Weight loss is a hot topic among moms today, especially considering the fact
that more than half of us are overweight. As we get older we often get
busier, and before we know it, find ourselves in the prime of our lives and
packing a few extra pounds. With so little extra time in our lives it is
impractical to join the latest diet fad or commit to sweating in the gym for
hours at a time. Are we all destined to grow outward with each passing year,
or is there a simple way for us to reclaim our healthy figures? If you
struggle with your own battle of the bulge read on for five sure-fire ways
to drop a few of those unwanted pounds, and more importantly learn how you
can prevent packing them in the first place!

TIP #1: Burn it in the AM
What is the first thing you do when you wake each morning? Hit the snooze
button for an extra ten minutes of sleep? What if I told you that taking
those ten minutes to strap on your sneakers and walk briskly around the
block would result in weight loss? It has been proven that aerobic activity
done on an empty stomach forces your body to recruit energy from storage.
This energy is stored in the form of fat on various parts of your body.
Starting tomorrow take ten minutes out of your morning to walk briskly
around the block before breakfast. Do not sprint or try to walk as quickly
as possible, simply walk at a pace that you could comfortably hold a
conversation. This seemly small activity, when done consistently, will
produce surprising weight loss results!

TIP #2 Forget Your Late Night Snack
I know I am not the only one who enjoys eating a snack after dinner!
Although comfort food seems to taste better right before bed, it is also
more prone to stick with us when eaten late at night. It has been proven
that not eating three hours before bed reduces fat storage throughout the
night. If you go to bed at 10pm, finish eating for the day no later than
7pm. Once you have made this a habit you will be ecstatic over the long term
weight loss!

TIP #3 Kiss that Frappuccino Goodbye
What tastes better than a frothy, venti frappuccino smothered in whip cream
and chocolate syrup? While blended coffee beverages have rapidly gained
popularity with the masses, their caloric tallies have been all but ignored.
Whether you are an avid Starbucker, or only wander in for an occasional
treat, it is important to know the truth about what you are drinking. The
average Venti sized frappuccino weighs in at 530 calories. This staggering
number equals 2.5 bagels, or one third of the recommended daily calories for
an average woman. Not only is this an extreme amount of calories to be
consumed in a beverage but the calories come purely from sugar, which is
easily stored as fat. Next time you are in line at the coffee shop and find
yourself eyeing a sugary beverage, redirect your attention to the tea
selection, or stick with an old fashion cup of coffee.

TIP #4 Fuel Your Fire
Have you ever tended a campfire? You probably remember continuously adding
sticks and branches to keep the fire from running out of fuel. Your body's
metabolism is similar in its need for constant fuel. Eating a small meal
every three hours is a great way to keep your metabolism high all day long.
When your metabolism is high you burn more calories throughout the day and
are less likely to store fat. Rather than eating 2 or 3 large meals a day,
and allowing your 'fire' to go out, giving way to hunger pains, try eating a
small meal every three hours and be amazed at your weight loss results.

TIP #5 Curb Your Carbs
I'm sure sometime in the past year you have found yourself subjected to the
testimony of a converted 'low-carb' enthusiast. While these people may look
great it is definitely not the right diet for everyone. Extreme fatigue,
crankiness and downright impracticality are what make this diet a tough
cookie to swallow. Cutting one or two carb-filled items out of your daily
diet can make a huge difference in meeting weight loss goals. While I wouldn
't recommend throwing out your bread basket entirely, consciously cutting
carb-filled items out of your daily food intake is a great idea. If you
normally have a sandwich for lunch make it open-faced, thus cutting out half
of the bread. If you enjoy eating pasta for dinner reduce your pasta portion
and add extra vegetables. These minor changes to your daily diet will prove
themselves priceless when you step onto the scale!

It is you against the bulge, and now that you are armed with these 5 tips
for easy weight loss, I am confident that you are going to win! Keep in mind
that consistency is the key. The more effort that you put into implementing
these 5 tips into your daily lifestyle, the quicker the unwanted pounds will
disappear!

Diana Keuilian, author, ACE certified Personal Trainer, and co-founder of
HitechTrainer.com offers online personal training and nutrition programs
that fit your budget and schedule. Whether your goal is to lose weight, firm
and tone, or to build muscle, HitechTrainer.com will build a custom designed
program just for you.
Visit: http://www.hitechtrainer.com/ and begin meeting your fitness goals
today!

Diana Keuilian
Hitech Trainer Inc.
www.hitechtrainer.com