Today, let’s take a look at my top 5 favorite, no-brainer strategies for losing fat like a champ.
If you are not seeing the results you want with your current fat loss plan, implement some, or preferably all of the following strategies and watch the fat literally fall off you!
1) HIIT
High Intensity Interval Training is something that I discuss a lot on this site. In fact, when it comes to conditioning, I can’t say enough good things about it. But let’s focus on it’s role in fat loss rather than conditioning for a moment.
Long Slow Distance (LSD) type cardio is usually what people think about when they want to burn calories and lose fat. Things like running on the treadmill, exercise bike, elliptical, what have you.
These are all good for “cardio” and burning calories during exercise. However, once you stop so does the calorie burning. HIIT is different.
The high intensity protocol makes the sessions much shorter than traditional cardio, usually about half as long, yet the fat burning effect continues for hours after you stop. This makes HIIT much more efficient and the better choice for fat burning.
2) IF
Intermittent Fasting is key for quickly dropping fat, optimizing your body’s hormone profile, and increasing your daily energy. The cool thing about IF versus traditional fasting is that you can use it in various ways.
Skip one meal a day. Sometimes skip 2.
Other days set a certain time limit for fasting. 16 hours is usually the most recommended as anything longer than that begins to have a negative impact on muscle mass.
3) Forget Whole Grains
Go No Grain! This means no bread, cereal, rice, pasta, etc. If your goal is rapid fat loss, and I assume it is since you’re reading this article, then you should significantly reduce or remove grains from your diet.
There is absolutely zero necessary nutritional content that we obtain from grains. I can hear the cries now – what about my fiber??? Don’t worry, the fruits and vegetables you will be eating to replace them are a much better source!
Lose the grains!
As a side note, make sure you also steer clear of all types of soda to drink, especially the diet soda! Drink water throughout the day.
4) Sleep
Studies have consistently shown that getting under 7-8 hours of sleep per night is detrimental to your health. There are a host of problems lack of sleep can cause, being prone to weight gain is just one. Get your sleep!
5) Build Lean Muscle
This one is pretty self explanatory. Strength training is an important factor in healthy body weight, and it also increases (or maintains, depending on your diet/intensity) muscle mass. Whole body strength training exercises also stimulates growth hormone production and increases testosterone in men.
And a bonus one…
5.5) Exhale!
This is one that we don’t often think about, but exhalation is the somatic trigger for relaxing the body. Take a few minutes a couple times a day to do 10-20 strong, deep, rapid exhales. This will lower your heart rate, lower blood pressure, and reduce stress.
Since stress makes you prone to weight gain, this is a good thing! These sharp, deep exhalations also help in removing toxins and detoxifying the body.
Learn my Top Secret Breathing Techniques HERE <<===
4 Comments
Hannes stueckler
March 30, 2012Jon, thanks for the good article.
I would like to learn more about IF. What should I read?
As a side note, one of the most fit guys I know eats fairly large portions of whole grains. Just because it says “whole grains” on the package does not mean that there is no refined flour and sugar in your food. You have to be smart about it. I highly recommend the book “The culprit and the cure.” It has a very scientific yet practical analysis of diet, exercise and GPP.
Jon
March 30, 2012Hi Hannes,
Thanks for the comment. Glad you enjoyed the article!
There are several resources online for IF. Here’s a good one by Dr. John Berardi: http://www.precisionnutrition.com/intermittent-fasting
I would also recommend reading The Primal Blueprint by Mark Sisson.
Darlene Grant
January 26, 2015Jon, what an eye opener.
Jon
January 26, 2015Thanks Darlene!
Leave A Response