Boot camps, juice fasts, 6 A.M. kickboxing–sure, they all help you lose weight. But who needs the agony when these simple tricks do the job? Research has shown that swapping sedentary habits, such as watching television, for pretty much anything that doesn’t involve sitting down can make a world of difference.
Drink Coffee
Studies have found that caffeine increases the rate at which you burn calories, according to Susan B. Roberts, author of The “I” Diet (Workman) and a professor of nutrition and psychiatry at Tufts University in Boston.
Sleep More
Getting fewer than four hours of sleep over an extended period of time slows the metabolism. Experts recommend aiming for between seven and nine.
Eat lightly and often
For most people, the body uses up more energy digesting smaller meals every few hours than by eating the same number of calories in two or three sittings
Choose the right foods
Low-carb, high-fiber foods take more time to digest than other foods, leaving you feeling fuller longer and less likely to snack.
Fidget
You can burn up to 350 more calories a day than someone who remains stationary, according to a study at the Mayo Clinic.
Cook your own food
It’s often healthier, and by the time you’ve made a meal and cleaned up, you’ve been on your feet a half-hour more than you would have waiting for takeout.
Watch less television
Adults who halved their television viewing time (by using an electronic lock-out system) not only burned an extra 119 calories per day, but did so without altering what they ate.
Drink a few cups of strong green tea every day
In addition to caffeine, green tea contains catechin polyphenols, plant chemicals that may also boost metabolism and speed up the fat burning process.
Get busy
Most couples burn an average of 300 calories an hour while they’re having sex.
