Ready to Lose Weight? Take A Deep Breath

What is the easiest thing you can do to boost your metabolism, burn more calories and lose weight? Breathe deeply.

Taking time to stop and take a deep breath can do wonders for your waist line and your state of mind. Deep breathing cleans toxins out of your system, increases your circulation, calms your mind and helps you focus. Breathing deeply is also an aerobic activity that actually burns calories.

Typically, we tend to take shallow breaths, using just the top part of our lungs. This creates a back-up of carbon dioxide and slows metabolism. But spending just 10 minutes a day focusing on deep breathing brings more oxygen into your system, making you more alert and speeding your metabolism.

To get the most out of your breath, sit or stand up straight and put your hand on your stomach. As you breathe in deeply, your shoulders should be still, but your hand should move as your diaphragm fills your lungs. Now you are using your lungs to capacity, taking in oxygen and burning calories with every breath.

Lose Weight Fast with This Morning Ritual

If you’re a fan of the dark, rich stuff, you probably love the the boost of energy you feel after indulging in your favorite morning ritual. But did you know that the hot cup of Joe you wake up to does more than just get your motor running?

Coffee’s caffeine improves your concentration and helps you think more clearly. Coffee is also full of anti-oxidants that work hard to keep you healthy. But coffee’s best benefit may be for your waist line. Studies have shown that the caffeine in just two cups of coffee can boost your metabolism enough to burn an extra 50 calories every four hours. For the most calorie burning benefits, drink your coffee black. Cream, sugar and chocolate syrup all work against your weight loss goals.

Another cup, anyone?

Eat Great and Lose Weight Fast

Trying to lose weight and eat healthier? You don’t need a bunch of expensive foods or to spend hundreds of dollars at a weight loss clinic. Big changes in both your waist line and your health can easily be yours just by applying the “Rule of 5’s” to your meal plan.

The Rule of 5’s

The “Rule of 5″s” states that there should be 5 different colors on your plate at every meal. White and brown don’t count.  A “Rule of 5’s” dinner might include broccoli (green), roasted summer squash and zucchini (yellow and dark green), and pork chops with mango salsa (orange and yellow). A lunch might be a pita with avocado (yellow-green), spouts (bright green) and cream cheese and a fruit salad of kiwi (a different color of green), orange and grapefruit (yellow or ruby red) segments.

By adding all of these bright colors to your plate, you are filling up on fiber and nutrient rich but not calorie dense foods, as well loading up on anti-oxidants. You’ll lose weight without feeling hungry, you’ll be eating wonderful foods and your skin will glow from all of the healthy vitamins you are eating.

Try “The Rule of 5’s” tonight!