Shedding those extra pounds and reaching your ideal weight can be a challenge. What works for one person might not work for you.
It can be frustrating and discouraging. A lot of us have been there, but it doesn’t mean you should give up.
This is a list of some of the best weight loss tricks and tips to help you watch that needle on the scale drop.
Find what works for you–
Not all diets will work for you. They are not one-size fits all. If you have ever dieted, you know that. Don’t get discouraged. It might take some experimenting but find what works best for you. Once you do, you will see that weight loss.
Toss out the top–
When you are eating a sandwich, only use half the bun. This is an easy way to cut down on your carbohydrates, while still enjoying your food.
Buy a fruit bowl–
You will be more likely to snack on a piece of fruit if it is easily accessible.
This is great for your weight loss goals. Fruit is not only healthy but can fill you up and help you feel fuller for longer.
Eat at the table–
When you eat at the table, you focus more on what you’re eating. When you eat in front of the TV you tend to pay more attention to watching your show rather than your appetite. You tend to eat more because you are distracted and miss your body telling you, you are full.
Choose green tea–
Green tea contains catechins. This boosts your metabolism and speeds up your liver’s fat burning capacity. That equal weight loss!
Get smaller plates–
Having smaller plates will help you to have better portion control and eat less. When you have a normal portion of food on a small plate, it seems like a lot more food. This makes you feel like you are eating enough so it’s less likely you will overeat.
Drink plant-based smoothies–
These help you to lose weight while also craving your sweet tooth. Fruit and veggies will keep you fuller for a longer period, which also helps cut down on your calorie intake.
Plan-
Have go-to snacks or meals to help you make better choices. When you have some go-to options, you won’t settle on something less healthy. Making a plan and making set days to workout, you will be more likely to stick with it.
Watch out for marketing–
Always read the ingredients. Many companies market their products as healthy, so people buy them, when in reality they are not the healthy option you are looking for.
Get up to get your food–
If you place your food on the stove or the counter so you have to get up if you want more food. This tends to make you think twice on whether you are actually still hungry and gives your brain time to tell you that your actually full. This reduces your calorie intake and helps you loss weight.
Out of sight out of mind–
Keep your snacks and sweets in a cabinet. When you don’t constantly see them, you eat them less frequently.
Get more sleep–
According to researchers in the journal Appetite, getting eight and a half hours of shut-eye each night can drop cravings for junk food a whopping 62 percent and decrease overall appetite by 14 percent.
Keep it cool–
Keep the temperature cooler in your bedroom. When it is cooler, your body burns fat to keep you warmer.
Make a grocery list–
And stick to it. When you go to the store without a list, you are more likely to buy unhealthy food options. With a list you can plan exactly what you need without having your stomach tell you what to buy.
Get a partner–
You will stick to your workout if you have someone to do it with. They help keep you accountable and it’s more fun when you aren’t alone.
Purify your palate–
Having the aftertaste of your meal or dessert can make you crave more. To help from going back for seconds, try having a mint, water, or tea. It will help cleanse your palate and stop the cravings.
Low carb pasta–
Switch out your traditional pasta for a lower-carb option, such as Asian Black Bean pasta, spaghetti squash, or zoodles.
Intermittent fasting–
Decreasing your eating window can help you to lose weight. What’s better is a majority of your fasting window can occur while you’re sleeping, so try skipping breakfast or eating it later in the morning.
To learn more about intermittent fasting check out, Intermittent Fasting: Is it for You?
Reduce your stress–
Stress can raise levels of the stress hormone cortisol, which is known to cause your belly to store fat. To learn more about how to manage your stress, read my post How to Manage Stress.
Working out doesn’t equal eating what you want–
If you are looking to lose weight, just working out isn’t going to give you the results you want. If you feel you can eat whatever you want, you will develop bad eating habits that will stick, even when you aren’t working out.
Drink your coffee black–
Adding creamer to your coffee adds a lot of extra calories and sugars that you don’t want. Coffee can also boost your metabolism, so getting rid of those extra calories can help you lose weight.
Water is your friend–
Get a BPA free water bottle so you can stay hydrated throughout the day. A Harvard study found that adults with the highest concentration of BPA in their urine had significantly larger waists and a 75 percent greater chance of being obese.
Add spice–
Instead of using a sugar sauce, try spicing up your food. Many spices, like black pepper and cayenne are virtually calorie free.
Take the stairs–
Whenever possible opt for the stairs rather than taking the elevator. It might not seem like much, but every little bit counts.
Feel good about yourself–
It can be hard to drag yourself to the gym if you do not feel good about how you look. Try buying a new outfit or even putting on a little bit of makeup. This can boost your confidence and give you the push you need to get to the gym.
Mix-up your workout–
It is important to mix-up your workout, so you aren’t just training certain muscles. You will burn more fat by doing cardio and using free weights.
Meal prep–
By meal prepping, you are able to plan out your meals, making sure they are healthier. This will also help cut down on hitting up fast food when you aren’t sure what to eat.
Balance is key–
Just because you are dieting doesn’t mean you can’t have the things you love. As long as you are eating healthy a majority of the time, it is ok to have a cheat day. Just be sure you aren’t going overboard on that cheat day. Remember moderation!
No Almond milk–
A serving of cow’s milk has about 8 grams of protein, while almond milk only has about 1.5 grams. And when you get a flavored almond milk, it has much more added sugar.
Beware of sugar-free–
Just because it says it is sugar-free does not mean that it is the healthier option. Sugar-free soda or foods contribute to weight gain and other negative health problems, such as high blood pressure.
