After deciding to some shed pounds, you will most likely try all you can, which includes exercising regularly, following a healthy diet and practicing portion control. But no matter how much effort you put into doing this, you might still not see the changes you want to.
Sometimes, all it takes is just starting off the day on the right foot. Your morning habits may be worth looking into. Here are some morning habits that are probably hindering your weight loss progress.
1. You get ready in the dark
Studies have shown that the sun helps to significantly reduce the BMI because the body syncs up the internal clock using the blue light waves from the early morning sun as a guide, and this includes the calorie-torching metabolism.
If you are one who gets up in the dark and refuses to open the blinds for sun rays to come in, you won’t be getting the benefits the sun could have on your BMI. A study further found that with 20 to 30 minutes of early morning sunlight will do your BMI lots of good.
2. You skip the scale
Checking the scale often and seeing those large figures over and over again can be a little discouraging, but that doesn’t mean you should completely forget about the scale. Checking the scale will help you to know what you are not doing right and how to make the right adjustments.
A two-year study of 162 overweight women in Cornell University found that those who weighed themselves everyday were more successful at weight loss compared to those who didn’t. To check your weight, ensure you do it every morning when your weight is at its lowest and preferably with no clothes, so you get accurate results.
3. You oversleep
Your sleeping pattern also matters, moderately. A PLOS ONE study found out that those who sleep for over 10 hours every night have a higher risk of an increased BMI, compared to those who stick to the recommended 7 to 9 hours of sleep.
If you can maintain a regular and consistent 7-9 hours of sleep daily, there’ll definitely be changes with time.
4. You don’t take proper breakfasts
Breakfast is a very important part of your day as it can help you with decision making, increase your metabolism and also fuel you up and get you ready for the day. It is also not just about eating breakfast, but eating the right meals.
A study from Tel Aviv university found out that low-cal dieters reported less hunger and fewer cravings when they eat a balanced breakfast that contains 600 calories of lean protein and carbohydrates. So, up your protein and carbs intake and ensure they are balanced to avoid storing excess carbs in the blood glucose.
You may just need a little change in your everyday lifestyle to achieve your goal.
Image courtesy by: women-running-together.com, vfigure.ru.
