Tips of the day...

Instead of doing a regular tip of the day, I am including several in one post.  If you have any to contribute, let me know and I'll add them to a future posting.  These are everyday things that you can do to help reach your goals.

1)  DRINK LOTS OF WATER!!!  http://www.cnn.com/2010/HEALTH/08/23/drink.water.lose.weight/index.html  Drinking water especially before meals can really help to start and maintain weight loss.  Drinking water WITH a meal over other high calorie drinks can also be a huge calorie reducer.
2)  Make sure you eat enough
It may sound counterproductive if you are trying to lose weight, but starving yourself will just facilitate fat retention when you DO eat instead of fat burning.  Find a calculator to determine how much you need to eat and stick to it.
3)  Eat several small meals/snacks
This will keep your metabolism firing ALL DAY LONG.  You will soon become a calorie burning machine!
4)  Work extra activity into your daily life
Park farther, walk longer, skip the elevator in favor of the stairs,
My latest favorite trick is this:
I will take reusable bags to the grocery store and fill them up instead of using a shopping cart.  This way, I'm getting a little strength training in and burning extra calories walking the store.  This isn't always practical but every little bit helps!

And most importantly....
5)  Stop making excuses
Just take that first step.  Press play or hit the gym for the first time.  Get something different when you grocery shop.  These little changes will get you on a roll and will snowball into something that can change your life.