10 tricks to shed weight before summer

People in your neighborhood are planting flowers, mowing the lawn, and watering plants. These are just a few signs that not only is spring here, but summer is knocking.  Think you don't have time to shed a few pounds before slipping into swimwear? Think again! Here are 10 ways to lose a few pounds, and look leaner for summer.

Of course, check with your doctor before trying any of these suggestions.

1. Get outside with your neighbors. 

Some fitness experts and doctors say yard work can be a great work out.  In fact light yard work like raking, planting, mowing a small yard can result in more than 200 calories burned.

2. Don't fall for bad fitness/nutrition tips. 

Fitness expert Wes Cole says there are 4 tips you hear often that just aren't true.

• Don't let anyone tell you that you don't need to do cardio. Any kind of exercise that gets the heart pumping will burn calories.
• Cole says it's also false that artificial sweeteners cause cancer. Artificial sweeteners are a much better alternative to sugars, which can contribute a lot of calories to your diet.
• You hear you must eat five meals a day. This fact is also false. Five full meals a day can put your calorie count on overload.  Six small meals and snacks can jump start your metabolism.
• Some people will tell you not to weigh yourself, but Cole says that's a great way to track your progress. Cole says weighing yourself weekly is a good place to start. Doing it everyday could become discouraging because water weight can tip the scale on some days. 

3.  Remember the Hula Hoop?  Give one a spin!  Some fitness experts say it's back. 

Check your local health club. Some are offering hoop classes to help you tone your body. Certified fitness instructor Whitney Hoskins says padded weighted hoops help tone your middle section, and burn calories with multiple minutes of use. "It's amazing for the entire abdominal area, lower, middle, and upper as well as the obliques in lower back. It gets the entire core. Men are awesome! They can lose weight really quick. So, I'm sure this would benefit much quicker for them, but those women are awesome and they are having great results," Hoskins said.

4. Lay off the high fructose corn syrup. 

A new study warns it may lead to bigger waistlines and an increased risk for health problems. Researchers at Princeton University found rats given water sweetened with high fructose corn syrup gained more weight than those given table sugar. Some experts warn this study doesn't mean sugar is healthy, they say Americans should reduce all sweets in their diets.

5. Eat like a caveman! 

Some health experts say eating like our ancestors did can make for a healthier diet. Allow a lot of whole, fresh, unrefined foods including meat, vegetables, fruits and nuts. Believers in this strategy suggest avoiding dairy and grains, but check with your doctor first.

6. Get some zzzzz's! 

It may sound like a dream, but some doctors say sleeping could help with weight loss. Registered Dietitian Amy Goodson says there is a hormonal connection between sleep and weight. "In a state of sleep deprivation, your body will produce more Ghrelin. This tells your body, 'I'm hungrier, please feed me.'  It will produce less Leptin saying I'm satisfied you can stop. Thus, people eat more and crave more over the course of the day because the sleep deprivation is causing those hormones to be out of whack. Those hormones can dictate hunger levels, and fullness levels over the course of a day. This can cause you to possibly take in more or less food," Goodson said.  Sleep experts say most adults need between 7 and 9 hours of sleep each night for optimum performance.

7. Make a work out buddy. 

Whether you walk, run, lift weights, do aerobics, or cycle, experts say it's good to have someone hold you accountable. If you know someone is waiting for you at the gym, or down the street, you might be less likely to cancel the date. Experts say bringing a friend along helps time fly through a workout.

8. Think outside the "work out box". 

Excercise doesn't always mean going to the gym, it can mean going to the local night club, dance school, or senior center. Experts say dancing is a great way to burn calories. In just one hour, most people can burn more than 260 calories. So put on your dancin' shoes, and if you go to the night club, lay off the alcoholic drinks. Most of them are packed with calories, and margaritas have at least 4 tablespoons of sugar per average drink.

9. Trick yourself with foods that taste just like the real thing. 

Some dietitians suggest turkey bacon over real bacon. Try Boca burgers instead of beef. Cauliflower can taste just like mashed potatoes if prepared just right. Click here for a recipe:  http://lowcarbdiets.about.com/od/lowcarbsidedishes/r/cauliflowermash.htm

10. Don't give up! 

Dieticians say small changes over a long period of time make the most impact.