4 Weight Loss Tips for Insanely Busy People

You swear that tomorrow you’ll have time to pack a nutritious and healthy lunch before leaving for work, but that tomorrow rarely comes. You’re convinced you’ll get to the gym on your lunch hour or do a workout video at night after the kids go to bed—and that happens close to never. Your intentions are good, but sometimes it feels like your busy life is getting in the way of your weight loss plans. Don’t give up. You can still eat healthy and squeeze in some exercise, even on the craziest days.

Here are some ways insanely busy people lose weight:

1. They Prep Ahead

Mornings are nuts, so don’t try to add something else to your to-do list. Instead, use the night before to make-ahead your lunch, and spend an afternoon on the weekend portioning out a bunch of healthy snacks that you can grab on your way out the door: Hardboiled eggs, trail mix, a scoop of almond butter or string cheese.

2. They Stand Up

Seriously. Any opportunity you have to be standing instead of sitting, you should take—like at a staff meeting, when you’re on the phone, or during commercials while you’re watching TV. That little movement not only burns more calories, but it also helps keep your metabolism humming. When you sit, body processes the help break down fats and sugar in your body stall; get up, or fidget, or walk a little and you kick the processes back into action.

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3. They Make Smart Swaps

When hunger strikes and you realize your only choice is a vending machine, deli or drive-through, you can still stay on track: Get the smallest plainest burger; think grilled, not crispy; get your sandwich in a lettuce wrap or on a whole wheat pita, not a white roll; replace fries with a salad or steamed veggies. And if you just need a little snack to hold you over, opt for unsalted trail mix, a hard-boiled egg or go ahead: Lick some peanut butter right off the spoon.

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4. They Break Up Their Workouts

Take a 10-minute walk… several times a day. You get the same health benefits in more manageable bursts. Keep an extra pair of walking shoes at work or in the car to sneak in extra steps whenever you can: if you’re out running errands, for example, speed walk between stores for an extra calorie burn.