Eating habits that jumpstart weight loss are those that help you achieve your goals, whether you’d like to lose 5 pounds or 50.
Trying to adopt better eating habits is no easy task, but it’s well worth the effort.
Here are some simple tips you can use in your daily diet to help jumpstart weight loss:
1. Eat a breakfast high in protein and healthy fats, such as eggs and turkey bacon. Protein and fat take longer to digest than carbohydrates, which keeps blood sugar levels more stable and makes you feel full throughout the morning. If you feel full, you’re likely to eat less at lunch.
2. Eat a big salad when you get home from work or school. This will make up a bulk of your dinner, so keep dinner light. Try adding a lean protein like grilled chicken breast or tuna to the salad for extra flavor and protein.
3. Make sure half of each plate is made up of vegetables during dinner time. You’ll also want plenty of lean proteins on your plate as well.
4. Avoid skipping meals, especially breakfast—it’s important to give your body fuel so it can burn fat instead of storing it! Skipping meals can also lead to overeating later on in the day.
5. Drink water before meals. Hydrating before meals helps you eat fewer calories. When you drink water before a meal, it decreases the amount of food you order and eat as well as the number of calories you consume during the meal. A study published in Obesity found that drinking two cups of water before lunch decreased the amount of calories people ate during lunch by almost 20 percent.
6. Eat more slowly. When you eat slower, you’ll be able to recognize when you’re full, so you won’t end up over-eating. It takes the brain about 20 minutes to register that it’s had enough food, so make a habit of slowing down and chewing your food thoroughly.
