Shrink your waistline without zapping your energy. These painless tips will cut 500 calories from your day the right way!
9. Drink Water before Meals
Drinking water before meals can do wonders for your waistline! Studies show that those who drink two glasses of water before a meal consume less food overall. The calories you save add up over the course of a day. How can something as simple as water wash away unwanted pounds? Water provides a sense of fullness. By the time you eat your meal, it takes less food to reach the point of satiety. On days when your hunger is spiraling out of control and water doesn’t cut it, eat a bowl of low-calorie soup before your meal. Soup’s large volume takes up stomach space, like water, and prevents you from overeating.
Lean more about the role of water in your weight loss.
10. Slow Down and Savor
Your overflowing agenda shouldn’t stop you from chewing (and enjoying!) your food. Research shows that people who chew at least 20 times before swallowing eat less during meals, which can save calories. It takes your body 20-30 minutes to register feelings of fullness. People often scarf down their dishes in half that time. As a result, they end up grabbing more food to relieve lingering hunger. Slow down and enjoy the taste, texture, and temperature of your food. After all, mealtime should be an experience, not a robotic race!
11. Wear a Pedometer
Walking tops the charts when it comes to versatile exercises. You can lace up your sneakers, grab your water bottle, and head out on a brisk walk, or simply walk around your office wearing a suit and heels. Either way, walking feels great and is amazing for your joints and cardiovascular system. Strap on a pedometer and aim for 10,000 steps a day, which burns about 500 calories. If you find it hard to reach that number, try making tiny changes, like parking farther away from the grocery store or taking the stairs. We promise these minute modifications will add more steps than you think!
Check out How to Walk 10,000 Steps a Day for some handy advice when you’re struggling to squeeze in extra steps.
12. Ditch the Drinks
That tall glass of orange juice in the morning or pumpkin spice latte in the afternoon takes a toll on your calorie bank. Sugar-sweetened drinks like juices, sodas, and flavored coffees contain empty calories. They dump a bucketful of calories into your daily intake without the nutrition to satisfy your hunger. As a result, you’ll eat just as much as you would otherwise! That initial sugar rush isn’t worth the extra calories. Grab a glass of water whenever you’re tempted to reach for something else!
If your taste buds are yearning for something more exciting, dress up your water with one of these flavored water recipes!
Ginger, Lime and Mint Flavored Sparkling Water
Strawberry Basil Water
13. Focus on Vegetables
Vegetables are underappreciated. They boast a low calorie, high nutrient profile that surpasses all other food groups. By focusing on veggies, you can significantly reduce your daily calorie consumption. For dinner, cut your protein serving in half and fill the space with extra vegetables. At lunch, eat half of that sandwich or spaghetti serving, and fill the remaining space with extra vegetables. We promise you’ll feel just as full without having to sacrifice taste!
Check out our database of Vegetable Recipes your family will love!
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