Losing weight requires a two-fold approach using both diet and exercise to manage your weight and make permanent changes. Quick fixes that involve rapid weight loss result in a rebound effect where you could end up gaining more weight than you initially lost. Here are six tricks to improve your diet and decrease your appetite.
1) Coffee
Coffee contains caffeine and acts as a natural stimulant. Adding coffee to your diet can increase thermogenesis, which affects your bodies ability to burn calories to create both energy and heat. However, be careful when consuming coffee with excess sugar and sweetener.
2) Scents
Try using a vanilla scent to ensure that you feel full. If you smell vanilla before eating, your body naturally feels fuller and relaxes you so you take more time eating and enjoying your food. The scent of vanilla can also help you if you have a sweet tooth by reducing your cravings for chocolate and other sweets. Vanilla doesn’t have to be expensive when bought in bulk and wholesale at places like Vanilla Mart.
3) Green Tea
Green tea increases your metabolism because of compounds known as catechins. These antioxidants are associated with an increased metabolism and helps give you energy while making you feel fuller throughout the day.
4) Vegetables
Vegetables like carrots, celery and even potatoes contain large amounts of fiber and minerals that are needed to keep your body running at peak efficiency and to maintain a feeling of satiety. By incorporating vegetables in your diet, you can prevent hunger before it starts and help maintain that feeling of fullness so that you don’t gorge on fatty and empty calorie foods.
5) Water
When you’re hungry, try drinking a glass of water before reaching for the chips in the pantry. Water can help make you feel full and often when you’re thirsty you crave foods. The body is made up of mostly water and adding additional water to your diet can help to flush out toxins and keep you healthy. Of course, you can also overdo it, so keep your water intake to 8 to 10 glasses per day to prevent side effects.
Avoid the gimmicks and get started on your path to weight loss by burning more calories than you take in, exercising daily and incorporating these ingredients into your life to motivate you and make obtaining a healthy weight a part of your life.
Kara Masterson is a freelance writer from West Jordan, Utah. She graduated from the University of Utah and enjoys writing about health and wellness and spending time with her dog, Max.
