9 New Weight Loss Strategies that Work Better Than the Old Ones

You’ve heard the popular slim-down suggestions-from eating smaller portions to adding more veggies to every meal-but there are factors beyond what you put on your plate that may help you lose weight. From strolling after dinner to waking up early on the weekends, here are nine new tips you need to know. Photo by Getty Images.

1. Eating Less Often Have you been eating six small meals a day because you’ve heard it helps regulate your metabolism? Now, preliminary research presented at an American Diabetes Association meeting suggests fewer meals may be the sweet spot. Adults with type 2 diabetes who ate two meals a day lost more weight than those who ate six with the same total calories, possibly because it led to improved insulin sensitivity. The takeaway? Don’t feel pressured to eat many times a day. The best option-whether six meals or two with snacks in between-is the one that works for your lifestyle, says registered dietitian Corinne Dobbas. 

2. Majorly Reducing Your Caloric Intake Twice a Week  One study in the British Journal of Diabetics & Vascular Disease found that intermittent fasting can help overweight and obese adults lose weight. What works best for women, says study co-author James Brown, PhD, is eating normally for five days and consuming fewer than 500 calories for two days. Fasting improves insulin sensitivity and may help regulate your metabolism, he notes. Still, you may find it hard to deal with side effects, like hunger on fasting days, he says. But consider it if you have a family history of heart disease or type 2 diabetes. Just talk to your doctor first before trying this, urges Caroline Cederquist, MD, medical director of the Cederquist Medical Wellness Center in Naples, FL. You need to be sure you’re getting enough protein to maintain muscle mass, and your doctor may need to adjust dosages of blood pressure or diabetes medications you may take.

3. Performing Rituals Before Eating  It’s tempting to dig in as soon as you sit down, but people who take a moment to do something else first-like breaking a chocolate bar in half, taking carrots out of a bag or even making their food or drinks-enjoyed their eats more and found them more satisfying, according to a recent study in Psychological Science. And when your food satisfies you more, you feel fuller on fewer calories and are less likely to overeat. These rituals make you excited for your meal and more involved in it, so you slow down and more readily recognize signs of fullness, explains Yajin Wang, a PhD candidate and the study’s co-author. 

4. Walking After Meals  Fitting in a stroll any time of day is a good thing. But you could get more out of it if you hit the pavement after eating, according to a study in Diabetes Care. Adults at risk for type 2 diabetes who walked for 15 minutes after each of three daily meals saw better blood sugar levels than those who took a 45-minute morning walk. Exercise helps muscles use glucose more efficiently, and stable blood sugar keeps your metabolism and hunger levels steady. So instead of settling into your couch right after supper, take a walk around the block.

5. Paying Attention While You’re Eating  There’s a reason you shouldn’t eat while watching TV or working: Not focusing on your food makes it easy to forget what you’ve eaten. You not only scarf more at that meal but also later, suggests a meta-analysis of 24 studies published in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. How to be more mindful? Dobbas suggests chewing your food 20 times per bite, putting your utensils down in between nibbles and listening to music and talking during dinner. These strategies engage you more in what you’re eating and make the experience more memorable.

6. Not Depriving Yourself  Resisting sweet treats every time can backfire, according to 2014 research in PLoS ONE. Dieters who deprived themselves of chocolate craved the treat more than those who weren’t so restrictive. “Depriving yourself of foods you love is setting yourself up for failure because you give them power over you,” says Dobbas. If you really want something fattening, have a small portion and move on. Indulging wisely takes the power away from the food, so you’ll crave it less over time. 

7. Looking at Pictures of Your Favorite Foods While You’re Eating Well  Hate broccoli or spinach? You can learn to love it with a quick mind trick: Check out an image of a food that makes your mouth water (cupcakes, pizza, a big bowl of creamy pasta). It activates an area of your brain that relays messages about taste-and tells you whatever you’re eating (say, a big salad) is more enjoyable than you’d regularly find it, according to a 2012 study from researchers in Switzerland.

8. Dining Out with Healthy Friends  You know how it feels easier to order cheese fries when your friend does, too? Well, peer pressure can work the opposite way: Going out to eat with a healthy pal can help you make smarter choices, suggests new research from the University of Illinois. “If your friend orders grilled salmon and steamed veggies, you’ll be more likely to give your order a second thought,” says Dobbas. Team up with a buddy who’s also looking to lose weight and commit to making healthy decisions together.

9. Falling Asleep and Waking Up at the Same Time Daily  Previous research shows that skimping on zzz’s is linked to weight gain. But a new study in the American Journal of Health Promotion discovered that women who keep consistent bed- and wake times have less body fat than those with erratic schedules. Throwing off your body’s natural sleep-wake cycle can affect appetite-controlling hormones. Sure, it’s tempting to sleep in on the weekends, but sticking with your weekday alarm time may help you fit into those skinny jeans.

P.S.  Intermittent fasting has produced great results for me over the past couple of years and I continue practicing it regularly today. I do this by not eating my first meal before 12 noon  .  .  .  at least two days per week.

P.P.S.  Visit exercises for diabetics today more tips on how to eat and exercise properly.