Struggling to shift those post-lockdown extra few pounds? We’re totally with you there. In fact, 2 out of 3 adults have gained weight in 2020, with increased snacking due to being at home, higher levels of stress and anxiety, higher alcohol consumption, and less exercise, being to blame. It’s no wonder that people are trying to lose weight quickly, particularly as life is starting to get slowly back to normal.

When trying to lose weight quickly, however, it’s important to avoid fad diets, and unrealistic and unsustainable weight loss methods. Instead, we’ve put together a list of 5 ‘little’ things you can do to help yourself lose weight faster, but in a safe way.

Enjoy a high protein breakfast

Eating a breakfast that is high in protein is a great way to start the day and helps to reduce your cravings and calorie intake throughout the rest of the day. Oh, and who doesn’t love treating themselves to a delicious meal after a good night’s sleep?

Try meals like overnight oats with blueberries and chia seeds, scrambled egg and avocado on toast, a smoked salmon bagel, and even a breakfast burrito, to get that protein fix. You’ll feel much fuller for much longer.

Drink plenty of water

It’s a tale as old as time, but drinking water can be super helpful for weight loss. It’s of course 100% calorie-free, helps you to burn calories, and prevents you from reaching for sugary beverages. Studies have also found that drinking water before meals, around half an hour beforehand, can increase your weight loss exponentially – it’s thought to result in a whopping average reduction in intake of 75 calories per meal!

Slow it down

We’re all guilty of eating too fast now and again, but if you make a habit of this, it can be very detrimental to your health, as well as your weight loss. Eating slowly, on the other hand, helps you to feel fuller and boosts those all-important weight-reducing hormones. Better digestion, better hydration, and greater satisfaction when it comes to our meals, are also key benefits of slow eating.

Weigh yourself every day

You shouldn’t make an unhealthy habit of weighing yourself excessively, but it is good sense to weigh yourself once a day at the same time to keep track of your weight loss. Knowing where you’re at can be a motivating factor – you either realise you need to work harder, or your progress pushes you to keep up the momentum.

Reward yourself

If you’re on a true weight loss mission, it’s important to give yourself things to look forward to. Perhaps a food cheat day is out of your reach for now, but there’s nothing to stop you buying yourself small gifts and incentives to encourage you to keep up your progress.

These could even be fitness-related to help you along the way, like investing in quality womens tracksuits like the ones from Gym King. Reward yourself when you hit particular milestones on your weight loss journey!