10 diet habits that guarantee weight loss

Consume 1 teaspoon of wheatgrass powder, aloe vera juice or cinnamon powder early in the morning every day on an empty stomach to shed the extra kilos.

By: Tania Tarafdar | | Updated: February 28, 2015 11:37 pm

We all know it’s a challenge to eat healthy and lose weight in this world full of junk food. But the bigger challenge comes when you have to choose one from the popular fad diets for weight loss. However, simply adopting certain diet habits can make your weight loss goals easy. Well-known nutritionist Archana Shah shares with us diet habits that will slim you down in no time and help you adopt some really healthy diet habits for life.

#1 Do not skip your breakfast: Some of you may think skipping breakfast can save the calories, but in a way it can make you feel hungrier and encourage you to snack more throughout the day. Eating breakfast will help you burn your calories all day, instead of causing fluctuations in your metabolism rate, which in turn can aid in weight loss. All major meals and mid meals are as important for weight loss. There should not be more than 2 hours of gap between meals. Have a handful of peanuts, a bowl of fruits, a cup of green tea, a bowl of aired popcorn to kill your hunger pangs.

#2 Limit your portions: Portion control is the best thing you can do to overcome your craving for mouth-watering and delicious foods. Be smart when it comes to eating as it plays 70% role in your weight loss efforts. Use smaller plates, bowls, spoons and glasses to downsize your portions. Did you know you could lose weight in 7 days in a healthy way? Here’s how.

#3 Use nutraceuticals: Nutraceuticals are whole foods, food ingredients or supplements that can play a very important part in weight loss. Try to consume 1 teaspoon of wheatgrass powder, aloe vera juice or cinnamon powder early in the morning, every day on an empty stomach, to shed off extra kilos. Here are 6 home remedies for weight loss.

#4 Drink green tea: The polyphenols in green tea help burn fat by using it as energy. The compound epigallocatechin (EGCG) boosts your metabolic rate and reduces your appetite. Two to four cups of green tea burn 70 to 80 calories per day, as it increases metabolism and helps you exercise longer with more endurance. For better taste and palatability, you can add mint leaves, few drops of lemon or ginger to your green tea. Here is how you can make green tea in 6 healthy ways.

#5 Avoid packaged foods: Try and avoid packaged food, ready-to-eat foods or canned foods as they are high in sugar, salt, preservatives, colour & fat all of which contribute to weight gain. Instead, opt for foods which contain less added sugar or salt. Try to consume more home-cooked meals instead of eating out.

#6 Snack on chia seeds: Chia seeds have gained popularity as one of the superfoods. Being low in calories and high in soluble fibre, healthy fatty acids and high protein, it becomes a must-eat food for people on a weight loss regime. They are also a good source of omega-3 fatty iron, calcium, phosphorus, manganese, vitamin B1 & B3, which will definitely boost your metabolism and aid weight loss.

#7 Detox drink: A detox drink can be a magical drink to help you lose those extra pounds. In a glass of water, simply mix 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar, 1 teaspoon honey, 1 teaspoon lemon juice and 1 teaspoon cinnamon powder. Drink this low-carb concoction before dinner continuously for 10 days. It will help your body burn fat and boost your metabolism helping you lose weight effectively. You can also detox yourself with this expert recommended diet plan.

#8 Eat high fibre foods: Foods rich in fibre help to drive out unwanted fat and toxins from the body. Additionally fibre can help keep you full and satiated for longer. Foods such as fruits, vegetables, brown rice, oats, whole grains are a good source of fibre and should be included in major meals like breakfast, lunch or dinner. Did you know Indian spices could also help you lose weight?

#9 Drink plenty of water: Whenever you feel hungry in between meals, drink water – Most of the time, when we ‘feel’ hungry, it is really just thirst and our body craving for something. Filling it up with water can help beat the hunger pangs. You should drink at least 10-12 glasses of water every day to keep your body hydrated and remove toxins from the body.

#10 Have an early dinner: Consume your dinner by 9 pm as it not only boosts your metabolism but also improves your digestion. As the day ends, your body processes and metabolism slows down. So, if you eat late, the food is not utilised for energy. It instead gets converted to fat stores, resulting in weight gain. You can follow this weight loss diet plan by expert dietician.