Most women find themselves in this situation. In their quest of trying to be super-wife, super-mom, super-employee, they hardly have time for themselves. And, then, after a few years, they suddenly realize that they are overweight. They wonder when did all this weight pile up? They feel very helpless as they cannot think of squeezing in an exercise regimen and do some foolish things like skipping meals. So what is the way out?
It is possible to lose some amount of weight without allotting separate time for exercise. Just incorporate some changes in the current format of your daily routine.
Sit And Eat Your Meal
It is a common sight in most households that the lady of the house is busy serving food to the husband or feeding the kid. (Mind you, she is also working and needs to leave for her work with her husband!) Then, when it is time to leave, she just grabs something on the go. Experts say that people who do not sit in a place and eat, always ate more than their actual requirement, as the brain is too busy assessing other things and therefore the signal of satiety was delayed. So whenever you are eating anything do the following:
- Sit and eat slowly,
- Take small bites,
- Chew your food well (this will also help with digestion).
Don't Skip Breakfast!
Another way busy women save time is by skipping breakfast altogether. Breakfast is the most important meal of the day and you are eating after a gap of 8 to 10 hours. A busy women needs a lot of energy to be able to do twice as much work as a man does. Agreed, you want to finish your house chores and rush to office for your meetings and presentations, but skipping breakfast will make you less efficient during those important meetings, and you will tend to eat unhealthy stuff later on during the day.
Drink Plenty of Water
Busy women tend to forget to drink water. We all know that water keeps us hydrated, but will it help us lose weight? Experts say yes! Many a times, we misunderstand thirst for hunger and eat something when we actually are not hungry. Apart from this, water helps with digestion, evacuation, and flushing out of toxins from the body. All these factors aid in weight loss. Some tips:
- Keep a bottle of water next to you always while working.
- Try flavoring your water with rose or khus (vetiver) or even a dash of lime (this will give a relaxing and cooling effect).
- Drink at least 8 to 10 glasses of water.
- Drink water slowly (don't gulp).
Burn Calories Without Exercising
I have no time for exercise is the most common sentence that the dieticians get to hear every day. Well, if you really really can't squeeze in some exercise in your schedule, then try these:
- Take the stairs instead of the lift. It not only burns calories but is also a good workout for your lower body.
- Get up from your chair and walk to the desk of your colleague to give a message instead of texting or calling them.
- If you use public transport, get down one block before your destination and walk to office or home. Always remember to wear comfortable shoes; save your high-heels for weekend parties!
- Incorporate post-dinner strolls around your apartment complex with your family. This will also solve the "no family time" problem, and will strength the bond between all family members.
Opt for Healthier Food Choices
During office luncheons or other parties, try to fill your plate with non-fried stuff or salads. There is no need to forego the other rich foods completely. After all, it is not everyday that you happen to land up at a 5-star hotel. Have small portions of your favorite foods from the spread. If the office party is preplanned, have a light breakfast and a light dinner, possibly only fruits and skim milk. That way, you can balance out on the calorie intake for the day as well as enjoy with your colleagues at the luncheon. Some tips for daily food choices:
- Try switching to green/herbal teas (these have antioxidant properties and raises your metabolism) instead of regular tea. Also, try low or zero calorie sweetener instead of sugar.
- Have brown bread instead of white.
- Have oatmeal cookies instead of regular ones.
- Have roasted soyabean or Bengal gram instead of deep fried mixture.
- Dress your salads with a dash of lime and salt rather than mayonnaise.
Juice to Help Revitalize
Drinking a glass of tomato juice or lukewarm lemon juice helps to give you an undisturbed sleep. A good quality sleep will revitalize you and you will be raring to go and face the world the next day. This will also reduce your stress levels.
Making changes in your long-term habits is not going to be easy for a busy woman like you, but it is worth a try. As the saying goes, there is no gain without pain (or should we say there is no loss without pain!). Try the magic of 21! Experts say that the brain takes 21 days to change a long-term habit. Which means, if you want to change a habit, force yourself to stick to it for 21 days at a stretch. After that, you don't have to make a big effort in sticking to it.
