Wait Before Ordering Seconds
Our
minds and bodies take time to fully understand and register how much we
have eaten and to give us a feeling of "fullness". Try going on a short
walk, reading the paper or playing a game of cards before dishing up
seconds.
Hot is Good
Hot
spices like cayenne pepper can not only boost metabolism but also cut
cravings for sweet or salty foods. Sprinkle some spice on scrambled
eggs, or spice up a stir-fry with a little hot sauce for that extra bit
of help in burning fats.
Chew Gum
While
it won't always help with decreasing your appetite, gum can keep the
mouth busy when cooking up a meal or when socializing among a sea of
appetizers. The long term effects of gum chewing on weight loss are
minimal but studies show it can lower cravings for sweet and salty
snacks, and decrease hunger levels between meals.
Sip Some Green Tea
Drinking green tea is a great way to shed a few pounds as it has an amazing ability to metabolize fat as well as many other healthy uses.
In combination with resistance training, green tea increases the
potential for fat loss. Add a squeeze of lemon for a little flavor and
vitamins for even more healthy and antioxidant effects.
Water It Down
If
you can't live without your soda and juice, then you can try this
simple trick to reduce the sugar and calories you take with them.
Watering down your drink may sound entirely unappealing, but if you test
it for a bit you can come up with a mixture that will have more water
than the sugar-sweetened drink, and still taste good.
Go For Tall and Thin
Research
shows that people pour less liquid into tall narrow glasses than into
their vertically challenged counterparts. It’s a small change that means
you will ultimately drink less in one sitting. This tip is only
recommended for harmful drinks and not water or natural juices.
Brush
Keeping
your good oral hygiene habits is not something you would normally
relate to weight loss but if you think about it for a second it makes a
lot of sense. Right after you are done with dinner go brush your teeth
and use some mouthwash. This will keep you from mindlessly snacking
while watching a pre-bed TV show as you'll be more inclined to keep your
mouth clean before bed.
Enjoy Your Food
Eating
slowly may not fit into a busy workday, but it pays to pace your
chewing and take your time with every meal. The quicker we eat, the less
time the body has to register fullness and chewing our food well will
help our body extract the maximum amount of nutrition from it.
Mantras
Another
tip that will make you understand that losing weight is all in your
mind is finding some good mantras to keep you motivated and focused.
Hang up an inspirational poster in your room, write it on a sticky note
at your desk or scribble it on your forehead. Just make sure you
remember what you are doing and what you're doing it for.
Add, Don’t Subtract
Don’t
remove foods from your diet, replace them and focus on adding healthy
foods to your menu. Ditching all the “bad” stuff can be a daunting task,
one that’s easier to stick to by focusing on one habit at a time. As
you add more and more healthy habits and foods to your life it will be
much easier to get rid of the bad ones.
Sleep Smart
As
part of any healthy lifestyle, it's important to sleep well and at
regular times. This will help shave off some pounds because your sleep
is linked to changes in appetite and metabolism in the body.
Get Social
You
are not the only person out there trying to lose weight. Turn to online
communities or support groups for sharing progress and setbacks,
getting useful tips and a good pat on the back to keep you going.
Stay Positive
Don't
demonize food and the fact that you are on a diet, instead go for a
positive attitude. “I can control my eating” or “I’m proud that I ate
responsibly today” can reframe our relationship with food and our
efforts to get healthier.
I'm sure that if you follow even half of these tips and stick to a healthy diet - you'll reach your goal in no time!
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