Things to do to lose 30 lbs in 30 days
How I Lost 30 lbs in 30 Days
The time of the year for resolutions is fast approaching, and although I've never been one to make new year resolutions, I do have a goal. And that is to lose weight. It is the most popular of resolutions to make and it is also the easiest to break. But I have done it before without starving and without any 'magic pills'. So it's time to bring out those disciplines again. It's been 4 years since I lost 65lbs in 5 months. As of today, I have gained back 25 of those lbs so my goal is to lose that by the end of February (after all I am 4 years older, living in another state, with different responsibilities)
So, here is what I did and what you can do to lose 30lbs in 30 days. Keep in mind that men have a higher metabolism than women which allows us to burn an average of 30% more calories during exercise than women. So don't be so hard on yourselves ladies.
A good amount of sleep is necessary. 6 to 7 hours is sufficient for the brain to secrete a good amount of a certain growth hormone in large quantities as you sleep. This hormone tells your body how to break down fat for fuel. Without enough sleep, there isn't enough of this growth hormone to break down fat so your stomach, thighs belly or any place you typically gain weight pay a hefty price.
Upon waking, drink a glass of room temperature water with lemon juice. If you prefer you can warm it up. Drinking lemon water in the morning will stimulate the body's natural cleansing and detoxifying processes. Lemons are alkalizing (despite being perceived as acidic) in the body, thus bringing your inner chemistry into pH balance.
If you can, get those important 30 minutes to 45 minutes of exercise in before breakfast. At the time I had a part time day job and a full time overnight position, so I exercised when I had a chance, but I made sure it was daily. Using an interactive exercise video is extremely helpful to keep you motivated. I chose to do this rather than go to the gym. I ordered Power 90 and for months it remained in my DVD player. I plan to continue where I left off with Power 90. It's not boring and it works.
Immediately after exercising I would gulp down a protein powder shake. I preferred whey protein as it helped to build calorie-burning muscle. Women may prefer soy, but there are pros and cons surrounding both. I chose whey after a bit of research. The protein also helps with that sore feeling that may have prevented me from working out the next day. Taking vitamin supplements also helped with recovery.
While I was at work, I would drink up to a gallon of iced water. Not only was I fully hydrated which helped me avoid dehydration and cramps when exercising, but it also eliminated toxins from my body which helped me lose weight faster. Drinking ice cold water forces the body to heat it up to body temperature which burns about 8 calories per 8 ounce glass. However, don't overdo it. Drinking to much water also has it's consequences. Be careful.
Besides eating 5 small healthy meals, I would not deprive myself of any cravings other than restaurant food which if 30lbs is your goal, avoiding the take out window is a must. But if there were home baked goods around the house, and their temptation was to much, I'd take a bite or two and put it down. Then tell myself that it was good and was thankful for it. Being thankful helped with that 'I messed up on my diet' feeling. After all, it wasn't a diet I was on. It was changing the way I thought about food.
Eating healthy is not a mystery. But if you need help, I can tell you what it was I usually did or did not eat.
I ate plenty of baked chicken, fish and lamb. A good amount of Vegetables and nuts. 100% whole wheat carbs, legumes and red meat in moderation. I stayed away from processed meats, and ate very little fruit. Fruit actually made me hungry because as I later discovered, I am fructose intolerant.
The next thing I did with ease then will be a hard one for me now but I've done it before so I can do it again. And that is absolutely no soda. Diet or otherwise. Since that time I gradually returned to drinking Coca-Cola. Cutting it off completely is necessary as I noticed I cannot drink Cola and expect to lose any amount of weight. If I had to have a flavored drink, I chose black coffee or Lipton unsweetened tea. I like the taste of each but if you like yours sweet, adding Stevia Natural Sweetner for flavor rather than calorie stacking sugar is a good idea.
And last but not least, to kick up my metabolism I would take two tablespoons of Extra Virgin Organic Coconut Oil daily. And every once in a while, I would add a tablespoon of Organic Apple Cider Vinegar.
Simply put the steps in no particular order except for number 1 are:
1. Discipline
2. Exercise
3. 5 Healthy meals daily
4. 1 Gallon of iced water a day
5. No restaurant food
6. No soda, sugary drinks or diet drinks
7. Supplement your body's metabolism and lower its' toxicity with lemon water, coconut oil, and vitamin supplements.
In summary, I was once quickly on my way to my desired weight. Then slowly but surely gained more than one third of it back in 4 years. I wanted to share how I did it so that it would jog my memory. Hope it works! To our goals!