It’s more than just good genes!
We ALL have that friend who eats an ice cream cone like no big deal, doesn’t always order salad, and is STILL skinny. So what’s the secret to getting and staying skinny? Here are some rules they live by—without having to think about them.
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. 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.
EVERYDAY ISN’T 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. So choose your treats wisely and cut out the rest. Maybe celebrate your birthday with cake, but not everyone’s.
TALK—A LOT—OVER DINNER.
Yes, you’re at the table to eat, but you’re also there to catch up with your friends or family. Talk more, eat slower, and eventually, you’ll get full faster.
DON’T WASTE TIME ON DIET FOODS.
Foods with low-fat or low-calorie labels sound good in theory. The problem is that these are often heavily processed and high in carbs. Companies enhance these products after removing fat by pumping them with sugar, salt and other additives.
NO FOOD IS “BAD.”
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.
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 weight, research is showing that sleep takes top priority. 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.
LET YOURSELF OFF THE HOOK.
You’ve just eaten a cheeseburger and 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. Lower self-esteem may lead to disordered eating (like bingeing) that causes weight gain.
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.
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. So add a dash of 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.
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. Getting wrapped up in calorie counts could make you deny yourself calorie-dense, yet nutritious, foods.