Losing weight often requires changing up your usual routines and trying some out-of-the-box strategies. While eating healthy foods and exercising are essential, incorporating some unconventional weight loss methods can also make a difference. From sipping on apple cider vinegar to turning down the thermostat, these unusual tips helped me and others successfully shed pounds.
Intermittent Fasting
Intermittent fasting (IF) involves condensing your eating window so you fast for 16+ hours daily or heavily restrict calories a few days per week. Limiting eating boosts fat burning, controls appetite, and kickstarts cellular repair processes. I lost over 15 pounds doing 16:8 style IF, eating only between 11 am-7 pm. IF isn’t for everyone but worked incredibly well for me.
Drinking Apple Cider Vinegar
Sipping apple cider vinegar (ACV) diluted with water 30-60 minutes before meals helps curb appetite and control blood sugar spikes. ACV may also turn on fat-burning genes. I drink 2 tablespoons ACV diluted in a glass of water daily. It tastes awful but works!
Eating More Spicy Foods
Spicy peppers contain capsaicin, which boosts satiety and ramps up metabolism. Eating more spicy foods like hot sauce, chili, cayenne and jalapeños helped me feel less hungry while burning more calories. Just make sure to pair spicy dishes with plenty of veggies.
Focusing on Single Ingredient Foods
Eating more “single ingredient” foods like apples, carrots, chicken breasts, eggs, lentils, tuna, etc. helped me consume fewer processed foods and calories. The simpler the food, the healthier it tends to be. Try basing meals around 1 ingredient.
Tracking Macros, Not Just Calories
Instead of only counting calories, I started tracking my macronutrients (protein, carbs, fat). Aiming for sufficient protein (0.8-1g per pound of body weight) while limiting carbs and fat facilitated more fat loss. Macro tracking ensured I ate optimal fuel.
Creating Mini Habits
Rather than overhauling everything instantly, I layered in “mini habits” like taking the stairs, sleeping 30 extra minutes, and meal prepping once weekly. Small repeated actions stacked up to result in weight loss, without feeling deprived. Start with easy mini-habits.
Standing More
I got a standing desk attachment and aimed to stand for 1 hour, building up to 4+ hours daily. Simply standing more significantly increased my calorie burn. It also strengthened my back, hips, and legs. Look for any chance to stand rather than sit.
Eating Mindfully
Distracted eating leads to overeating. I started practicing mindful eating by removing distractions, chewing slowly, and paying attention to taste and fullness cues. Being mindfully present as I ate helped me consume fewer calories and enjoy my food more.
Preparing My Lunch
Preparing healthy lunches rather than buying takeout was a game changer. Meal prepping my lunches on Sunday – things like mason jar salads, quinoa bowls, soup, and turkey wraps – meant I ate lighter, healthier lunches all week.
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Cooling Down the Thermostat
Turning down the thermostat a few degrees boosted my resting metabolism and calorie burn slightly. Plus, being a bit chilly motivated me to get up and move around more frequently. Keep your home around 70°F for slight metabolic and behavior changes.
5 FAQs about unusual weight loss tips
What are some unusual diet tips for weight loss?
Unusual dieting tricks include intermittent fasting, eating more spicy foods, focusing on single-ingredient foods, counting macros not just calories, drinking apple cider vinegar, and practicing mindful eating.
What are some weird exercise tips that help with weight loss?
Out-of-the-box exercise strategies include taking exercise snaps (short bursts of activity), training early in the morning on an empty stomach, trying eccentric training (emphasizing the lowering phase), and doing workout circuits versus long cardio sessions.
What are some unconventional weight loss tips besides diet and exercise?
Examples include standing more during the day, cooling down your home’s temperature, tracking your steps daily, getting more sunlight exposure in the AM, taking relaxing baths in the evening, and introducing more fun activities that burn calories like dancing.
Do innovative weight loss tricks produce results?
When combined with fundamentals like nutrition and training, creative hacks can give your weight loss a boost by optimizing hormones, controlling appetite, burning more calories, and removing barriers. Not all unusual tips work for everyone though.
What are easy unusual weight loss tips I can try today?
Start drinking apple cider vinegar before meals, add more spicy foods like peppers and hot sauce, aim to stand up for 5-10 minutes each hour, purchase a pedometer and shoot for a daily step goal, and drink 2-3 cups of chilled ice water when cravings strike, and soak in an Epsom salt bath before bed.
Conclusion
Shedding significant weight often requires going beyond the basics of healthy eating and exercise. Testing out innovative tricks like intermittent fasting, drinking ACV, eating more spicy foods, and standing more often can supercharge your weight loss when combined with core healthy habits. Not all unusual tips work for all people. Try introducing new techniques slowly while paying attention to your body’s response. With an experimental mindset and commitment to consistency, unconventional methods can help magnify your results.