The healthiest way to lose weight is neither crash diets nor bursts of exercise. The body likes slow changes in terms of food and exercise. Here is some advice for you on how to lose weight fast and healthy:
Tip No. 1 Drink plenty of water or other calorie-free beverages.
Before you tear into that bag of potato chips, drink a glass of water first. People sometimes confuse thirst with hunger, so you can end up eating extra calories when an ice-cold glass of water is really all you needed. If plain water doesn't cut it, try drinking flavored sparkling water or brewing a cup of fruit-infused herbal tea.
Tip No. 2 Snack, but smartly
Grazing between meals used to be on the weight-loss hit list. But nutritionists now know that it's better to satisfy a craving with healthy grub than ignore it and risk a junk-food binge later. The best picks are filling, protein-packed snacks, such as one stick of string cheese, a tablespoon of peanut butter on a piece of fruit, or a medium-size bowl of edamame.
Tip No. 3 Watch the booze
One innocent-looking margarita or cosmopolitan can rack up hundreds of calories that do nothing to quench your appetite. Treat yourself just on the weekends and cut back somewhere else or stick to a glass of wine, light beer, or vodka and soda — three drinks that each have about 100 calories per serving.
Tip No. 4 Make food the main event
"People are so unaware of what they're putting into their mouths," says Kleiner, "especially when they're eating in front of a computer or the TV." But when you don't pay attention to your food, you consume more. "Our stomachs don't recognize we're full when our minds aren't focused on the meal," says Rolls. She recommends carving out time to sit down and eat at least one "mindful" meal per day. If you have to work through lunch, take bites between emails and make a conscious effort to savor each one.
Tip No. 5 Downsize Your Dinnerware
Experts say they've seen it again and again: The larger your plate, the more you're likely to put on it. So serving your meals on smaller plates can help you eat less. But don't throw out those dinner plates, Blake suggests. Use the smaller, lunch-size plates to serve dinner, and use the dinner plates for salads.
Before you tear into that bag of potato chips, drink a glass of water first. People sometimes confuse thirst with hunger, so you can end up eating extra calories when an ice-cold glass of water is really all you needed. If plain water doesn't cut it, try drinking flavored sparkling water or brewing a cup of fruit-infused herbal tea.
Tip No. 2 Snack, but smartly
Grazing between meals used to be on the weight-loss hit list. But nutritionists now know that it's better to satisfy a craving with healthy grub than ignore it and risk a junk-food binge later. The best picks are filling, protein-packed snacks, such as one stick of string cheese, a tablespoon of peanut butter on a piece of fruit, or a medium-size bowl of edamame.
Tip No. 3 Watch the booze
One innocent-looking margarita or cosmopolitan can rack up hundreds of calories that do nothing to quench your appetite. Treat yourself just on the weekends and cut back somewhere else or stick to a glass of wine, light beer, or vodka and soda — three drinks that each have about 100 calories per serving.
Tip No. 4 Make food the main event
"People are so unaware of what they're putting into their mouths," says Kleiner, "especially when they're eating in front of a computer or the TV." But when you don't pay attention to your food, you consume more. "Our stomachs don't recognize we're full when our minds aren't focused on the meal," says Rolls. She recommends carving out time to sit down and eat at least one "mindful" meal per day. If you have to work through lunch, take bites between emails and make a conscious effort to savor each one.
Tip No. 5 Downsize Your Dinnerware
Experts say they've seen it again and again: The larger your plate, the more you're likely to put on it. So serving your meals on smaller plates can help you eat less. But don't throw out those dinner plates, Blake suggests. Use the smaller, lunch-size plates to serve dinner, and use the dinner plates for salads.