is the key.

So you’ve made a New Year’s resolution to lose weight. If you haven’t hit the gym in ages and have failed every diet you tried before, fear not. There are a number ways to burn calories without even realizing it. Become more active and drop the pounds with these five tips:

Don’t Park Too Close: Do you circle around parking lots at stores trying to find the closest spot to the entrance? It’s time to retire that habit if you want to keep the pounds at bay. Consider parking at the far end of the lot, so you’ll have to walk longer to make it into the store. This is just another way to fit the recommend 10,000 steps per day into your routine.

Do It Yourself: Are you the type of person who’s always asking others to do things for you? When the doorbell rings, you ask your spouse to answer it. When you want a drink, you ask your kids to go to the kitchen and fetch it for you. Having others do your bidding may be one reason you’ve yet to lose those stubborn pounds. Instead, do it yourself. Doing so will keep you on your feet and result in you burning more calories every day.

Take The Stairs Whenever Possible: Have you noticed that people tend to take the elevator even they’re traveling just one or two flights up? Don’t be one of those people if your goal is to lose weight. Take the stairs whenever possible. Unless you have a medical concern, you should be able to walk up a handful of flights of stairs without a hitch. Some people who work in high rise buildings even make a concerted effort to walk down several flights of stairs to shed weight. And if you find yourself surrounded by escalators at the mall or another location, walk up the escalator instead of idly standing on it.

Stand Up During Phone Conversations: Burn off calories without even thinking about it by choosing to stand during phone conversations. Pacing back and forth as you chat with a friend or a family member is an easy way to get more activity into your day.

Ban Bad Foods From Your Home: Just as recovering drug addicts don’t allow illegal narcotics into their homes, you shouldn’t allow unhealthful foods that you know will tempt you into yours. Get rid of the cookies, soda, potato chips and other snacks that are high in calories and low in nutrients. The surest way not to eat these foods is to keep your distance from them.

[ALSO READ: Five Ways to Avoid Holiday Weight Gain]

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