- Sticking to a conventional diet and exercise plan can be
difficult.
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However, there are several proven tips that can help you eat fewer
calories with ease.
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These are effective ways to reduce your weight, as well as to
prevent weight gain in the future.
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Here are 11 ways to lose weight without diet or exercise. All of
them are based on science.
1.Chew Thoroughly and Slow Down
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Your brain needs time to process that you’ve had enough to eat.
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Chewing your food thoroughly makes you eat more slowly, which is associated
with decreased food intake, increased fullness and smaller portion sizes.
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How quickly you finish your meals may also affect your weight.
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A recent review of 23 observational studies reported that faster eaters are
more likely to gain weight than slower eaters.
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Fast eaters are also much more likely to be obese.
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To get into the habit of eating more slowly, it may help to count how many
times you chew each bite.
2.Use Smaller Plates for Unhealthy Foods
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The typical food plate is larger today than it was a few decades ago.
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This trend could contribute to weight gain, since using a smaller plate may
help you eat less by making portions look larger.
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On the other hand, a bigger plate can make a serving look smaller, causing you
to add more food.
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You can use this to your advantage by serving healthy food on bigger plates and
less healthy food on smaller plates.
3.Eat plenty of Protein
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Protein has powerful effects on appetite. It can increase feeling of fullness,
reduce hunger and help you eat fewer calories.
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This may be because protein effects several hormones that play a role in hunger
and fullness, including ghrelin and GLP-1.
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One study found that increasing protein intake from 15% to 30% of calories helped
participants eat 441 fewer calories per day and lose 4.9 kg over 12 weeks, on
average, without intentionally restricting any foods.
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In one study, overweight or obese women who had eggs for breakfast ate fewer
calories at lunch compared to those who ate a grain-based breakfast.
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What’s more, they ended up eating fewer calories for the rest of the day and
during the next 36 hours.
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Some examples of protein-rich foods include chicken breasts, fish, Greek
yogurt, lentils, quinoa and almonds.
4.Store Unhealthy Foods out of sight
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Storing unhealthy foods where you can see them may increase hunger and
cravings, causing you to eat more.
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This is also linked to weight gain.
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One recent study found that if high-calorie foods are more visible in the
house, residents are more likely to weight more than people who keep only a
bowl of fruit visible.
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Store unhealthy foods out of sight, such as in closets or cupboards, so that
they are less likely to catch your eye when you’re hungry.
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On the other hand, keep healthy foods visible on your countertops and place
them front and center in your fridge.
5.Eat Fiber-Rich Foods
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Eating fiber-rich foods may increase satiety, healping you feel fuller for
longer.
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Studies also indicate that one type of fiber, viscous fiber, is particularly
helpful for weight loss. It increases fullness and reduces food intake.
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Viscous fiber forms a gel when it comes in contact with water. This gel
increases nutrient absorption time and slows down the emptying of your stomach.
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Viscous fiber is only found in plant foods. Examples include beans, oat
cereals, Brussels sprouts, asparagus, oranges and flax seeds.
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A weight loss supplement called glucomannan is also very high in viscous fiber.
6.Drink Water Regularly
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Drinking water can help you eat less and lose weight, especially if you drink
it before a meal.
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One study in adults found that drinking half a liter of water about 30 minutes
before meals reduced hunger and lessened calorie intake.
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Participants who drank water before a meal lost 44% more weight over a 12 week
period compared to those who did not.
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If you replace calorie-loaded drinks – such as soda or juice – with water, you
may experience an even greater effect.
7.Serve Yourself Smaller Portions
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Portion sizes have increased during the last few decades, especially at
restaurants.
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Larger portions encourage people to eat more and have been linked to an
increase in weight gain and obesity.
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One study in adults found that doubling the size of a dinner appetizer
increased calorie intake by 30%.
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Serving yourself just a little less might help you eat significantly fewer
calories. And you probably won’t even notice the difference.
8.Eat Without Electronic Distractions
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Paying attention to what you eat may help you consume fewer calories.
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People who eat while they’re watching TV or playing computer games may lose
track of how much they have eaten. This, in turn, can cause overeating.
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One review of 24 studies found that people who were distracted at a meal ate
about 10% more in that sitting.
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Additionally, absent-mindedness during a meal has an even greater influence on
your intake later in the day. People who were distracted at a meal ate 25% more
calories at later meals than those who were present.
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If you regularly consume meals while watching TV or using electronic devices,
you could be inadvertently eating more. These extra calories add up and have a
massive impact on your weight in the long term.
9.Sleep Well and Avoid Stress
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When it comes to health, people often neglect sleep and stress. Both, in fact,
have powerful effects on your appetite and weight.
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A lack of sleep may disrupt the appetite-regulating hormones leptin and
ghrelin. Another hormone, cortisol, becomes elevated when you’re stressed.
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Having these hormones fluctuate can increase your hunger and cravings for
unhealthy food, leading to higher calorie intake.
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What’s more, chronic sleep deprivation and stress may increase your risk of
several diseases, including type 2 diabetes and obesity.
10.Eliminate Sugary Drinks
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Added sugar may very well be the single worst ingredient in the diet today.
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Sugary beverages like soda have been associated with an increased risk of many
diseases.
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It’s very easy to consume excess calories from sugary drinks because liquid
calories don’t affect fullness the way solid food does.
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Staying away from these beverages entirely can provide enormous long-term
health benefits. However, note that you should not replace soda with fruit
juice, as it can be just as high in sugar.
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Healthy beverages to drink instead include water, coffee and green tea.
11.Serve Unhealthy Food on Red Plates
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One unusual strategy is to use red plates to help you eat less. Research
indicates that this technique at least seems to work with unhealthy snack
foods.
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One study reported that volunteers ate fewer pretzels from red plates than from
white or blue plates.
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The explanation may be that we associate the color red with stop signals and
other man-made warnings.
-----SUMMARY-----
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Many simple lifestyle habits can help you lose weight. Some have
nothing to do with conventional diet or exercise plans.
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You can use smaller plates, eat more slowly, drink water and avoid
eating in front of the TV or computer. Prioritizing foods rich in protein and
viscous fiber may also help.
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However, it’s probably best not to try all these things at once.
Experiment with one technique for a while, and if that works well for you then
try another one.
- A few simple changes can have a massive impact on your weight over the long term.

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