10 Tips to Lose 10 Pounds

If you’re like most Americans, you have a few extra pounds you wish to lose. But even if you succeed, you have to have a plan that works for your lifestyle or you’ll gain the weight back.

Incorporate these 10 simple and easy tips into your daily lifestyle, and you’ll not only drop a few pounds but also ensure you keep them off.

1. Trick your brain — Try using a smaller plate when serving dinner. This will make the plate look fuller and trick your brain into believing you have eaten a larger portion. 

2. Dip instead of pour — When eating salad, try serving the dressing on the side. Dip your fork into the dressing before stabbing at the salad. You will still get the taste of the dressing without drenching your veggies with calories. Plus, you will actually get to taste the veggies. 

3. Slow down — When eating too fast, your stomach doesn’t have time to tell your brain when you are full. Nutritionists say it generally takes 20 minutes for your stomach to send the signal to the brain letting it know it’s full. If you’ve consumed your entire meal in less time than that, you won’t realize you are full and may go for unnecessary seconds. 

4. Stop and pause — Simply setting your fork down in between bites forces you to eat slower, which means you’ll feel fuller with less food. 

5. Know what a serving size is — Keep plenty of measuring cups and spoons handy. If you rely on your eye to define a serving you will almost always go over. 

Success When Eating Out

Incorporating healthy weight loss tips into your life doesn’t have to be time consuming or extremely difficult. Just a few small changes can help immensely. You can even eat out if you are mindful about it. 

“If you enjoy eating out, don’t stop doing that completely” says Cheryl, a weight loss expert with Weight Watchers in Tucson, Arizona. “You need to find a plan that works with your lifestyle.” 

1. Moderation — If you deny yourself something you really crave, you’ll eventually indulge to the point of excess. Splurge on special occasions but in moderation. Instead of eating an entire piece of cake, try a small sliver. You’ll still get the craving satisfied without sabotaging your previous efforts. 

2. Splitting a meal — Try finding a health conscience friend who understands the path you are on. Agree on a meal and simply split it. You’ll get all the taste and satisfaction with half the calories.

3. Order a “to go” box — As soon as your food is delivered, package half into the box to take home for a second meal. If it’s not in front of your face, you’re less likely to overeat. 

4. Research your restaurant — Before heading out for an evening with friends, find out where you are going and look up the menu online. Make your choices before leaving the house and decline a menu once there. Also, when eating out, ask for what you want. Most servers are very accommodating if you request low- or no-oil cooking or steamed veggies instead of sautéed in butter. 

5. Try side dishes — Combining a couple of side dishes may be your best bet at some restaurants. If you don’t see anything on the main menu that looks healthy, try cruising the sides. You can often get a full meal with a just a few sides at a fraction of the calories.