This shop is part of a social shopper marketing insight campaign with Pollinate Media Group™ and Dr. Pepper Snapple Group but all my opinions are my own. #pmedia #TENways http://my-disclosur.es/OBsstV
Most people don’t know this about me but I actually don’t have an ACL in my left knee due to a jet-ski accident from a few years ago. I couldn’t walk for months and the doctors had no idea what was wrong at first so I went undiagnosed for FAR TOO LONG. Being the stubborn gal I am, I actually trained myself to walk again without an ACL and by the time the doctors realized what was wrong I was doing it on my own. They offered surgery but warned me it would be even longer down time while I re-learned to walk AGAIN so I opted out of it. I am not an EXTREME SPORTS kinda person anyway so I figure the act of walking is good enough for me for now.
The only problem I typically run into with this specific injury is that my ability to workout regularly is hindered. Summer is coming up and I am COMPLETELY SET on slimming down before I gotta show extra skin! (By extra skin I mean any!) I have gotten pretty good managing my weight with my disadvantage so I wanted to compile a list of 10 ways to slim down that anyone can do, INCLUDING ME! So lets get to it!
{one} Walk when you have the free time. It doesnt matter if it is before work, during a break, at lunch or after dinner. Use the time when you would typically be sedentary to MOVE! Those extra steps may seem pointless at first but I promise you that they really are important. Extra Tip: Pick a buddy to walk with and that time will fly by!
{two} Add fruits and veggies into your day! This isn’t a new concept but I BET you don’t snack on apples and carrots at work or at school. I bet you run to the snack machine and get candy and chips. Switch those bad-for-your-treats out with fresh-grown option for one month and FEEL the difference.
{three} Eating whole grains is always better than refined grains. There are a plethora of benefits and let me fill you in on some! They cut down the risk of chronic diseases, promote healthier blood pressure and better weight management! Switch out your regular pasta or bread to a whole wheat option and you wont even be able to tell the difference!
{four} Add small weights into your routine. I know that I can’t do several reps using a 20 lb weight but I KNOW I can with a 2-5 lb dumbbell. You may be thinking, “When on earth would I use those?” Easy—whenever you can. I have a pair in my desk drawers at work as well as stashed in my closet at home. When I am on the phone with a client I will sometimes pick them up! Before I know it I have done a ton of work and hardly noticed. Also, combine these with walking and you will be surprised at the results you get! Arm definition! WOO HOO! Extra tip: If you don’t want to spend the extra money on the dumbbells I KNOW you have a handbag with you. Use it to do some curls at your desk!
{five} Treat yourself. If you accomplished something big, say a weight loss goal or even a promotion at work, INDULGE! You deserve a treat every now and then! If you are constantly restricting yourself, what is going to make you want to go on? You dot have to necessarily treat yourself with something high in calories either! Go pick up that new blush or scarf you wanted. If you happened to be craving peanut butter cups then go buy them! (Just eat one!) ;)
{six} Trick your brain. Let’s face it, the actual size of our dinner plates are huge. Growing up we were always told to fill our plate and clean it. Filling these gargantuan plates IS NOT NECESSARY! Switch out your plates with a smaller plate and fill that one up. Portion control is key! There is no way to stay in control of portion sizes when you are using a plate sized to accommodate your entire family!
{seven} DON’T SKIP BREAKFAST! Breakfast is the fuel that gets your metabolism restarted from the night before. Skipping it is NOT a good idea. If you are pressed for time in the mornings, make preparations in advance! Boil some eggs the night before or keep yogurt on hand. Pop some whole wheat bread in the toaster and put some honey on it! All easy things!
{eight} Relax. Stress is a huge contributor to weight gain. Daily stressors trigger our neuroendocrine system (brain-to-body communicators) to tell us that we are being threatened. For whatever reason, it gives us an increased appetite and we are more than likely going to turn to bad-for-you-but-tastes-so-good comfort foods! Just take a break. Relax, breathe, take a bath, listen to music, go swimming, go for a jog… GET AWAY!
{nine} Pack a lunch. Whether you are going to school or going to work, if you don’t pack a lunch you are going to be left with mostly fast-food options. Fill up a lunch box with a low-calorie drink, a baggie of veggies, a whole wheat sandwich, a fruit cup, etc… If you brought something for yourself you wont feel the need to go and get something loaded in grease and preservatives.
{ten} Lower calorie options. Switching from a full-calorie soda to 10 calorie option from TEN beverages. The sodas included in the 10-calorie selection are actually some of my very favorites. 7Up TEN, Sunkist TEN, Canada Dry TEN, and A&W Root Beer TEN. Same great flavor and a fraction of the calories!
A&W Root Beer TEN is my favorite of the bunch, but root beer always has been my favorite soda option so no surprise there. With this selection of drinks my entire family has found something they love! Like you couldn’t tell from the half-empty bottles, right? My hubby loves the 7UP TEN and my son loves the Sunkist TEN. I have been sick lately so the Canada Dry TEN has been my go-to!
In an attempt to help my readers slim down I also created a Pinterest Board that consists of lots of different recipes and drink mixtures using the DPSG Four 10-Calorie sodas! Just follow the board and start browsing! I am sure you will find something that appeals to you! For more ideas, absolutely follow DPSG on Facebook and Twitter!
Right now Walmart has a coupon on these! The coupon is for $0.50 off of the purchase of TWO 2 Liter bottles or TWO 4-pack cans of 7UP TEN, A&W TEN, Canada Dry TEN, RC TEN or Sunkist TEN soda. And…if you were to share that digital coupon by email, FB, or Twitter (there is a click to share function) you will get a coupon that will give you $1.50 off, rather than just $0.50! Offer available while supplies last, from 3/27-4/17.
Let me know in the comments below if you have any other great ways to slim down!
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