7 Rules for Faster Weight Loss

Dropping extra kilos isn’t always that simple. Try these proven tips from www.shape.com.sg.

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1 KEEP YOUR PLANS A SECRET

Quit announcing your diet plan – it may not be such a good idea after all. It turns out that keeping it a secret is the key to success, according to a New York University study. Receiving positive reactions from others could make you think you’ve accomplished your goal and cause you to slack off . So pipe it down, and only share your scheme, if you must, with the trusted few who can help you stay the course.

2 GO FOR EVENING WALKS

Exercising at any time is good for you, but evening activity may be particularly beneficial because your metabolic rate slows down towards the end of the day. Thirty minutes of aerobic activity before dinner increases your metabolism and may keep it up for a few more hours, even after you’ve stopped moving. What that means for you: Those calories from dinner have less of a chance of sitting on your hips.

3 DRINK H2O

You probably already know that drinking water is important for weight loss. That’s because your body needs it in order to efficiently metabolise stored fat. When you short-change your supply, you’re likely to slow down that process, making it more difficult for you to torch calories. Eight glasses daily will keep things running smoothly.

4 USE THE RIGHT DINNERWARE

A US study showed that those who served themselves pasta with alfredo sauce on a white plate and pasta with tomato sauce on a red plate had 22 percent more than those with high contrast of hues between their food and plates. The researchers also found that people perceive dining portions to be smaller if served on a larger plate. So serve up food on plates with high contrast in colours and use smaller-sized dinnerware to ensure you eat less. 5 of a placebo, researchers found that the green-tea drinkers burned about 70 additional calories in a 24-hour period.

5 DRINK GREEN TEA

When a recent study compared the metabolic effect of green tea with that. That adds up to a total of 3.3kg of fat a year! Researchers believe the difference is caused by metabolism-enhancing antioxidants known as catechins, which are found in green tea.

6 ADD BLACK PEPPER TO YOUR DIET

Black pepper has reportedly been used for centuries to treat ailments such as diarrhoea and gastric discomfort. But who knew that it might also keep you lean? Researchers from South Korea have discovered that piperine, the compound that gives the spice its distinctive taste, could be effective at slowing new fat cell formation. Scientists are also looking into using piperine in the treatment of obesity-related problems.

7 KEEP A FOOD DIARY

Taking note of what you eat actually works. In a study of 123 obese participants, experts at Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center in the US found that women who noted down what they ate lost an average of 2.7kg more than those who didn’t. Find tracking your daily intake a chore? Every other day is a good starting point. From your notes, identify three foods that aren’t nutritious and which you should cut down on, and take note of occasions when you overeat.

Read more on www.shape.com.sg

● Easy Ways To Lose Weight www.bit.ly/easy-way-lose-weight

● Trying To Lose Weight? Relax! www.bit.ly/lose-weight-relax

● Lose Weight While Doing Housework www.bit.ly/calories-burnedhousework

Shape’s online site – www.shape.com.sg – is updated daily, with trending topics and quizzes on fitness, nutrition, health, beauty and lifestyle.