Tricks to Weight Loss

OK, so just to clarify there is a difference between "trick" and "shortcut". If you are trying to take a "shortcut" it won't work out for you, long term. Sorry. Our bodies just don't work that way. 

So here are the things that I have come across that actually work for me: 

1. Wake up in the morning and think to yourself "What am I doing for exercise today" and plan to do something everyday that is gong to make you sweat. (bedroom activities excluded) ;) *It doesn't have to be something you hate. I like to swim, dance with my kids until I'm sore, work on my yard, Go for walks, Take my kiddos for bike rides, do Yoga, etc.*
2. Start the day right!! Eat something high in protein for breakfast! If you start the day with carbs it will affect your diet for the rest of the day. 
3. Avoid Sugary stuff. Allow yourself a couple  treats a week so that you don't feel deprived, but don't eat sugary stuff on a daily basis. 
4. Get a 32 oz water bottle and drink 2 of them a day. (people can be carrying around 10 lbs of just water weight) If you can, drink filtered water. 
5. Eat Protein and a fruit/vegetable with every meal. 
6. Try to eat an apple, cheese stick, handful of carrots, handful of almonds, handful of sunflower or pumpkin seeds, or other carb free snack between meals. 
7. GET ENOUGH SLEEP!!!!!!!! 8 hours, people!
8. DO NOT eat past 6PM! Late dinners/snacks turn to fat/bloating, simple as that! If you are really feeling like you're starving to death, have some vegetables. 
9. Take a Vitamin D supplement. 
10. Avoid Hard Alcohol. It turns to straight sugar in your body which in turn transforms into... you guess it... FAT (and a slower metabolism)
11. Mineral Salt Baths! It will help purge your skin of "puffy" water retention, and icky toxins. 
12. Skip the starch! I was raised with the concept of a "balanced" mean including some sort of starch (ie potatoes, bread, etc) but starch=sugar=fat. So, make yourself some extra veggies and skip the starch. (I hear you complaining... don't worry... you'll survive) 
13. Chia seeds! Get some chia seeds, mix about 1/3-1/2 c with a pitcher of whole juice and start your day with about a 1/2 c swig of the stuff. It's loaded with omegas which can help with weight loss and lowering cholesterol, protein, and fiber which "fills ya up". 
14. Last, but not least.... consider your hormones. They dictate a lot of your weight loss/gain. If you are a woman and you have an imbalance, try supplementing with Royal Jelly. If you are a man GET MORE EXERCISE. When you exercise your body produces Testosterone!

Oh and... PS: DO NOT TAKE ADVICE FROM/COMPARE YOURSELF TO PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN SKINNY THEIR ENTIRE LIVES. IF THEY START TO GAIN AN EXTRA POUND OR TWO, ALL THEY HAVE TO DO IS WALK AROUND THE BLOCK AND THEIR METABOLISM WAKES BACK UP!!!!!!!