Photography by Unsplash/Lauren Mancke
Think weight loss only happens at the gym or over a plate of lettuce? Here, four simple and, dare we say, delicious, ways to lose weight at your desk…
You can literally lose weight while you work! Here’s how:
1. Pick protein for lunch
Cramming protein into every meal helps build and maintain lean muscle mass. Muscle burns more kilojoules than fat does, even at rest. Aim for about 30g of protein – the equivalent of about one cup of low-fat cottage cheese or a 120g boneless chicken breast – at each meal.
Read More: How To Make Winning Protein Balls!
2. Brew some green tea
“It’s the closest thing to a metabolism potion,” says dietician Tammy Lakatos Shames, co-author of Fire Up Your Metabolism: Nine Proven Principles for Burning Fat and Losing Weight Forever. The brew contains a plant compound called epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), which promotes fat burning.
Read More: 5 Bedtime Beverages That Help You Lose Weight
3. Undo damage with dairy
Hey, it happens. There are days when no salad on earth can possibly overcome the seductive power of slap chips. But you can make up for it with a calcium-rich afternoon snack, like 240ml of milk or 180g of low-fat yoghurt. Calcium helps your body metabolise fat more efficiently by increasing the rate at which it gets rid of fat as waste (yes, that kind), reports a Danish study. Sorry, supplements don’t have the same effect.
Read More: How To Order Fast Food Without Wrecking Your Diet
4. Then… LOL
Next time you’re ready to collapse after work, set up a date with your most-fun friend – the one who always cracks you up. Research found that simply anticipating a good chuckle is enough to lower levels of stress hormones that can sometimes leave you feeling drained. And for an even bigger benefit, laughing can increase your heart rate and boost your circulatory, cardiovascular and immune system.
Looking for more ways to cut the kilojoules? Try these 11 tricks to shrink your portion sizes.