5 Ways to Super-Charge Your Paleo Fat Loss
Sometimes I resist writing and speaking too much about fat loss and getting leaner. After all, I am always impressed by how committed people truly are to really getting healthier and feeling better.
In the end, that’s what I am most passionate about helping people achieve.
But despite our loftiest goals, there are many times that we just want to lose a little fat and look a little better. And after the holidays last year was definitely one of those times.
And I was thinking today about what I’d done to recover from the holidays, which I thought I’d share with you.
So, without further ado…
5 Ways to Super-Charge Your Paleo Fat Loss
1. Sleep More! You probably don’t want to hear this, because you wanted an easy tip. And getting more sleep is hard, when you’ve got so many shows on your Tivo and so much internet to surf. Nonetheless, the EASIEST way to lose more fat? Get more sleep. Otherwise, your body and hormones are simply not going to cooperate, and you’re going to make a lot of bad or mediocre food choices.
2. Be Intense and Mix it Up! What this means will be different depending on your fitness level. If walking is quite tiring for you, then this might mean walking really fast. If you’re in pretty good shape, then maybe do some sprints. In order to wake your body up and spur on fat loss, it’s helpful to do something short and intense. You should only be able to do it for 20-30 seconds at a time, and then you should need some rest (maybe a minute) before doing it again. To ensure that your body isn’t used to it, pick an activity that you haven’t done in a while.
3. Play with the Carbs. I used to believe that going low carb was the best option for everybody when it came to losing fat. And I still believe it’s the right direction for most people, especially on a short-term basis. If I want to lose a few pounds of fat, I’ll go pretty low carb (no sweet potatoes, dark chocolate, fruit, etc.) for a week or 2. However, some people actually shed the fat more efficiently when they up the carbs. Just make sure if that’s you, that you keep them clean (no grains, processed sugar, or other junk).
4. Don’t Be Afraid of Aerobics. In the Paleo world, aerobic exercise has gotten a bad wrap. And that bad wrap is not completely undeserved. If you enjoy running long distances, then awesome, but running for an hour or hopping on an elliptical should not be the first step toward losing fat. However, if you’ve already cleaned up your diet and you’re getting lots of sleep, then a little aerobic exercise can be very beneficial.
5. Put Away Your Apron. Louise (my wife) just released a Paleo Desserts cookbook, so it stands to reason that we’re not opposed to Paleo desserts made with nutritious ingredients. But they should be a treat, and if you’re looking to shed some fat, then those Paleo cookies and cupcakes are not going to help.
Remember, fat loss can be a laudable goal, so long as you keep it in perspective and pay attention first and foremost to your health!
Images: Copyright © Michael Brown and lily from Fotolia