Cutting calories will help you lose weight, and the simple formula is, you have to eat fewer calories than you burn. Losing weight requires time, effort, determination, and consistency, but keeping up with these seem difficult for a lot of people. You really don’t have to give up in the process: all you need might just be a few changes incorporated into your lifestyle. Below are four simple ways to cut lots of calories.
1. Don’t drink your calories
Carbonated drinks are high in calories, due to the processed sugar in them. Research has shown that drinking lots of sugar-sweetened beverages not only adds lots of unnecessary calories to your diet, it may also increase your hunger later on, and you may end up eating more than you should. A single 16-ounce (half-liter), bottle of Coke contains nearly 200 calories, including 44 grams of sugar. You can always opt for water, or infused water, if you don’t want it bland.
2. Use smaller plates
Using a smaller plate to serve your meals will help you cut calories. This is because you can’t fill your plate more than it can accommodate, but if on the other hand, you are using a larger plate, the tendency that you will eat more than the normal portion is very high. A study found that, at a buffet, people with larger dinner plates ate 45% more food than those who used smaller plate sizes. The trick of opting for smaller plates over larger ones will help keep your portions in check and also help curb overeating.
3. Count your calories
Counting your calories will keep you alert to the numbeer how many calories you eat on a daily basis. An easy way to do this is by keeping a food journal; when you know you will have to keep account of all you eat, there will be an extra consciousness not to eat more than you should. Some apps, like Noom Coach, can make it quicker and easier to track what you eat. You should check it out.
4. Fill up meals with vegetables
Vegetables are rich in fiber, which helps to keep you feeling full for longer hours and curb hunger. They also have great water content and can keep you hydrated. Filling up your meals with veggies is a great way to speed up your weight loss process. Many people don’t eat vegetables as much as they should, and it’s actually easier than some people think. Fill half of your plate with vegetables to increase your vegetable intake and also cut down on high-calorie meals.
Incorporate these simple tips into your everyday life, and you’ll see changes in a matter of weeks.
image courtesy of: fitnessmag.co.za.
