Motivation Monday: Weight Loss Addition

I don't know about all of you, but I am feeling a little bloated after eating all of the great food at our Super bowl party!  This is causing me to be extra motivated to eat right and work out today.

This is great considering I am in a weight loss competition with my boyfriend.  I know what your thinking, your boyfriend thinks you need to lose weight?  Not at all!  This is simply a way for us to motivate each other to eat right and work out on a regular basis.  It is that competition that motivates me to make the right choices for my health.

While doing this with my boyfriend I have picked up some helpful weight loss tips.  Ladies- I totally recommend asking your man for help with workouts/diet.  My diet is complete opposite of my boyfriends (I am a vegetarian and he is an avid meat eater), but listening to him talk about his diet has helped me have a different view on my diet.  It also has given me some great tips.  Below are some things I have learned in just the few days we have been doing this competition!

1. GET RID OF SUGARY DRINKS!!!
This is not something new to me.  I have a problem with drinking a lot of sugary drinks throughout the day.  In the past I have completely cut out these types of drinks (except for one small glass of orange juice a day) and I lost 15 pounds!  It is amazing what an effect cutting out excessive sugar can do for you in terms of weight loss (and health!).

2. Drink LOTS of Water

Water with Cucumber and Lemon

This one kind of goes along with #1.  I was always drinking sugary drinks and never drinking water.  Drinking water helps keep your digestive system working properly, which is important for weight loss and general health.  Our bodies also sometimes mistake thirst for hunger.  If you are staying hydrated and drinking enough water you won't have to worry about unnecessary snacking as much.  I am a little picky about drinking water all the time, so to spice it up you can add things to your water.  My favorite is adding cucumbers and lemons.  I also like adding blueberries and strawberries.  It gives the water taste, but it is coming from natural sources.

3. Make sure you are getting enough Vitamin D
According to Women's Health Magazine about 77% of Americans are vitamin D deficient.  Vitamin D is important for many reasons, but it can also help with your weight loss efforts.  I have started taking a 2,000 IU vitamin D supplement in the morning.  You can be tested for vitamin D deficiency, but especially those who live in cold cloudy climates, would benefit from vitamin D no matter what!

I hope you found these tips helpful.  I will keep checking back in to report on how these things are working for me.  I will also periodically share additional tips and my weight loss progress in future posts.  I hope I could give you some motivation on this Monday afternoon!