10 Simple Tricks to Kickstart your Weight Loss

We’ve all been there. A new year and a new determination to turn our lives around and shed the pounds once and for all. But let’s face it. Diets are boring, restrictive, and frustrating. Without realizing it, we sabotage our efforts before we have a chance to see success. Below is a list of ten simple, tried and true tricks that will kick start your weight loss and help you reach your goals fast.

1. Write it down. It’s been proven over and over again that people who keep food journals lose more weight than those who don’t. Record every crumb that crosses your lips, what you were doing at the time, and how you felt about it. This will help reveal your temptations, the emotional states that encourage you to snack and force you to face just how much you are putting in your mouth. Ouch!


2. Brush your teeth. Instead of eating that forbidden piece of candy or late night snack, grab your toothbrush instead. If you're about to cheat, allow yourself a treat, then eat only half a bite and throw the other half away.


3. Wait ten minutes. When hunger strikes, wait 10 minutes before eating and see if it passes. Often by waiting 10 minutes you realize you weren’t really hungry after all. Or that treat you didn’t think you could resist isn’t worth the calories.


4. Drink 8-10 glasses of water. Most adults do not get enough water. Water itself helps cut down on water retention because it acts as a diuretic. Taken before meals, it dulls the appetite by giving you that "full feeling." It is suggested that you should drink 1 ounce of water for every two pounds of weight. If you weigh 150 pounds, you should drink 75 ounces of water a day. Totally doable, especially if you have incorporated cardio activity into your weight loss regimen.


5. Substitute activity for eating. When the cravings hit, go to the "Y" or health club if possible. Run the vacuum, walk the dog or get up from your desk and do some jumping jacks. Who cares what your coworkers think? Physical activity is especially helpful if you are an emotional eater. And who isn’t at least some of the time?


6. Freeze it. If the pie on the counter is too great a temptation and you can’t bring yourself to throw it away, freeze it. If you're a late-night eater, have a carbohydrate, such as a slice of bread or a cracker before bedtime to cut down on cravings. Keep an orange slice or a glass of water by your bed to quiet the hunger pangs that wake you up.


7. Weigh yourself at the same time of the day, whether daily or weekly. Your weight fluctuates as much as five pounds a day and you can weigh more at night than you did in the morning. Depressing if you stuck to your diet all day. Don’t rely completely on the scale. Paying attention to how your clothes fit is often a better indicator of progress.


8. Don’t shop when you’re hungry. You'll only buy more fattening food. Avoid finger foods that are easy to eat in large amounts. Avoid consuming large quantities of fattening liquids, which are difficult to measure and easy to overdo. This is especially true with alcoholic beverages.


9. Keep plenty of crunchy foods like raw vegetables and air-popped fat-free popcorn on hand. They're high in fiber, satisfying and filling. Eat from a smaller plate. Arrange your foods in an appealing manner and do not go back for seconds. One serving is enough. There is always tomorrow.


10. Lose weight for yourself, not to please your husband, your parents, your friends, or the image of a half starved actress you admire. Make the kitchen off-limits at any time other than mealtime. Always eat at the table, never in front of the TV or with the radio on. And don’t read a book or the back of the cereal box. Concentrate on eating every mouthful slowly and savoring each morsel. Chew everything from 10 to 20 times and count! Never skip meals.

By following these ten simple, proven techniques you will find the weight comes off quicker and easier, and best of all, stays off for good.