Watching Your Waistline? Check Out These Weight Loss Tips for Women

Just about every website and magazine today claims to offer miracle diet tips, but the only real way to lose weight is by exercising regularly and watching what you eat. These smart (and realistic!) tips can help keep women on track to shedding those extra pounds.

  1. Determine your individual calorie intake. Sure, counting calories is important for everyone, but not every woman’s body requires the same amount of calories each day. Work with a doctor to determine your recommended daily amount based on your weight loss goals.
  2. Practice portion control. Even if your diet already consists of mainly lean meats, fruits, and veggies, many people go overboard when it comes to portion control. Measure out your portions beforehand to stay on track.
  3. Forgo diet treats. Every American supermarket is filled with “diet” versions of unhealthy treats, but in most cases, you’re better off opting for a smaller serving size of the real deal. That way, you won’t be tempted to overindulge.
  4. Balance cardio and strength workouts. Most people prefer one or the other when it comes to their gym habits, but it’s important to balance both types of exercise if you really want to lose weight.
  5. Amp up your workouts. Practice short bursts of intense activity, which burn far more calories and help you to lose weight faster.

Our 75 Best Tips for Losing Weight [Women’s Day]
7 Weight Loss Mistakes Even Healthy Women Make [Prevention]
7 Weight Loss Challenges and Tips for Women [ShareCare]

4 Health Benefits of Cardio Workouts

People need cardio workouts in order to improve your heart’s function and keep it strong and healthy, and lucky for you, it’s actually much easier to squeeze in a cardio workout than you might expect. Here are just four great health benefits of cardio exercise.

1) It improves your heart’s health.
The most important benefit of cardiovascular exercise is the positive effect that it has on your heart. Things like running or biking make your heart pump blood at a faster rate than normal, and because your heart is one big muscle, this strengthens it even after you stop exercising.

2) It improves your mood.
Because cardiovascular exercise releases hormones that fight off stress and promote a sense of well being, you might feel happier and more energetic after working out.

3) It increases your metabolic function.
The more intense the cardio exercise, the faster it makes your metabolism function. This helps to maintain your weight or even promote weight loss.

4) It decreases recovery time.
If you hate cardio and love strength training, you might want to reconsider. Jogging or walking after performing another workout is known to quicken your recovery time, making the day after a long workout much more comfortable on your body.

5 Great Benefits Of Cardiovascular Exercise! [BodyBuilding.com]
The Brain-Boosting Effects of Cardiovascular Exercise [Women’s Health]
Aerobic Exercise: Top 10 Reasons to Get Physical [Mayo Clinic]

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