15 Diet Secrets Thin Women Know

Source: Best Health magazine, September 2015

There aren’t any magic weight-loss foods (sorry, grapefruit!), but there are specific dietary habits ‘ we call them ‘diet dos” that work for most people. Some of them might not come naturally at first (eating breakfast) and others may require a bit more effort (keeping a food diary), but stick with them for real results (no smoke and mirrors ‘ we promise!).

Drink only calories that you really love

And even then, drink the smallest amount that you need to feel satisfied,  says Yoni Freedhoff, a national obesity expert and author of The Diet Fix: Why Diets Fail and How to Make Yours Work. Skip flavoured coffee drinks, pop and juice as much as possible. Water is always best.

Eat an afternoon snack

What derails most people’s daily diets, says health coach and registered dietitian Hélène Charlebois, is the witching hour after 4 p.m., when cravings set in and lead to bad food choices. Keep hunger in check with a sensible afternoon snack, such as an apple with peanut butter or yogurt and berries. And don’t worry about spoiling dinner come 6 p.m. ‘You want to ruin your supper ‘ not to the extent that you won’t eat but enough that you’ll make good choices.’

Eat breakfast

What your mother told you is true: Breakfast is the most important meal of the day. And research backs this up: Eating a healthy breakfast, especially one high in protein, reduces hunger and increases satiety throughout the day. In fact, 78 percent of participants in the National Weight Control Registry (which tracks more than 10,000 individuals who have lost an average of 66 pounds and kept the weight off for more than five years) break their fasts shortly after waking up.

Satisfy with fat

It seems counterintuitive, but healthy fats, including monounsaturated fat, polyunsaturated fat and omega-3 fatty acids (found in foods such as olive oil, walnuts and salmon, respectively) can help control weight because they make you feel satisfied says Desiree Nielsen, a registered dietitian and author of Un-Junk Your Diet. ‘You definitely want them as part of a healthy diet.’ (Just pay attention to portions.)

Plan ahead

It may seem old-fashioned to spend Sundays batching soups or writing out a meal plan and grocery list, but the real-life women we spoke with plan their week in food to some extent. It takes more time than making a blind grab from the fridge, but it’s worth it.

Fill half your plate with veggies first

Then serve yourself protein (starch comes last). This formula works because vegetables are filling and nutritious and have fewer calories than meat and pasta. ‘If we focus on eating less, we’ll feel deprived,’ says Nielsen, ‘but if we focus on eating more healthy foods, such as vegetables, it’s a very positive, beneficial habit that’s a lot easier to maintain.’

Count portions, not calories

Counting calories is a short-term fix, not a lifelong solution. It takes the joy out of eating and often leads you to less healthy choices because they have a lower calorie count. For example, you might choose the 100-calorie snack pack of diet cookies instead of the quarter-cup of nutrient-dense almonds simply because it packs an extra 130 calories. In the long run, though, the nuts are a healthier choice because they’re also loaded with minerals, vitamins and good-for-you fats.

Remove your danger food from the house

We all have a trigger food ‘ the one that tempts us into eating the whole tub (ice cream), bag (potato chips) or box (chocolates). If it’s not in the pantry or fridge, you can’t eat it on a whim. ‘Your house should be your safe place,’ says Charlebois.

Give yourself time

Whatever diet you choose, or whatever changes you make, give yourself a chance to build your skills (including cooking and meal planning) and allow time to see results. ‘Take a flying leap at change and you’ll hurt your face. Take small steps and you might actually get somewhere,’ says Freedhoff.

Cook your own meals

Take the time to prepare food using fresh ingredients. Don’t like to cook? Start gradually by eliminating one restaurant meal per week. ‘Cooking on your own tends to lower the salt, sugar and fat content in your food, all of which will have a slimming effect,’ says Freedhoff.

Keep a food diary

The simple act of recording what you eat can have a big impact on a weightloss plan. ‘Regardless of which program you’re on, keeping a food diary ‘ as long as it’s done non-judgmentally ‘ is very useful,’ says Freedhoff. It makes you more mindful of food choices (you’ll rethink that bag of chips if you have to write it down), exposes food groups you’re missing and helps you see emotional triggers that can jeopardize your efforts.

Only make changes you can live with ‘ forever

One reason diets fail is because people often take an extreme approach that’s not sustainable. Says Freedhoff: ‘There’s no diet on the planet that hasn’t worked for at least one person. The key question to ask yourself when you’re evaluating a diet is, ‘Do you like it enough to actually keep living with it?”

Include protein at every meal and snack

Protein helps with fullness and satiety. ‘The fuller you feel, the less you eat,’ says Freedhoff. Eat fruit and nuts for a morning snack, add tuna or beans to a lunchtime salad, and choose carrots with hummus as an afternoon snack.

Live (and eat) by the 80-20 rule

Diets fail in part because we expect perfection. But if you’re eating fruits, veggies and protein 80 percent of the time, then 20 percent of the time you can have the treats you truly enjoy, like a few squares of dark chocolate or the occasional dinner out.

Bulk up

Fibre keeps you regular, but it also helps you feel full and, perhaps most importantly, slows the rate at which your stomach empties its contents. ‘That gives you a more moderate increase in blood sugar, which helps maintain energy and decrease appetite for the long term,’ says Nielsen.