Most people have certain times of day when their energy levels rise and fall. For some, it’s easy to pop out of bed first thing in the morning and get moving, but others are naturally more productive during the wee hours of the night. Oftentimes, we dip in the afternoon, which leads us to reach for any sweet snack in sight. Instead of falling victim to your internal clock, there are a few things that you can do in the afternoon which will move your weight loss goals along. These meaningful tweaks in your day will leave a major impact on your body’s ability to lose weight and keep the weight off for good.
Prepare! Our days are generally packed with back-to-back activities, we tend to push our hunger cravings aside. Beware of your hunger cues and make sure to eat a healthy snack in the afternoon to avoid overeating at night.
Avoid the bites. Taking a bite here and there of a salty or sweet snack will make those calories add up in no time. Multiple bites lead to an excess of hidden calories that you didn’t account for in your daily meal plan. If you find yourself reaching for that candy dish at work when your body starts to crash in the afternoon, reach for ½ cup of raspberries, blue berries, blackberries, an apple, even an orange. Always keep a zip lock bag with fruit. Even a slice of Ezekiel toast with MCT oil, salt and pepper. MCT oil provides fast energy and has a buttery flavor.
Get moving! While it’s great to get your exercise in first thing in the morning, it’s more beneficial to get moving in the afternoon as morning workouts have a tendency to increase your hunger throughout the day. If you find yourself with low energy levels in the afternoon, it could be a sign that it’s time to head out for a walk and get that blood flowing. Studies have shown that sitting for too long can lead to back issues and a slower metabolism so get up from that comfy chair and strut around the block.
Hydrate your hunger. Be mindful of your food feelings in the afternoon. While you may think that you are hungry, it could mean that you are thirsty. Before you reach for a snack, if a snack isn’t due yet, drink a glass of water and see if that does the trick to ward off your hunger.
The first half of the day, we typically have more energy and can get through our chores and activities, but once the afternoon hours hit, we may need a little reinforcement to stay on track and keep our eye on the weight loss prize.
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