According to the World Health Organization, the number of people suffering from obesity has grown 3 times in the past 40 years. Almost every fourth person on our planet older than 16 years old carries extra weight. It is no wonder that more and more people are starting to pay attention to their diet. Of course, not everyone must have a strict diet, sometimes it’s enough to only use some tricks that will keep you from overeating.
We want to share interesting ways to stay in shape without having to follow a specific diet.
Tighten your belt
Before eating lunch or dinner, put a ribbon around your waist. When you feel that it’s becoming too tight, it means it’s time for you to stop eating. This very simple but effective trick will help you avoid overeating.
Drink from long glasses
We get a significant part of the calories we need not from food but from drinks. For example, one glass of juice contains up to 120 calories and 20 g of sugar. This amount can be decreased if you use the right glasses. The thing is, on average, we pour 20%-30 % less liquid into long thin glasses than into short ones.
Eat with a timer
It’s simple: when you rush during eating, you overeat because the brain just doesn’t have enough time to receive the signal that you are already full. So, when you are going to eat, set a timer for 20 minutes and try to eat slowly.
Take hot baths
Hot water doesn’t just help you relax but it also makes you lose weight, according to scientists from Loughborough University. During the studies they conducted, they found out that one hour spent in a hot bath burns around 130 calories — this is just as much as you lose after walking for 30 minutes! Besides, the average sugar level is 10% less after taking a bath! Great news!
Put a bowl of fruit on the table
When you see healthy foods very often, you program yourself to eat healthy food. Besides, this works not just for real fruit and vegetables but even for photographs. So, don’t unsubscribe from healthy diet groups on social media!
Sit at the end of the table
This trick is very important for dinner parties where there’s a large table and many people. When you sit at a table surrounded by extremely tasty foods, it’s almost impossible not to eat them. And if you sit at the end of the table, there is a chance not to eat something, because it’s much harder to reach certain foods.
Invent some small everyday things
Many of us have been in a situation when we needed to blow out candles on a birthday cake or open a bottle of champagne to celebrate. The food accompanied by such traditions seems to be a little tastier. This is the conclusion that was made by researchers from the University of Minnesota. That’s why you should have a habit of doing something nice before eating. Then, even boiled broccoli without salt will seem like the best food ever.
Cut food into small pieces
This move may trick your brain and make an impression that there is more food on the plate than there really is. So, you will feel full much faster and you won’t overeat. Small plates work the same way. You can also use chopsticks instead of knives and forks.
Use your imagination
An imaginary lunch helps us eat less in actual life, according to scientists from the Carnegie Mellon University. During the study they conducted, it turned out that the people who imagined eating M&M’s ended up eating less than other the participants of the experiment. So, maybe there is nothing bad about daydreaming about tasty meatballs and soft chocolate chip cookies. This is how your consciousness helps you lose weight.
Of course, all the tricks we shared in this article won’t give you stunning results without an overall good diet and regular exercise.
