Article content
Each of us has our morning rituals, but have you considered whether they are the right ones and whether they might actually be harming you? We know 10 morning bad habits you must get rid of if you want to lose weight.
Lifestyle
People don’t decide to live healthily just to achieve a better figure, but primarily so they feel better and are full of energy. A slim figure is only a bonus on top of everything the body experiences with a healthy lifestyle. If you yourself don’t feel great and haven’t been able to lose weight long-term, it’s good to know the reasons that could be affecting it.
Lingering in bed
A sufficiently long sleep is very important, but nothing should be overdone. As they say, no extreme is good, and remember that about sleep too. The ideal sleep time is 7 to 8 hours and it’s best to go to bed earlier in the evening and get up earlier in the morning. People who sleep too long are more prone to cardiovascular disease and diabetes, which is also related to obesity.
Healthy and hearty breakfast
If you make time for breakfast in the morning, your body will certainly be very grateful. Thanks to breakfast your metabolism will work much better, which prevents problems with gaining weight. If you eat well in the morning, your appetite during the day is reduced and thus your calorie intake during the day as well.
Another benefit is that breakfast lowers your blood cortisol level. Cortisol is a stress hormone that is released into the body after waking to prevent a sudden drop in blood sugar.
Weighing regularly
Many studies show that people who weighed themselves regularly were more motivated in their efforts to lose weight than those who did not. The best way to weigh yourself is first thing in the morning, after using the toilet and before drinking water or before consuming breakfast.
If you also go to the gym while losing weight, you can expect to gain weight. This figure should not alarm you because muscle is heavier than fat and therefore your weight may increase in this case.
Phone or computer immediately upon waking
The time you spend in the morning checking your phone or computer could easily be invested differently, for example in preparing a tasty breakfast or a morning workout that would inject morning energy and strength into your body.
Besides, checking emails or text messages in the morning is a stressful activity you should avoid after waking up.
Uncomfortable and tight clothing
It’s natural that some types of jobs require a specific dress code and therefore suits or formal attire are indispensable in some places. If you are forced to wear such clothing, it’s likely you don’t take the stairs but rather take the elevator.
That’s understandable; if possible, choose more comfortable clothing. As part of your weight-loss plan, try to use the stairs available to you.
Carbohydrates in the wrong form
Consuming carbohydrates is important, but not all carbs are the same. On a diet you should try to consume healthy carbohydrates that will take care of satisfying your hunger and will be released slowly. It’s best to opt for carbohydrates found, for example, in mango, oatmeal, whole-grain wheat, Greek yogurt, bananas, or blueberries.
Morning stretching
Just as with meditation, stretching doesn’t need to be done for a long time each day, but it should be done every day, regularly. A few minutes a day is enough and you will feel better. You’ll help your sore muscles and joints and your movement during the day will be much more flexible.
Meditation
Even a short, few-minute meditation each morning can help with your weight loss and gaining energy. Thanks to meditation your blood pressure and cortisol levels, the stress hormone in the blood, will be reduced. When your level of this hormone is balanced, your appetite will also be steady.
Light in the bedroom
If getting up in the morning is really difficult for you, daylight might help, as it automatically helps activate your body. It will charge you with energy and a good mood, thanks to which you’ll certainly exercise earlier than if you stayed in a cloudy, poorly lit room.
A glass of water
Before you reach for your obligatory morning coffee you should also obligatorily drink at least 250ml of plain water or water with lemon juice. Drinking water immediately after waking activates you, gives you energy, helps maintain balance in the body and also the correct body temperature.
