See below five easy tips to help get you get on the right track!
ONE //
Watch Yourself Eat (Seriously).
It's hard to imagine anything more sad than eating alone in front of a mirror, or more bizarre than eating in front of a mirror with other diners at the table. But, if you're trying to drop a few, watching yourself chow down makes you more aware of your body and forces you to think about the food you're eating. You'll eat less, and more healthfully.
TWO //
Change Up Your Plates.
We eat more when there's less contrast between the color of the food and the plate. Few foods are naturally blue, which makes it the calorie-counting plate color of choice It's also less "stimulating" than yellow and red, colors favored by fast food restaurants for a reason. The size of your bowls and plates is also a factor. Bigger dishes can make a portion look smaller, so you're more likely to pile on more food.
THREE //
Sniff green apples, bananas, peppermint or vanilla whenever you're feeling hungry.
Smelling "neutral" sweet scents can curb appetite, so when you sniff one of these aromas, your brain is tricked into thinking you're indulging in a yummy snack.
FOUR //
Keep Things Spicy
Spicy spices, like cayenne and black pepper, rev your metabolism and help your body burn more calories through thermogenesis, the production of heat in the body. Spices with strong aromas (like garlic power) or an extra kick (red pepper flakes) also force you to take smaller bites, so you're more likely to register "full" without overeating.
FIVE //
Keep Your Room Slightly Chilled.
In mildly cold conditions, your body can generate heat without shivering ("non-shivering thermogenesis" if you're a scientist), and researchers believe that this response has an impact on brown fat. Unlike regular fat, brown fat burns calories like a furnace when it's activated by non-shivering thermogenesis.
