Low Hanging Fruit

You're looking to lose weight. Maybe you've failed in the past. So where do you turn? All your friends are talking about The New Diet Craze on Facebook. That MUST be the way to go! Right?

Not necessarily.

These days, everyone is talking about the Ketogenic diet. Going keto means going very low carb, also keeping the protein in check, and eating mostly fat. Does it work? For some people, yes. But this is not a very natural diet for most of us.

Rather than starting with a diet that could be a big struggle to maintain, why not aim for the low hanging fruit first?

Low hanging fruit is all the obvious stuff. Picking off that low hanging fruit is going to be easy. It's not really a "diet" per se. Instead, it's just a few adjustments. It means changing a few habits. And it's guaranteed you will lose weight while barely even trying!

If you are obese or significantly overweight, you probably have some habits that put you there. Maybe you drink several cans (liters?) of soda (or a different sugary drink) per day. Maybe you swing by the fast food drive-in window once (twice?) per day. Maybe you come home from work, plop down on the couch, and stay there until bedtime. These are three daily habits that contribute to weight gain and loss of fitness. Changing these three habits will change your life!

1) Instead of drinking soda, substitute something better. Of course water is best, but if you won't drink it, try a beverage with a lower sugar content and work your way toward better choices. I am not a fan of artificial sweeteners, but diet soda is a better choice than regular soda. Juices are also very high in sugar, so I don't recommend them. V-8 juice is an exception to this rule. Unsweetened iced tea, iced coffee, and iced herbal teas all have loads of flavor and no sugar. These days, there are many types of sparkling water with natural flavoring and zero calories. Try a bunch of different flavors and see if you can find some that you like. Maybe, eventually, you will discover the joys of drinking pure, plain water!

2) Instead of hitting the drive-thru window, drive right past the fast food establishments. Hit the grocery store instead. If you need something quick, grab a salad. Trader Joe's has loads of fabulous salad choices. All the ingredients are included in one package. Another possibility is the frozen food aisle. Look for meals that contain lots of colors, at least two veggies, and a source of protein. Skip the fried stuff, the heavy sauces, and the carb fests. When you have some time to cook, begin to prepare simple meals from scratch. Salads are super easy, as are stir fries. You can purchase all the ingredients pre-washed, pre-chopped, and ready to use.

3) Instead of becoming a couch potato, plan to spend at least 30 minutes per day moving your body. Walking is a great start. It costs nothing to go for a walk. If you prefer to walk in the air conditioning, go to the nearest mall for a walk. Or visit your local park. Get your walk in on the way home from work, before the couch beckons.

With these 3 simple switches, you can pick the lowest hanging fruit on the tree. These new habits will instantly put you on the path to weight loss. If you need support in making changes, leave me a message in the comment section below!