If you’re trying to lose weight, there’s no need for a complex diet programme. Changing the way you eat for the better and losing weight sensibly is all about common sense. Here are some of the most important common sense diet tips you should be keeping in mind.

1) Use Smaller Plates

Huge dinner plates are unnecessary and only encourage you to eat more. Research has confirmed the obvious – if you use smaller plates, you’ll have to keep your portion sizes smaller and this will help you avoid over-eating.

2) Eat Slowly

If you eat fast, you’re likely to eat too much because you’re not giving your body time to register that you’ve consumed enough. Eating slowly will allow you to realise sooner when you have eaten enough to satisfy your hunger, as well as allowing you to really savour and enjoy your meal!

3) Stop Eating Before You Feel Full

It takes approximately 20 minutes from the time you start eating for your brain to send out signals of fullness. Stop eating before you get that full feeling to give your brain a chance to catch up.

4) Avoid Temptation

The best way to cut down on unhealthy meals and snacks is to stay away from them. When doing your food shopping, try not to buy any of the unhealthy foods you’re trying to eat less of. You’ll be much more tempted to indulge in them if they’re in the house, so simply not buying them will help you avoid temptation.

5) Stay Hydrated

Drinking plenty of water is not only essential for the healthy functioning of the body, but also helps you eat less. Thirst can often be mistaken for hunger and staying hydrated means you’ll avoid making that mistake and eating extra unnecessarily. Aim to drink six to eight glasses of water or other fluids each day.

6) Reduce Your Alcohol Intake

Many dieters cut down on various unhealthy foods but forget to take into account the role alcohol plays in their diet. Alcohol is a large source of empty calories, so often contributes to weight gain. Cutting down on the amount you drink is a great way to aid weight loss.

When you consider what needs to be done in order for you to lose weight, you’ll realise that a lot of it is simply common sense. You already know plenty of things you can do to reduce your calorie-intake and this, combined with our sensible diet tips, will help you stay on track and achieve your weight loss goals. Remember, you just need to keep ringing in the gradual changes and keep doing them until they become habits!

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