In a recent study from Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, researchers found that overweight participants who lost belly fat started to see improved sleep, showing that there is a direct connection between weight loss and a better night’s sleep. However, it’s not easy to fix the issue if weight is already affecting your sleep. There is evidence that sleep deprivation can lead to overeating, which may stack the odds against you if you’re trying to lose weight but have trouble sleeping. While it’s not possible to target specific areas of your body for fat loss, there are lots of things you can do to reduce your overall weight and reap the health benefits that come with the change. Learn about some of the lifestyle changes you can try below. 

Prepare More Meals at Home 

When you’re short on time, you might find yourself stopping for fast food on a regular basis instead of cooking at home. While it’s not bad to eat fast food every now and then, it’s generally healthier to prepare meals yourself from scratch. 

Making a full meal at home every night might be out of the question, but there are lots of ways to speed up meal prep. Getting an electric pressure cooker, for example, is one of the easiest ways to make countless types of meals more quickly. There are many different pressure cookers to choose from. When picking out a model, consider factors such as its price and ease of use. Don’t forget to read online reviews to see what the best option might be for your family. 

Focus on Calorie Intake 

Unfortunately, weight-loss myths abound in the media, making it hard for anyone to decide what the best course of action is when it comes to getting rid of body fat. There are also endless debates on the importance of exercise versus cutting calories, and what it means to eat “good” foods versus “bad” ones. 

Finding what works for you amidst all of this debate can seem impossible. While nutrition experts still disagree on the value of counting calories, the truth is that it usually works. In fact, Verywell Fit points out that the basis of just about any diet — including most fad diets — is to create a calorie deficit. This simply means eating fewer calories than you burn. 

Determining how many calories you need for weight loss can be really complicated. There are ways to calculate this number yourself. However, it can also work to use a weight loss calculator, such as this one, to do the math for you. 

Practice Mindful Eating 

Mindful eating is the practice of paying more attention to what you eat. Being mindful can mean something different to everyone. However, most people who practice mindful eating agree that it is a form of meditation that helps you make more informed choices about what you put into your body. This is done by limiting distractions while eating and paying attention to your emotions before, during, and after having a meal. As a result, people who practice mindful eating oftentimes find that they lose weight and form a more positive relationship with food. 

Try New Types of Exercise

Diet and exercise usually go hand-in-hand regardless of who you ask. Most medical experts recommend that you get in 150 minutes of moderate activity or 75 minutes of vigorous activity each week. How you approach this is up to you. 

If you’re feeling uninspired by your workout, it might be time to introduce new types of fitness to your routine. Doing yoga, for example, is a great way to stay in shape, reduce your body fat over time and reap numerous other benefits. 

Excess weight can affect your health in so many ways, but weight loss can sometimes feel impossible with the amount of conflicting information out there. However, there’s a reason that traditional advice sticks around. No matter what spin you put on it, eating right and getting enough exercise is always at the heart of losing weight.