If the idea of losing weight conjures up images of annoying diets, endless hours of sweating at the gym, and magical pills promoting empty promises, you’re not alone. A lot of people make drastic changes that are impossible to sustain or restrict themselves so much that they quickly lose their motivation when it comes to losing weight, but it doesn’t have to be that way! Tiny, virtually painless changes in your daily routine can go a long way and help to keep you motivated on your path to your weight loss goals.
It’s easy! You can start by:
- Use smaller plates. You’ll be able to fit less food and, thus, less calories.
- Chew gum. Studies have shown that people who chew gum throughout the day consume less calories. It’s a great distraction and will keep you from munching on snacks out of boredom.
- Snack on “calorie-negative” food. Foods such as celery, carrots, beets, and apples are so low in calories that simply chewing and digesting them might burn more calories than they contain.
- Brush your teeth after every meal. A minty clean mouth will discourage you from going for more food.
- Park your car in the furthest parking spot from your destination, or getting off the train or bus one stop earlier to encourage extra walking and add exercise to your everyday routine.
- Do crunches or push-ups during the commercial breaks of your favorite TV shows or walking up and down the stairs while you’re talking on the phone.
- Choose a glass of red wine over calorie-rich mixed drinks during Happy Hour. Red wine is comparatively low in calories and contains antioxidants such as resveratrol which helps lowers the "bad" LDL cholesterol and elevate the "good" HDL cholesterol levels.
- Carry a small notebook with you to record what you eat. Several studies have shown that people who use “food diaries” lose significantly more weight.
- Sip on green tea. Preliminary tests show the extracts in green tea help to block fat and keep your appetite at bay.
- Drink lots of water. Studies have shown that many times we mistake the sensation of thirst with hunger. So next time you think you need a snack, hydrate first and see how you feel afterward.
Incorporate these tiny little changes into your life and try not to laugh too hard when your friends are starving on grapefruit and liquid-only crash diets.