How to Lose Weight: A Recipe for Activity

I’ll admit it: I don’t go to the gym as often as I’d like to. During college, the gym was accessible – a two minute walk from my dorm – but now it’s a 20 minute drive away. As a freshman, I gained a total of 10 pounds, and have been trying to slim down ever since I weighed myself at home. When my bathroom was being redone, and there was no shower in the house, I went to the gym every day whether I wanted to or not, simply because I needed a shower. Things like that force you to exercise, but fate isn’t always so kind. Here, I’ve compiled a few tips, whether you’re inclined to go to the gym, can’t find the time, or are simply trying to lose weight.

Ingredients:

• 10 pound weights
• 10 pound medicine ball
• Exercise Ball
• Self-worth

Recipe:

• Elliptical. I am not a fan of the treadmill. I’ve been on it once or twice, but I don’t feel the burn on a treadmill like I do on the elliptical. Also, I am extremely scared of embarrassing myself (as I do chronically) and falling off. I go on the elliptical for either 20 or 30 minutes, depending on whether I’m in time to watch an entire half hour of That 70’s Show on ABC Family.
• Upper Body. I then mosey into the stretching room, after grabbing the above ingredients. I start by lying on the exercise ball and working out my triceps with the weights. Then I stand up and do crouches with the medicine ball, extending the ball every time I rise. This works out both my biceps and my triceps. If I’m feeling pretty buff, I also do bicep curls, but that’s only on some days.
• Lower Body. I’ve always been told I have super buff calves (probably because I walk on my toes often to give the impression that I’m taller than 5’1”), but the rest of my legs are not toned at all. Therefore I have a pretty rigorous routine. I do a wall sit for 60 – 100 seconds (quads), I lie down with an exercise ball below my toes, and lift my butt off the ground (hamstrings), and then I squeeze the ball between my thighs like I’m having a baby (inner thighs). It’s tough work, guys.
• Abs. For abs, I do about 15-20 sit ups with the medicine ball, lifting the medicine ball when I’m up for extra oomph on my arms. If you keep reading, I’ll share with you my daily secret for great abs in the Other Essentials section!
• Stretch. It’s always important to stretch after and before a workout. Reach your toes (lower), bring your arms behind your shoulders (upper), and lie down on your stomach and slowly curve your back upwards (abs). These stretches are rewarding; don’t ignore them!

Other Essentials:

• Morning Abs. I promised you, didn’t I! This is actually a secret my boyfriend shared with me, and now I’m passing it on to you, readers! If you want super abs, do curl ups! But not normal curl ups, no!, these are ~special~ curl-ups. With your index and middle fingers at your temple and your thumbs at your jawline, do 10 regular sit ups, coming all the way up. But that’s not all! Now bend your legs, and bring your knees to your stomach. 10 more! Then, extend your legs into the air. 10 more! Do 10 more of the ones with your knees in, and then the last ten as regular sit-ups, and you’re done! That was hard, wasn’t it? This is what I do every morning, regardless. I woke up at 5:45 AM this morning and I still made time for curl-ups. I actually feel my abs now!
• Morning Breakfast. Breakfast is really important. If you’re trying to lose weight and you think skipping out on breakfast is a great idea, you’re wrong. Seriously. What I have for breakfast every morning is Kachi Go Lean, a cereal packed with protein and whole grains. Because this cereal is kind of difficult to chew, I also throw some blueberries or strawberries in there, which – you guessed it – makes the cereal even healthier! What I like about this cereal is that it literally decreases your hunger. I eat breakfast around 9 AM every day, depending, and I don’t eat until 3 or 4 PM, because I’m not hungry. Cool, huh?
• Active Rest. Say you’re too lazy for the gym. Or it’s just not for you, I’m not a judge. Just don’t sit down all day! If you’re in an office area, move around, just for a walk! Take the stairs instead of the elevator! Try to keep your body and mind active and you’ll burn more calories.
• Anti-Snacking. Snacks are fun, right? Wrong. I think I gained about 7 pounds just from snacking last year at college. Cheez-Its and Wheat Thins are fine for a side with a meal, but all the time? No. Late night snacking is also a no-no; when dinner is done, dinner is done. Don’t let your mind trick you into having a late night snack!
• Water. Because my mom is so busy all the time (paying the bills, bless her soul), she doesn’t have that much time to go to the gym, but she loses weight by having cereal with me and drinking ten 8-oz. glasses of water a day! Ten, guys! That’s really healthy! If you prefer water bottles, most of them are 16 ounces, so that’s five water bottles a day. Shouldn’t be too hard. You’ll be peeing a lot, but you’ll also be losing fat!

If you’d like to know more about my specific workouts, let me know in a comment on this post or contact me at here. Also, let me know below how you lose weight!

Credit to my friend Emily, who taught me a lot of the exercises seen here, and of course my boy Tommy for those ab exercises! 
EDIT: I just weighed myself and found that I have lost 5 pounds since the beginning of June. This really works, guys!

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