Everyone knows the keys to losing weight: Eat less and exercise more. Sounds simple enough, but in the context of real life and its demands, it can be anything but simple. So how do successful losers do it? To find out, the following are tips below which is the best, is quoted from various sources, namely:
1. Drink plenty of water or other calorie-free beverages
People sometimes confuse thirst with hunger. So you can end up eating extra calories when an ice-cold glass of water is really what you need.
"If you don't like plain water, try adding citrus or a splash of juice, or brew infused teas like mango or peach, which have lots of flavor but no calories," says Cynthia Sass, RD, a spokeswoman for the American Dietetic Association.
2. Think about what you can add to your diet, not what you should take away
Start by focusing on getting the recommended 5-9 servings of fruits and vegetables each day.
"It sounds like a lot, but it is well worth it, because at the same time you are meeting your fiber goals and feeling more satisfied from the volume of food," says chef Laura Pansiero, RD.
You're also less likely to overeat because fruits and vegetables displace fat in the diet. And that's not to mention the health benefits of fruits and vegetables. More than 200 studies have documented the disease-preventing qualities of phytochemicals found in produce, says Pansiero.
Her suggestion for getting more: Work vegetables into meals instead of just serving them as sides on a plate.
"I love to take seasonal vegetables and make stir-fries, frittatas, risotto, pilafs, soups, or layer on sandwiches," Pansiero says. "It is so easy to buy a variety of vegetables and incorporate them into dishes."
3. Consider whether you're really hungry
Whenever you feel like eating, look for physical signs of hunger, suggests Michelle May, MD, author of Am I Hungry?
"Hunger is your body's way of telling you that you need fuel, so when a craving doesn't come from hunger, eating will never satisfy it," she says.
When you're done eating, you should feel better -- not stuffed, bloated, or tired.
"Your stomach is only the size of your fist, so it takes just a handful of food to fill it comfortably," says May.
Keeping your portions reasonable will help you get more in touch with your feelings of hunger and fullness.
4. Be choosy about nighttime snacks
Mindless eating occurs most frequently after dinner, when you finally sit down and relax.
"Sitting down with a bag of chips or cookies in front of the television is an example of eating amnesia, where you mindlessly eat without being hungry, but out of habit," says American Dietetic Association spokesperson Malena Perdomo, RD.
Either close down the kitchen after a certain hour, or allow yourself a low-calorie snack, like a 100-calorie pack of cookies or a half-cup scoop of low-fat ice cream. Once you find that you're usually satisfied with the low-cal snack, try a cup of zero-calorie tea, suggests Perdomo.
5. Enjoy your favorite foods
"I think putting your favorite foods off limits leads to weight gain because it triggers 'rebound' overeating," says Sass.
Instead of cutting out your favorite foods altogether, be a slim shopper. Buy one fresh bakery cookie instead of a box, or a small portion of candy from the bulk bins instead of a whole bag.
"You can enjoy your favorite foods, but you must do so in moderation," says Sass.
6. Enjoy your treats away from home
When you need a treat, Ellie Krieger, RD, host of Food Network's Healthy Appetite, suggests taking a walk to your local ice cream parlor or planning a family outing.
"By making it into an adventure, you don't have to worry about the temptation of having treats in the house, and it is a fun and pleasurable way to make it work when you are trying to lose weight," says Krieger.
And for those times you just can't get out? Krieger stocks her kitchen with fresh fruit, which she thinks can be every bit as delicious as any other dessert.
7. Eat several mini-meals during the day
If you eat fewer calories than you burn, you will lose weight. But when you're hungry all the time, eating fewer calories can be challenging.
"Studies show people who eat 4-5 meals or snacks per day are better able to control their appetite and weight," says obesity researcher Rebecca Reeves, DrPH, RD.
She recommends dividing your daily calories into smaller meals or snacks and enjoying as many of them as you can early in the day -- dinner should be the last time you eat.
8. Eat protein at every meal
Protein is more satisfying than carbohydrates or fats, and thus may be the new secret weapon in weight control.
"Diets higher in protein [and] moderate in carbs, along with a lifestyle of regular exercise, have an excellent potential to help weight loss," says University of Illinois protein researcher Donald Layman, PhD.
Getting enough protein helps preserve muscle mass and encourages fat burning while keeping you feeling full. So be sure to include healthy protein sources, like yogurt, cheese, nuts, or beans, at meals and snacks.
9. Spice it up
Add spices or chiles to your food for a flavor boost that can help you feel satisfied.
"Food that is loaded with flavor will stimulate your taste buds and be more satisfying so you won't eat as much," says Perdomo.
When you need something sweet, suck on a red-hot fireball candy for a long-lasting burst of sweetness with just a few calories.
10. Stock your kitchen with healthy convenience foods
Having ready-to-eat snacks and meals-in-minutes staples on hand sets you up for success. You'll be less likely to hit the drive-through or call in a pizza order if you can make a healthy meal in 5 or 10 minutes.
Sass stocks her kitchen with:
- 94% fat-free microwave popcorn (20-25 calories per cup, and you can make it in two minutes or less)
- Frozen vegetables
- Bags of pre-washed greens
- Canned diced tomatoes
- Canned beans
- Whole-grain wraps or pitas
- Pre-cooked grilled chicken breasts
- A few containers of pre-cooked brown rice
Within minutes, she can toss together a healthy medley.
11. Order children̢۪s portions at restaurants
"When you are eating out, order a child's pizza or a small sandwich as an easy way to trim calories and get your portions under control," suggest Perdomo.
Another trick is to use smaller plates. This helps the portions look like more, and if your mind is satisfied, your stomach likely will be, too.
12. Eat foods in season
"If you don't love certain fruits or vegetables, it could be because you ate them out of season when they have little taste or flavor," says Pensiero. "When you eat seasonally, fruits and vegetables are more flavorful, at their best, and I promise you won't be disappointed."
At GiGi's Trattoria, her restaurant in Rhinebeck, N.Y., she serves simple fruit desserts, like naturally sweet strawberries topped with aged balsamic vinegar, or low-fat yogurt or fresh berries in a compote.
Best Diet Tip No. 13: Swap a cup of pasta for a cup of vegetables.
Simply by eating less pasta or bread and more veggies, you could lose a dress or pants size in a year.
"You can save from 100-200 calories if you reduce the portion of starch on your plate and increase the amount of vegetables," says Sass.
14. Use non-food alternatives to cope with stress
Sooner or later, you're going to be faced with a stressful situation. Instead of turning to food for comfort, be prepared with some non-food tactics that work for you.
Sass suggests reading a few chapters in a novel, listening to music, writing in a journal, practicing meditative deep breathing, or looking at a photo album of loved ones.
15. Be physically active
Although it may seem counterintuitive, don't use exercise either to punish yourself for eating or to "earn" the right to eat more.
"When you do, it sets up a negative thought pattern, which is why so many people say they hate to exercise," says May.
Instead, focus on how great you feel, how much better you sleep and how much more energy you have when you exercise. Physical activity is good for you whether you are trying to lose weight or not, so keep it positive and build a lifelong habit.
Now that you have reached your weight loss goal, we are sure you wouldn't want to slip down the slipper slope of weight gain again.
The real task of managing your weight lies ahead. So, what will be your plan of action? The most pivotal point to note here is that you have to make your weight loss a permanent one. For doing so, today, Dr. Sukhvinder Singh Saggu, Sr Consultant Laparoscopic, Gastro & Obesity surgeon at Fortis Jessa Ram Hospital, New Delhi, gives us his insights on the top 5 secrets for maintaining a steady weight.
1. Get exercise in unexpected ways
To maintain the ideal weight, for men and women, one needs to be active in their whole day. Ideally, it is recommended to burn at least 2000 calories per day for men & 1600 calories for women. There are several ways to burn your calories. For example, if men and women wash their cars, an activity that takes at least 30 minutes, it easily burns approximately 300 calories. Similarly, instead of using elevators/lift, if they use stairs, they will burn upto 100 calories, and so on.
2. Don't try to be perfect
Maintaining weight or losing weight should not be a short duration target. It should be an on-going activity, which needs to be achieved slowly and in a steady manner. It should be pursued with the intent to learn, rather than the attitude that declares it as learned or perfect.
3. Keep fizzy drinks at bay as much as you can
Surely, soft drinks and other carbonated drinks need to be on check. If you are on your way to being a fit person and want to live your life healthier, then stay away from fizzy drinks as much as you can. Instead, go for home-made lemonade, fresh fruit juice or prepare your own ice tea. Carbonated, aerated drinks simply elevate the symptoms of diseases such as diabetes, arthritis, liver damage, heart ailments and even cancer to some extent.
4. Eat at proper intervals
If one wants to maintain his/her lost weight or intends to lose weight, then the most important point to keep in mind is to have food at proper regular intervals. Skipping any meal of the day, will not help one to lose weight, rather it creates problems. It is recommended to have 6 to 7 meals in a day but of small portions. The count is of calories, i.e. how much you consume in a day. The small portion of meal helps you digest food faster. And not to forget, eat a light dinner at least a couple of hours before sleeping to avoid acidity and other indigestion issues that indirectly affect weight management.
5. Do not forget your strength training routine
Not only does strength training give men and women a fit and toned body, but it also helps the joints and muscles work more efficiently against injuries. It makes joints and bones more flexible and strong, and increases stamina. It is ideally suggested that one should opt for strength training for at least three times a week. Strength train all parts of your body by targeting different body muscles on a daily basis.
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