Burning calories in easiest possible ways can help enrich your fitness regime. You need not spend hours in the gym just a quid pro quo with some daily activities and you shall have a few hundred calories off your system. Sharing some easy and efficient ways to cut 500 calories in a day. This does not mean you have to follow crash diet or increase your workouts. But by balancing and substituting routine things, it is easy to cut 500 calories in a day.
Calories are the units of energy we consume through food and drinks in a day. A normal, healthy woman needs 2200 calories a day for healthy living. It is very important to not starve or involve in excessive workout. This can affect health adversely. Quickest way to reduce weight is by slashing calorie intake in a day. Thus we have some tries and tested ways to cut 500 calories in a day.
[Also read: 10 minute yoga for weight loss and transcendental effects]
Follow the below points carefully and you will cut calorie counts in your system:
- Walk more:
You may not go out for strolls always, just remember to stand up and take a few steps every 20-25 minutes. Easiest is to walk while talking on phone, while watching TV, while listening to music, when working (in some places with customer interaction its mandatory to stand)
- Use steps in place of elevator:
Steps can help burning more calories each day.
- Avoid sugar based drinks:
Cut calories by substituting cane sugar in your drinks with honey or white sugar or just have it bland. Sugar in the coffee and tea add around 200 calories for every spoonful intake.
- Do not eat while watching TV:
When in front of TV you tend to indulge in overeating. To prevent impulsive overdose on calories, eat quietly at the dining table.
- Limit ice-creams and desserts:
Ice-creams and desserts add many calories which are hard to burn in a day. It’s better to avoid over indulgence in these sugary treats. Try to substitute them with sugar and plain yogurt.
- Limit butter and cheese on your toast:
Try to cut it completely if your BMI is high. It is better not to take them at all, as they not shoot up the calories but also affect heart health.
- Use small plate for your meals:
Eating small meals helps in reducing calorie intake and prevents over accumulation of calories soon after the meal. Our body needs just adequate amount of calories for metabolic activities anything extra adds on to the fat layers in our body.
- Substitute toppings in salad and pizza with healthier choices:
You may wish to think about those extra pieces of cheese and croutons as toppings. In place, start adding fresh fruits and vegetables to cut calories
- Count the fries and chips:
Fries and chips are the major culprits for increasing calories in our daily diet. These can be substituted with vegetable bites and granola bars
- Cocktails with soda or cranberry juice:
Substitute the sugary additions to your cocktails with healthier options like soda or cranberry juice. This will cut the calories by just half.
- Don’t eat too much:
It is always advised to save a little space when you have your meal. This not only cuts down calories, but also helps aid digestion.
- Don’t try to finish just everything:
We should not waste food, but that certainly doesn’t imply eat everything to save it from wastage. Try to prepare or order just sufficient for a meal. Saving up for next time may not be a good idea as it may spoil the nutritive value of the food
- Substitute whole milk with fat free:
For every bit of yogurt, milk and cheese you take, try to make it from fat free milk. This helps in containing the calories and also prevent from cholesterol deposition
[Also read: Cholesterol lowering foods]
- Do not get trapped by the ‘healthy food’ myth:
A variety of foods are available at stores, which may not necessarily be as advertised. Beware and don’t get trapped.
- Drink lot of water and fresh juices in a day:
This will keep you fuller for long and prevent from consuming more calories
- Have soup before meals:
Soup is a healthy appetizer and prevents you from adding calories during courses of meal. It fills you to the extent of having just the adequate meal ahead.
- Part ways with popcorn:
Buttery popcorns are delightful and indulging but they add too many calories. Substitute your movie time guilty pleasures with vegetable bites
- Weigh yourself regularly:
Keeping a check on your weight motivates you to stop indulging in calorie explosion in your body.
- Keep a calorie chart: It is easy to count the calories than to regret having extra. It also helps you to learn which foods add more calories and what can be a healthier substitute
[Also read: Tips to improve lifestyle]
‘Ways to cut 500 calories in a day’ is based on experiences and experiments with food. Some tried and tested methods mixed with aspirations for my own calorie intake. Do check your body mass index (BMI) before proceeding and consult your healthcare provider for allergies and health status.
Enjoy shunting the extra calories off your diet.
By Minu Manisha
