8 Diet Tricks that Don't Involve Dieting
Here at Cosmo, we hate the D-word. After all, if you eat right and work out, you'll look and feel great-so there's no need for extremes. That said, sometimes you want to tone up. That's why we found the best diet tricks that don't involve depriving yourself. Now that's our idea of a diet.
By Korin Miller
1. Eat More
Yup, you read that right. According to research from Penn State, eating bigger portions of food will help you feel fuller longer. The catch: You want to fill up healthier stuff, like fruits and veggies. So a massive salad is good; Massive steak...not so good.
2. Read Labels
A survey from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found that women who read food labels have a lower BMI than those who don't-and the difference ends up being about eight pounds.
3. Get Slice-Happy
An Arizona State University study found that people who cut up their food eat less than those who don't, but feel equally satisfied. So try slicing your meat before you eat it or chopping up your bagel into quarters instead of biting into the whole thing at once.
Related: 9 Foods That Make You Happy
4. Savor Your Food
A series of studies from the University of Minnesota and Texas A&M University found that focusing on what you're doing when you eat unhealthy foods will help you eat less. Instead of zoning out in front of the TV when you eat dinner, take time to actually think about what you're eating. You'll feel full faster-and, you know, enjoy your meal.
5. Listen to Jazz Music
New research from Cornell University discovered that listening to soft music, like jazz or an easy listening Pandora station, can help you eat less-like 175 fewer calories less per meal. And that can add up.
6. Don't Skip Meals
You've probably heard that skipping a meal is bad, but new research breaks down how bad it can be. According to a new study from Cornell University, people tend to O.D. on high-calorie carbs and starches after skipping a meal, while passing up healthy proteins and veggies. As a result, meal-skippers end up eating 20 percent more calories.
Related: 8 Ways to Get Rid of Cellulite
7. Drink Cold Water
J. Lo reportedly only drinks ice-cold water, and Cosmo Radio women's health expert Jennifer Wider, MD, says she might be on to something. Some fitness experts think that cold water can help speed up your metabolism. Why? Your body burns extra calories warming it up before it can process it. It won't make you burn crazy lbs, but it could give your metabolism a slight boost.
8. Don't Look at Junk Food
According to a new study from the University of Southern California, photos of high-calorie foods like cupcakes, sodas, and pizza flip a switch in your brain that makes you crave them. So take a pass at eyeballing the pastry display at Starbucks when you order you latte. Your bod will thank you.
Read more at Cosmopolitan.com!
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