Get Out at Lunch

Instead of eating at your desk, use your lunch hour to get some fresh air outside or squeeze in some exercise at a local gym. Make it your hour.

Make Substitutions

Remember, just because you’ve made it a point to eat healthy doesn’t mean you can’t go out every now and then to enjoy restaurant food. You just have to know what to look for, what to avoid, and where to make substitutions. You can order the chicken fajita, but instead of the Mexican rice and refried beans, ask for black beans or a salad on the side. Opt for the grilled vegetables instead of the twice-baked potato or French fries. Substitute the hash browns for sliced tomatoes. You get the idea — this stuff will take a little extra thought at first, but in no time it'll be second nature.

The Truth About Cardio

There is an established misconception that cardio is most effective first thing in the morning on an empty stomach. The theory is that you won’t have eaten in 8 to 10 hours, so there will be less blood sugar available for fuel, which will force your body to draw on and burn more of its stored energy. This is absolutely untrue. A calorie is a calorie no matter what. It doesn’t matter if the calories are from fat or from carbs — as long as you are burning more of them than you are taking in, you will lose weight. If anything, working out on an empty stomach could make you feel weak and could inhibit your performance. The best advice is to do your cardio whenever you have the energy for it, whether it’s morning or evening, on an empty stomach or following a snack. All that matters is that you are putting as much into every workout as you can — do that, and you’re guaranteed to get the most out of it.