Losing weight before the winter holidays allows you to indulge in seasonal treats without the usual guilt, and can help you fit into your favorite outfits to look your best at all the December parties. A juice cleanse or a liquid diet can add a lot of stress at the wrong time, so you’re better off making some less drastic changes to lose weight in time for the holidays.
Diet – How to Lose 10 Pounds in 2 Weeks
While some diets offer cheat days, you can’t afford any when you’re wondering how to lose 10 pounds in 2 weeks, so be prepared to make sacrifices for 14 days in a row to get the results you want. Even if you’re not interested in a liquid diet, you should replace one daily meal with a homemade fruit smoothie is a good choice. Mix the fruit with either low-fat milk (calcium is great for weight loss) or almond or coconut milk.
Start by capping off your calorie intake at 1200 per day, which means that each of your three main meals should be around 350 calories if you want to add 3 daily snacks as well. The best way to calculate your calories is to use a weight loss app for your smartphone, and you can find plenty for Android or iPhone that also offer calorie information on meals you have when you’re eating out.
Drastically cut back on salt in your meals so you lose your water weight fast, and skip desserts and sodas so you don’t take in any empty calories. If you’re prepared to make these changes, you should also try to stick to eating your meals at the same time every day and going to bed at the same. Resting for at least 8 hours every night can help you deal with stress and hunger better.
Low carb diets don’t work for everyone and neither do protein heavy ones. Use your past experiences with diets to choose which diet type is right for you. A good rule of thumb that works for any type of metabolism is the 2/3 rule. Make sure two thirds of each of your meals consist of vegetables, since fiber can help your body burn fat at a faster rate.
Going vegan or vegetarian for two weeks is also a good tip on how to lose 10 pounds in 2 weeks if your diet generally includes a lot of animal products. If you’re not willing to go that far, choose grilled lean chicken and fish. Don’t forget nuts can make up for protein you’re not getting from meat, but they can also be fatty.
Exercise – How to Lose 10 Pounds in 2 Weeks
If you’re following just a few basic guidelines for dieting, exercise becomes very important to lose the extra pounds, and look good in your favorite holiday party dress. Start by taking every exercise opportunity available: forget you can use an elevator, and take the stairs, but most importantly stop driving for short distances and walk more.
Every day becomes an exercise day, but you can restrict your activity to 30 minutes. Aerobics, swimming, jogging or biking are great choices, but for faster results, you should also add 3 more intense workouts each week.
High Intensity Interval Training is a great choice for fast fat burning. Alternate 30 seconds of intense effort with 60 seconds of something easier, but not rest, and you’ll train your metabolism to get rid of fat more quickly, but don’t overdo this type of exercise for more than 15-20 minutes. Add it to your existing 30 minute routine on three days each week.
Weight resistance training is another option, from bicep curls and air squats to calf raises and pull ups. Tae kwan do and rope jumping also burn a lot of calories, but if you’re into jogging, running at 8mph is the easiest choice.
Having an exercise buddy helps a lot, so if you can convince any of your girlfriends to work out or even diet along with you before the holidays, you’ll have more chances of succeeding.
How to Lose 10 Pounds in 2 Weeks – Biggest Mistakes
Focusing too much on either dieting or exercise is one of the most common mistakes, when you should mix the two in order to lose the weight fast. Drink a lot of water in between meals to stay hydrated and keep the hunger pangs away. Stay away from all temptations for this limited time, and you’ll be able to enjoy the holidays more, and start 2020 without too much excess weight.
See also:How to Resist Snack AttacksBest Foods to Burn Fat and Lose Weight