These Tips Will Make Losing Those Last 5 Pounds So Much Easier

You can totally do these.

 

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By Jessica Migala, Women's Health

[post_ads]Counting every calorie, measuring out portions, and staring down the calories burned counter on the treadmill are all the freaking worst. The good news is that they're also totally unnecessary.

Yup, if you're looking to lose five-ish pounds it's vital to focus on the bigger picture. Things like working out in a new way, upping your healthy snack game, and taking day to let your body rest will all help you get to your goals faster.

Here's your game plan:

Alyssa Zolna

You’re awesome at running, so you log five-milers on the reg. Swimming is so not for you, so you skip it completely. Well, it's time to jump in the pool, says Greg Johnson, C.S.C.S., owner and trainer of Varimax Fitness in Sacramento, California. “Don’t be afraid to step outside the box and do an activity you’re not used to,” he says. Try kickboxing or spin, flag football, or a game of soccer. Switching things up keeps your body guessing and forces it to adapt more, meaning you get a major calorie burn. “People are amazed at how sore they get,” he says.

Alyssa Zolna

When you’re looking to lose five pounds, veggies are your BFFs. “Every bite of veggies contains four times fewer calories than any other food,” says Dawn Jackson Blatner, registered dietitian nutritionist and author of The Superfood Swap. That means you can still eat just as much—if not more—and still see progress. To bulk up meals, Blatner recommends chopping up some cauliflower rice, spiralizing some zoodles (zucchini, carrot, beet are delish), and using collard green wraps for burgers and sammies.

Alyssa Zolna

“It’s leg day!” “It’s back day!” is a frequent refrain on IG. And isolating specific areas on certain days does lead to strength gains, but it also maxes out those muscle groups, making it difficult to work them multiple days a week. For the best shot at burning max calories, make every strength day a full-body day, says Johnson.
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He prefers a full-body, high-intensity circuit approach, which keeps your heart rate up and creates an after-burn effect that torches more calories during and after exercise. One suggestion: Perform three sets of 15 reps of sumo squats, pushups, and TRX rows. Use as little rest as possible between moves.

Alyssa Zolna

Snacks can help you get closer to your goals or pack so many extra empty calories that they sabotage your efforts. Blatner suggests eating up to two snacks per day, and keeping each one to 150-ish calories. Go for a satiating and satisfying combo of produce and protein. Celery + peanut butter, a green apple + almonds, or grape tomatoes + string cheese all do the trick. Also, make sure you eat those snacks (and any other bites) at a table, sitting in a chair, with a plate. (Blatner calls this her “table-plate-chair” rule). This nixes mindless nibbling throughout the day and helps you focus on your food.

Alyssa Zolna

It’s the small tweaks to your everyday routine that can make the biggest difference, says Blatner. She recommends trying these for starters: When you’re in the mood for sweets, freeze banana slices and dust with unsweetened cocoa powder for a low-cal dessert. Whip up a morning smoothie with extra ice. “When it’s super thick, it takes longer to drink, which can help fill you up," she says. And, if you have a tendency to eat out of boredom, sipping on something fresh can hit the spot. She loves peppermint tea and hot water with lemon.

Alyssa Zolna

The idea that more is better is so engrained in our brains. So it’s easy to think that you should be exercising an hour a day every day just to meet your goals. But that’s so wrong, says Johnson. “You build muscle and strength the day after your workout when recovering,” he says. You see, exercise creates inflammation and skipping rest keeps that from healing, which can contribute to a plateau. He suggests taking one or two rest days a week per week. These shouldn't be sit-on-your-butt-all-day days, but a light yoga class, walking, or even an easy run (whatever doesn't feel taxing to your body) all work. And remember to add in foam rolling and stretching to your routine, too! 

More:

• Exactly How Vanessa Hudgens Recently Lost 10 Pounds
• 8 Little Changes That Lead to Major Weight Loss