Of course nights are great for going on dates, binge-watching series, doing work, chatting on the phone — you name it. But you know what else they’re great for? Setting yourself up for bigger and better weight-loss results. Just follow these tips to get yourself that much closer to your goal weight. Here are six things you can do at night to de-bloat and promote weight-loss…
Have a low-sodium dinner
“If you want to wake up feeling less bloated, definitely skip the Chinese dinner,” says Keri Gans, author of The Small Change Diet. What happens is the salt stays in your system overnight, so you wake up puffier than you normally would. The best option is to cook a healthy meal of steamed veggies and a lean protein — neither of which should be loaded with salt.
READ MORE: 7 WORST Late Night Snacks For Your Waistline
Do a night-time workout
You know that sweating can help you drop kilograms, but you may think that exercising too close to bedtime can keep you up at night. Luckily, that’s not true; a 2013 survey from the National Sleep Foundation found that active people are 56 to 67 percent more likely to say they usually get a good night’s sleep — no matter what time of day they exercise.
READ MORE: 3 Things You Can Do Tonight For A Better Workout Tomorrow
Pack your lunch
The average restaurant meal contains more than twice the number of kilojoules you should be consuming in one sitting, according to a 2013 study — and that’s not even taking into account the lower kilojoule count you’ll want your lunch to clock in at if you’re trying to drop kilograms. But in the morning rush, who has time to make lunch? Save yourself from a midday diet-wrecker by prepping your meal the night before.
READ MORE: 5 Foods That Are Definitely Keeping You Up At Night
Drink lots of water
Water flushes out your system, which helps you get rid of any water you’re retaining. But since you don’t want to be up all night running to the bathroom (and getting quality shuteye is crucial to weight loss), Gans suggests putting a halt to your water chugging one hour before bedtime.
READ MORE: 5 Bedtime Beverages That Can Help You Lose Weight
Make sure your bedroom is super dark
The hormone melatonin can help your body produce more kilojoule-burning brown fat, according to an animal study published in Journal of Pineal Research. Since your body already produces melatonin when you’re in complete darkness, make sure your room is light-free to boost weight loss.
Sleep in a cooler room
The idea of burning more kilojoules while you sleep may sound too good to be true, but a National Institute of Health Clinical Center study found that people who slept in a 18-degree room burned seven percent more kilojoules than people who snoozed at 23 degrees. Seven percent isn’t a ton – but it can’t hurt!
This article was originally published on www.womenshealthmag.com
