Losing weight is never easy and there’s no one tip that’s going to change that. However, it doesn’t have to be as complicated a process as many of us make it, like counting every calorie or stripping our diet of entire food groups while trying to follow aggressively restrictive diet plans.

Instead of adopting a radical or all-encompassing approach, try adopting a series of healthy habits and making them an integral part of your eating routine first. As these habits start to become ingrained, you may well find that losing weight and, crucially, maintaining a healthy weight become natural to you.

11 Expert Weight-Loss Tips!

1. Be Realistic

“Time and again, patients say to me that they are disappointed that they have ‘only’ lost a pound in a week,” says George Hamlyn-Williams, principal dietitian at The Hospital Group(opens in new tab). “The reality is that one pound (454g) of fat equates to around 3,500 calories.

they have eaten on average 500 calories less per day – a massive achievement! It’s so easy to eat or drink an additional 500 calories – two standard 50g bars of chocolate would do it.

However, to eat 500 calories less is much more difficult and to be consistent with it is even more challenging – so give yourself a break and pat yourself on the back if a pound comes off. Remember, if you keep going, that’s 52lb (23.5kg) over a year – over 3½ stone!

2. Prioritise Your Sleep

Often in clinic, if someone wants to lose weight but is not getting a good night’s sleep, I won’t begin by talking about food,” says dietitian Nichola Ludlam-Raine(opens in new tab). “We talk about getting the sleep right first or they’ll be fighting a losing battle.

“The research shows that if people are chronically sleep-deprived they consume more calories the next day. When you are sleep-deprived, the hunger hormone called ghrelin increases,

which means that you genuinely, physiologically, feel more hungry. Your brain function is also impaired so that you’re less likely to be able to resist high-calorie, palatable foods. Also your energy level and your motivation are going dip so you’re less likely to want to prepare a healthy meal.

3. Get Familiar With Portion Sizes

“If you’re mindful of portion sizes you can say goodbye to calorie counting,” says Kerri Major, a registered dietitian and SENr sports dietitian, and author of The Dietitian Kitchen(opens in new tab). “

It can be useful to look at the recommended portion size on food packaging and see what you’re eating in comparison with this.

Of course, what’s exactly right for you depends on a number of things, including how active you are. If you’re unsure how much you should be eating, Major suggests seeing a registered dietitian.

4. Use Your Plate As A Guide

If you want to make portion control that little bit easier, Hugueniot suggests using smaller plates, and then dividing that plate up by food group.

“Make sure that half your plate contains vegetables or salad,” says Hugueniot. “The other half should be protein and carbohydrates.

5. Homemade Beats Ready-Made

Increasing the amount you cook for yourself will make you more aware of what’s going in your food and help you avoid high calorie and fat counts, especially those from unexpected places.

Also, cooking is fun! If you’re not sure where to start in the kitchen, healthy recipe boxes can be a big help.

“You could try doing your own burgers,” says Hugueniot. “Add chopped kidney beans, some chopped onion and an egg to the leanest beef mince you can get, grill it and serve with salad – making a much healthier meal than a traditional burger and chips.”

6. Don’t Snackotage Your Diet

“Snackotage” is a word we just made up (although it’s probably a trending hashtag by the time you read this),

but it sums up a problem that can ruin many diets – too many unhealthy snacks that sabotage all your good work at meal times.

“Try to make sure you are eating meals at regular times, with healthy fruit and veggie snacks in between, and drink plenty of fluids,” says Hugueniot. “This will help stop you snacking on unhealthy foods, and keep you more full during the day.The best snacks are those containing veggies,

but if you’re having packaged snacks go for those with around 100 calories and stick to two a day at maximum.

7. Drink Better Beverages

If you can’t ditch the fizzy drinks cold turkey, swap to sugar-free versions. It’s a healthier choice and the benefits will add up quickly if you’ve been drinking one or two cans a day.

“Swap sugary colas, juice drinks, milkshakes and fizzy drinks for no added sugar or sugar-free drinks, lower-fat milks and water,” says Hugueniot.

8. Don’t Shop Hungry

“Shopping hungry leads to bad ideas,” says registered nutritionist Sophie Thurner(opens in new tab). “We all know it and yet we all still do it.

That three-for-two offer looks so tempting, and then you end up getting three of the not-so-healthy things, which you’ll have to finish, because none of us like to waste food.

Have a precise list of items you need for a targeted, efficient approach without the risk of buying things you don’t need.”

9. Be Smart When Eating Out

“When eating out, ask for smaller portions or go for starters rather than a large main,” says Hugueniot. “Another helpful tip is to ask for a sauce or dressing to be on the side, because this is often where a lot of the calories come from.”

10. Start Small

“When setting new goals, focus on two to three small, realistic goals at a time and work on achieving them before working towards any more,” says Major. “If you want to start exercising more, don’t go from zero to 100. That will be a shock to the system and

something that is hard to stick to. Plan to exercise once or twice a week initially, at a time that is good and maintainable for you, before you plan to increase your sessions further. Make sure whatever the goal is, it is SMART – Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic and Time-Based.”

11. Don’t Rely On Motivation

“Many people rely on motivation to keep them going when it comes to exercising and eating well,” says Major. “However, motivation comes and goes, and it’s never there when you want it or need it most.

The key is to create healthy habits and become disciplined – two things that can bail you out when motivation is low.

“Healthy habits can be something as simple as taking the stairs instead of the elevator or walking instead of taking the car. Being disciplined is showing up and doing something even if motivation is at an all-time low. We all know that we usually feel a million times better for doing something that we know is good for our health than not doing it at all.”

FAQ:-

What is the trick to losing weight fast?
Drink Water Before Meals

“Drinking a couple of glasses of water roughly 20 to 30 minutes before sitting down to eat will make you feel full faster,” Dr. Ward says. “Do this three times a day—before breakfast, lunch and dinner—and you can cut 225 to 270 calories from your daily diet.

How to lose 10kg in 1 month without exercise?

11 Proven Ways to Lose Weight Without Diet or Exercise
Chew Thoroughly and Slow Down. …
Use Smaller Plates for Unhealthy Foods. …
Eat Plenty of Protein. …
Store Unhealthy Foods out of Sight. …
Eat Fiber-Rich Foods. …
Drink Water Regularly. …
Serve Yourself Smaller Portions. …
Eat Without Electronic Distractions.

What are 5 tips for weight loss?

5 weight loss tips that always work
Do not eat while standing or watching TV. …
2) Eat foods slowly. …
3) Eating must be stopped as soon as feeling full. …
4) Skipping meals should be strictly avoided. …
5) it is important to always read the nutrition labels to ensure that low-calorie products are chosen.