If you’re trying to lose weight, you know it’s not an easy feat. Weight loss takes a lot of dedication to exercise as well as determination to cut down on what you eat. Sometimes the latter seems impossible, right? But it’s really not if you follow a few simple tips. Let’s explore five methods for eating less now.
Grab Healthy Food First and Think Small
It doesn’t matter if you’re eating at home or standing in a buffet line, pile on those healthy foods first. A study claims that most people who eat at buffets will choose bigger portions of several foods that are first in the line. You need to stop and think about what you’re loading on your plate. Prior to selecting fatty side dishes and meats, select whole grains, fish and veggies. Full-service restaurants tend to serve large portions so ask for a doggy bag and take about half of your meal home with you. At fast food places, order the “small” on the menu because anything larger will only entice you to chow down more than you should.
Don’t Eat While Watching TV
Many people today tend to eat their meals in front of the TV; this is a bad idea and is known as distracted eating. Likewise, a strong sign for many that a meal is done is when the movie or show ends. So sitting down with a plate of food to watch The Lord of the Rings Trilogy isn’t a great way to help you lose weight. Since there’s a thing called the DVR in most homes, you have no excuse for not being able to sit at your kitchen or dining room table for 20 minutes to have a nice, healthy meal. TV can wait.
Use Smaller, Contrasting Dinnerware and Taller Glasses
The color of your dinnerware may have a lot to do with the quantity of food you put on your plate; if the color of your food melts in with the color of your dish, chances are you’ll serve yourself more food. This is why it’s ideal to have dark blue dinnerware—you’ll have a contrast between your dish and the food and, consequently, take less. Also, your brain takes the suggestion on how much you “should” eat from the size of your dinnerware, utensils and glasses. If you have a larger plate, that indicates you could be giving yourself 52% more food than you actually need. Using a smaller plate allows you to fill it—and you won’t even notice that you’re eating less! Similarly with glasses, a tall, skinny glass will seem bigger than a short, wide glass—even though the volume might be the same. To our brains and eyes, a horizontal line will always appear shorter than a vertical line of the same length; so by using tall, slender glasses you won’t fill it all the way which means less caloric intake.
Keep Goodies Out of Sight
You’ve heard the term, “Out of sight, out of mind,” right? Well, this applies here. If you have to bring junk food in the house at all, store it where it’s not easily accessible or viewable—in the freezer, cabinet or fridge. It’s been documented that people don’t want to go “the extra mile” to get to the food; doing access work to get the food makes you consider your choice. Better yet, bring in good snack options like fruit and keep it on a table or counter in the kitchen. Another study says that even if people are aware that the junk food is in the house, if they can’t see it, they won’t eat it.
Eat Slow and Drink Water
Most people tend to eat quickly but this isn’t the way to do things if you’re trying to lose weight and it’s also bad for digestion. When you eat you should take little bites, put down your fork in between bites and talk to your family, munch on each bite slowly and drink water with your meals. All of this will help you feel fuller and cut your calorie consumption.
Those methods don’t sound too hard to follow, do they? Think positively—you can do it! However, you have to exercise in addition to conforming to these wonderful tips. Between cutting your portions and being more active, you’re sure to shed the weight you want to lose!
Teri
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