Woman Lost 20 Pounds Without Doing Cardio: Here Are 9 Things She Did Instead
Hate the treadmill and elliptical machine? Luckily, you don't have to spend hours every day doing cardio to lose weight. Grace Macena is a "macro-focused" nutritionist who promotes sustainable weight loss. In a recent post, she reveals all the non-cardio things that enabled her to achieve her weight loss goals. "9 ways to lose weight without cardio," she writes across the Instagram video.
Understanding Nutrition Is Key
"Understanding nutrition is key if you want to lose weight. We need to understand why we choose certain foods over others, and it's not about willpower; it's about doing what feels good in the long term and not in the short term. But if you want to drop weight and exercise, it just isn't part of your routine yet, that's ok," she writes in her post. "One step at a time."
I Tracked Protein and Calories
The first thing she did? She stayed accountable to her diet. "Track your protein and total calorie intake to make sure you are definitely in a caloric deficit (visit TDEE Omni calculator and then subtract 200-300 calories, or I can do one-time macros for you)," she writes.
I Amped Up My Protein Intake
Her next recommendation? "Focus on eating protein," she writes. "Did you know eating protein actually burns calories? It's called the thermal effect of food. So your body uses energy to break down the food quality protein (also keeps you full)."
I Eliminated Processed Foods
She also eliminated processed foods. "Eat unprocessed foods," she continues. "It doesn't take energy to break it down; it's already processed, and most of these foods do not keep you full."
I Consumed More Fiber
Also, amp up your fiber intake. "Focus on fiber-rich foods, cause you to feel less bloated and get that colon moving; fruits, veggies, chia seeds, high fiber bread," she says.
RELATED: 4 Warning Signs You Are Eating Too Much Protein
I Moved More Throughout the Day
She also infused movement into her day. "Get up 5 mins every hour, set an alarm, and just walk to the bathroom or get a glass of water. Aim to move more. Little things matter," she says.
I Slept More
She also stresses the importance of rest. "Get better sleep," she says. "Studies show those who sleep better have a faster metabolism. Aim for 7 hrs of quality sleep. Those who don't sleep burn 300 calories less (average), and it causes you to be tired and make poor decisions."
I Stay Organized
Her next habit isn't directly related to diet or fitness but has to do with staying organized. "Clean/ tidy the house in the am and pm," she writes. "This forces you to move more hint hint."
RELATED: Woman Lost 28 Pounds in 4 Months by Following These 4 Post-Workout Rules
I Drink Water Before Meals
And hydrate before you eat. "Drink a glass of water before you eat your meals," she writes. "It will help you feel full. Staying hydrated helps optimize your metabolism."
I Stopped Drinking
Her last weight loss habit? She quit drinking. "Let go of alcohol; it stops the digestion of your food to get rid of the toxins," she writes. "Eating well feels good." And if you enjoyed this article, take advantage of these 15 Quick Ways to Lose Body Fat Percentage in a Week.
