Still on the hunt for the best diet tips that work? Nowadays, it seems that everyone’s got a tip or an opinion about weight loss that they swear will help you drop the pounds. The trouble is that many of these tips are highly unrealistic and certainly not easy for most of us to adopt as a lifestyle.
When it comes to weight loss, often the most sensible tips are the best for shedding pounds and managing weight. Here are 18 top diet tips for weight loss that you should be able to naturally work into your daily life.
18 Best Diet Tips that Work to Help You Lose Weight
1. Don’t skip out on breakfast.
This is one of the best diet tips that work. Skipping breakfast means skipping out on essential nutrients you need to get your day and your metabolism started off on the right track. Missing out on breakfast can lead to you snacking all day because you feel hungry.
2. Over-indulge on fruits and veggies
Fruits and vegetables are low in fat and calories and high in fiber. Each of these benefits are essential for achieving healthy weight loss. As a bonus, fruits and veggies are also an excellent source of vitamins and minerals.
3. Stay hydrated
Sometimes, a glass of water is really all you need to combat hunger pangs. Don’t mistake thirst for hunger. Drink a glass of water and see if that does the trick. Drinking water before and after a meal is often among the best diet tips that work when you are seeking ways to feel fuller faster.
4. No foods should be off limits
It’s often thought that banning foods from your diet that you like but that are bad for you is a sensible way to shed pounds. It’s not. Usually, this backfires and leads to binging on bad foods. Your favorite foods don’t need to be off limits, enjoy them as an occasional treat.
5. Cut down on sugared drinks and alcohol
Enjoy juice, soda, alcohol, and other drinks high in sugar and calories in moderation. That’s one of the best diet tips that work for these beverages, because they pack a lot of calories. On average, there are 83 calories per 1 glass of wine, 140 calories per can of cola, and about 45 calories per glass of OJ. That’s a lot of empty calories.
6. Use smaller dishes
Using smaller plates, bowls and spoons can help you lower you portion sizes. Fill your plate and bowl without overflowing it and eat slowly. If you find it hard to eat slower at first, try eating with your less dominant hand to make it more challenging. This may seem silly, but it’s surprisingly among the best diet tips that work for portion control.
7. Opt for open-faced sandwiches
In addition to choosing wholegrain bread over white, whenever possible, only use one slice of bread when making a sandwich. Cutting out the top of the sandwich can save you between 70 – 120 calories on average! This is a huge savings, especially when you combine it with making other easy calorie cuts like choosing water over soda.
8. Don’t stock your cupboard with your favorite treats
While not banning foods has made this best diet tips that work for weight loss list, this doesn’t mean that you should keep them in your home where you can easily access them. You’re more likely to indulge in these foods if you know they are available. Follow the old “out of sight, out of mind” rule.
9. Make a grocery list
Creating a shopping list helps to keep you organized when you buy food. Think about what meals you plan to make during the week or the snacks you’d like to have and add the ingredients you need to your list. Stick to buying only what’s on the list when you shop and never shop when you’re hungry!
10. Don’t go to sleep hungry
Eating before bed is certainly not among the best diet tips that work for weight loss or for getting a great night’s sleep. However, at the same time, you shouldn’t go to bed hungry, as this can make it harder for you to fall asleep. Eating the right type of bedtime snack, such as carrots with guacamole or humus can keep blood sugars stable.
11. It’s okay to snack
Never allow yourself to get really hungry. When you’re too hungry, you’re less likely to make healthy food choices. Have light morning, afternoon and evening snacks to keep hunger pangs at bay. Fruits, vegetables, and a few nuts are all great snacking choices.
12. Get 6 – 8 hours of sleep every night
One of the best diet tips that work has to do with how much you sleep and not how much you eat. Not getting enough rest can lead to an increase in appetite. Even worse, the foods you’ll crave are your comfort foods, which means more fat and calories.
13. Keep your mind off of eating
Avoid eating out of habit when you’re not hungry. If you’ve just had a snack or a meal, you don’t need more food. Have a glass of water, engage in an activity that requires you to use your mind or, if you’re watching TV, keep your hands busy to avoid thoughtless snacking.
14. Cook more and eat out less
This falls into the obvious best diet tips that work for weight loss category, because when you make your own food, you naturally have control over what goes into the meals you eat compared to those you eat at a restaurant. On average, try making 90% of the meals you consume those you’ve made yourself.
15. Bring your lunch to work
It’s tempting to go out to eat for lunch when you’re at work, especially if you’re co-workers have made a habit of doing it. Resist the urge to fall into this habit. Instead, up your nutrition and reduce your calories by making a lunch the night before, so you don’t have to worry about it in the morning in case you’re running late. This is one of those bonus best diet tips that work that’ll save you money, too!
16. Don’t eat from the bag
When you are going to treat yourself to a fun packaged snack or treat that don’t eat directly from the bag or the box. For instance, take out a handful of chips or two cookies and put away the rest. Not doing so increases the risk of you eating the entire bag of chips or even the box of cookies.
17. Dieting isn’t enough
If you want to lose weight, you need to keep in mind that the best diet tips that work also include exercise. Beyond watching what you eat, you also need to get active to burn off the excess calories and fat. There are many ways to add exercise into your life beyond going to the gym. Walking, jogging, cycling, swimming, dancing, and yoga are just the tip of the iceberg.
18. Stick with your new lifestyle
If you want to drop pounds and keep them off, you can’t ever go back to your old eating habits. Healthy, long-term weight loss isn’t about being on a diet, it’s about changing your eating and lifestyle habits for good. These weight loss tools can help you get and stay on track when it comes to making the right lifestyle choices for a healthy weight. Be sure to bookmark the page, so you always have it a click away!
These truly are some of the best diet tips that work for weight loss, and you have every opportunity of finding success with them if you’re willing to make a change.