FBG’s Top 10 Weight-Loss Tips

These totally sane weight-loss tips will have you smiling from ear to ear.

Today’s post is part of FBG’s Back to Basics Week that features the best beginner fitness and beginner nutrition posts that help you to be a little healthier and—in theme with the week—a little smarter.

It’s not news to any of us that there’s more than one way to drop a dress size, but, when you’ve got a slimmed-down celeb yammering on about how a cleanse worked for her, and your friend at the office is excited about her low-carb diet, but you just read a study about how certain vitamins can facilitate weight loss, well, it’s hard to know what’s real and what’s just a hyped-up fad.

We took a look at our archives for some top weight-loss tips that have held true in the past and will continue to be valid for years to come. Have any of these approaches and best weight-loss tips worked for you?

FBG’s 10 Best Weight-Loss Tips

1. Don’t sabotage yourself. FBG Jenn learned that she was her own biggest obstacle when it came to losing weight and living a healthful life, but by implementing five simple but effective tips, she slayed those mean ol’ demons.

2. Be mindful. This was one of our weight-loss challenges this year, and we love it because, while it’s super duper effective, it can also be done in a way that works for everyone. You don’t have to set restrictions that make you miss your favorite foods or dread a daily trip to the gym; just be more mindful of your choices, and you’ll find yourself living healthier and dropping pounds before you know it.

3. Stress less. Now, this sounds simple, but as Jenn found when reading Stress Less, Weigh Less, there’s more to it than just taking a few deep breaths when you feel your body tensing up. The stress that really affects our waistline is the kind that builds and builds and builds, so to overcome it, make stress reduction a daily, disciplined practice.

4. Go with the flow. Aunt Flo, that is. Going for longer, steadier workouts for the first half of your menstrual cycle and throw in sprints and intervals for the second half of your period to make the most of your monthly cycle.

5. Find your Inner Bloke. Guest poster Tora Cullip encourages finding—and using—your Inner Bloke to make the most of your workouts. By getting out of breath, lifting heavier weights and pushing yourself to do yet another rep, you’ll have no choice but to burn extra calories! (Just don’t listen when that same Inner Bloke wants you to sit around on the couch and drink beer.)

6. Keep track of your calories and activity. It’s not the sexiest tip, but it’s proven. Whether you use a pen and paper, an app on your phone, tracking these things will keep you honest. But make sure you don’t obsess over it—get a grip on your habits, but know that no good can come of getting fixated on those numbers.

7. Get your beauty sleep. Sleeping well at night doesn’t just make you look and feel better; it truly helps you lose weight. When you sleep, your body produces human growth hormone, which promotes cell regeneration and reduces the amount of fat circulating in your body. So, hit the sack already!

8. Just keep moving. Beyoncé’s trainer, Marco Borges, told us, “Just move! Anything, but keep moving! Typically I recommend exercises you enjoy because chances are if you’re having fun you’re more likely to stick to it.” Amen!

9. Don’t give up, but don’t beat yourself up, either. There will be times when you don’t want to eat a healthy meal or go to the gym or finish your workout. It’s up to you to figure out how to push yourself to do what’s important, but to realize when it’s okay to take it easy.

10. Arm yourself with knowledge. Eating out is a fact of life for most of us, but if you have a few guidelines going in and know what to watch out for, you can do it without sacrificing a pant size.

Do you have a top weight-loss tip that wasn’t included here? Be sure to share in the comments! —Kristen