If you never get the results from dieting you're looking for, there's a reason: "Diets don't work," says Carla Heiser, a registered dietitian and board-certified specialist in nutritional and metabolic medicine in Chicago. That's because restricting what you eat is a temporary solution; whereas making healthy choices a part of your lifestyle can help you maintain your dream weight. Here are some tips to live by.
1
Prioritize protein.
We're not talking large cuts of meat or protein shakes. "A good rule of thumb is to pair a protein with each meal or snack," says MaryKate O'Riordan, BS, RD. "Protein metabolizes slowly, meaning that it will keep you feeling fuller longer."
O'Riordan recommends combos like cheese with grapes and celery with peanut butter for healthy and filling snack options. "And, as an added bonus: Protein keeps blood sugars stable for the best fat loss!" she says.
2
Eat at the table.
We're all busy, between work, school, sports, and everything else. However, it's important to carve some time out of your day to enjoy a sit-down meal. Not only is this time you can use to bond with your family, but sitting down for dinner is also great for your health: "Eating mindlessly while doing other things leads to overconsumption, and more likely than not you will be making poorer food choices," O'Riordan says.
3
Keep healthy snacks on deck.
Snacking gets a bad rap — but there's nothing wrong with it as long as you choose foods that'll keep your energy levels soaring all day long. Just make sure your only snack when you're actually hungry (eating out of boredom is a bad habit) and plan ahead.
"It's easy to overeat and resort to poor food choices when you are starving come mealtime," says O'Riordan. "Making a routine of having go-to snacks available for between meals is a pro tip to maintaining healthy meal portions and properly fueling your body."
Find tips for healthy snacking at the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.
4
Thoroughly chew your food.
Chewing is the first part of the digestive process, although it doesn't get as much attention as it should. Taking the time to chew properly can help the enzymes in your saliva breakdown your food so that it's more easily digested in your body. Chewing can also help you avoid overeating, which leads to weight gain.
"It takes your brain about 20 minutes to signal that you are full, so if you take time to thoroughly chew your food and slow down mealtime, your body will have time to realize you're satiated," says O'Riordan.
5
Use smaller plates.
Large plate = more food, it's as simple as that. "Using a smaller plate, like a salad plate, at meals helps to maintain portions and consume fewer calories," says O'Riodan. This will help you stay mindful of how much food you're consuming, with little to no effort.
6
Don't refer to food as "bad."
It doesn't pay to refer to brownies as "bad" and kale as "good." In a University of Toronto study, women who were deprived of chocolate for a week experienced more cravings and were more likely to eat more chocolate.
A later 2010 study confirmed the results: If you tell yourself you can't have chocolate and try not to think about chocolate, you obsess over … chocolate — and find yourself scarfing Snickers. It ties back to thinking you're a dieting failure, which makes you feel guilty and overeat as a result. For a happier relationship with food, ditch "bad" from your vocabulary.
7
Drink water.
Not only is staying hydrated important to maintaining overall health (especially when exercising), but also sometimes, we confuse the feeling of thirst for hunger, says the Mayo Clinic. "Staying hydrated is key for weight management and for health overall," registered dietitian Jackie London told Woman's Day.
While it can be tempting to turn to sugary beverages such as soda, juice, coffee with sweeteners, and cocktails, try to drink plenty of water instead. Keep a pitcher of water at your desk to help remind you, and carry around a reusable water bottle when on the go.
8
Don't waste time on diet foods.
Foods with low-fat or low-calorie labels sound good in theory. The problem is that they're often heavily processed and high in carbs. "These will convert to sugar in your body, potentially contributing to weight gain," says Heiser. What's more, companies enhance these products after removing fat by pumping them with sugar, salt and other additives.
"Women who don't diet are still reading ingredient labels," says Lori Shemek, PhD, author of the forthcoming book Fight FATflammation. But they do that to cut through the tricky health claims splashed across the front of the package to find out what's really in the food.
9
Let yourself off the hook.
You've just eaten a cheeseburger and polished off the fries. Even if it wasn't reflective of your healthy eating goals, forgive yourself and move on, promising to eat better at the next meal. Self-compassion can lead to a better relationship with food and a healthier BMI, reveals new research from the University of Waterloo in Canada.
Lower self-esteem may lead to disordered eating (like bingeing) that causes weight gain. "Treat yourself like you treat a loved one: with encouragement and affirmation," says Dr. Shemek.
10
Get your beauty rest.
When you're busy, the first thing that takes a hit is sleep. But if you want to maintain a healthy BMI, research shows that sleep takes top priority. In fact, on days when you're sleep deprived and you have to choose between an extra hour of shuteye or waking up early to work out, Dr. Shemek suggests snoozing.
"Lack of sleep has hormonal effects that create weight gain and alter your appetite to prefer high-calorie foods. Besides, you won't have the energy to exercise effectively," she says.
11
Don't treat every day as a special occasion.
Office doughnuts, a decadent restaurant meal, cake at a friend's birthday party. These events happen so regularly that it's easy to justify any day as splurge-worthy. While occasional treats are must-haves, your diet as a whole is what keeps your weight steady, says Heiser.
So choose your treats wisely and cut out the rest. Maybe split a crème brûlée with your husband on date night, but pass on the cookies at the meeting during the day. Or celebrate your birthday with cake, but not everyone's.
12
Avoid diet soda.
Artificial sweeteners are controversial. While some studies show that they don't affect weight, other research suggests that calorie-free drinks may cause weight gain by stimulating hunger. Dr. Shemek advises avoiding them completely.
"Diet sodas set the brain up for wanting more sugar, and many people get addicted to them," she says. Plus, ordering a diet soda can make you think you're saving calories there, so you might as well get the mac and cheese instead of a salad.
13
Talk (a lot) over dinner.
Yes, you're at the table to eat, but you're also there to catch up with your fellow diners, so make them the star of the show. The gabfest can slow you down so you naturally eat less.
In one study in The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism, researchers asked people to consume a bowl of ice cream in five or 30 minutes. Those who enjoyed it slowly excreted more of the "stop eating" gut hormone called peptide YY and reported feeling fuller. So relish the lasagna, but love the company more.
14
Eat sugar wisely.
Sugar is simply not good for you. "Your body can only handle so much at one time. If you overdo it, you store it as fat," says Heiser. But that doesn't mean you should cut it out completely. "Figure out what your body can handle," she says.
Do you feel tired and bloated after a few cookies? Based on your reaction, you'll know if you should cut back. After all, food is supposed to make you feel great — and any woman who doesn't diet knows that.
15
Experiment in the kitchen.
Healthy eating is never boring if you're jazzing up your meals with herbs and spices. They amplify any dish's flavor and replace fat while still being just as satisfying, says research from the University of Colorado in Denver. And adding spices like red pepper flakes and cayenne has been shown to boost metabolism, helping you burn a few extra calories from your meal.
So add a dash of smoked paprika in place of butter on steamed broccoli. Rather than plain roasted chicken breast, sprinkle on a variety of dried herbs, garlic powder, and chili flakes. Bon appetit!
16
Don't count calories.
There's a huge difference between how your body uses 1,000 calories of junk food and 1,000 calories of whole foods, says Heiser. Getting wrapped up in calorie counts could make you deny yourself calorie-dense, yet nutritious, foods like fatty fish, avocado, oils like olive and coconut, nuts, and dark chocolate.
Focus on filling your plate with real foods with an emphasis on protein (fish, chicken, tofu), vegetables, and a source of healthy fat. Well-rounded meals coupled with heeding your hunger cues can keep you at a healthy weight, she says.
