There are no hard-and-fast rules in dieting and there is no perfect way for you to lose weight. Whether you are following a popular diet plan or simply eating healthier meals, there are tips and tricks to help you lose weight while enjoying your food and your life more. The secret to more enjoyable dieting is to get creative within the confines of your plan.
Water
The Mayo Clinic is among many groups that recommend drinking at least eight glasses of water a day. This doesn't mean that you need to fill a 2-liter pitcher with plain water and drink from it until it's empty. These eight glasses of water can be flavored in a number of ways. Squeeze half a lemon or lime into your glass or turn your water into fruit-flavored herbal tea. Experiment with calorie-free flavorings to make drinking your eight glasses easier.
Stuff Yourself
If dieting means deprivation to you, turn to raw fruits and vegetables to save the day. Fill a dinner plate to overflowing with a large variety of colorful vegetables. Add some salsa or a low-fat dip to the plate and munch away an entire evening of movie watching. You can fill your stomach completely with under 100 calories, plus the cost of the dip. Use this vegetable trick for all of your meals to fill up during the day.
Crunchy Snack
If you have a craving for a crunchy snack like potato chips, turn to popcorn. Use an air popper to pop 1/4 cup of popcorn kernels. Spray the popped corn with light bursts of a cooking spray and sprinkle on Parmesan cheese, Italian seasoning, or salt and pepper for flavor.
Never Set Foot in a Gym
A healthy lifestyle requires regular exercise, but that doesn't mean you have to run on a treadmill before lifting weights. Anything that gets your heart rate elevated and makes your breathe harder counts as exercise. Toss a Frisbee with the kids, play a pickup basketball game, or fly stunt kites on the beach. Make it physical, but make it fun.
Sweet Treats
Skip the oil and butter in homemade baked goods by substituting equal amounts of applesauce or canned pumpkin. The cooked fruits will add moistness and flavor to the cake without most of the calories that butter or oil will add. Add pureed fruit or powdered sugar on top instead of frosting for more calorie savings.
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