Dieting is no easy task. You think the main goal is just to start eating healthy food, but the tricky thing is to adopt new dieting habits. To make the process of losing those extra pounds easier for you, we at Bright Side decided to share these 6 tricks that no one ever told you about.
1. When you’re eating out, always choose the smallest portion available.
Take your time to read the menu. Even if it’s a place where they sell hamburgers and other unhealthy food, choose the smallest portion they have (mini hamburger, junior popcorn, personal pizza, or light salad). According to recent studies, people who don’t order their own main dish tend to eat everything on the table even if they’re already full.
2. Be more optimistic! Every positive thought matters.
The idea is to focus only on good thoughts and repeat your goals in a positive way as if they were your mantra. For example: “I lost half a pound! That’s just great!“ ”Slowly but surely!“ “I can eat only the portion I took.” ”I can say NO to dessert.» Such optimistic phrases will help you achieve your goals with a positive attitude.
3. Eating alone is better than eating with company.
When you start making changes in your diet you usually want your friends and family to help you along this path. However, it’s scientifically proven that people who eat in a group eat more. This happens because you spend more time at the table and, in addition, while talking and laughing you can’t control how much you have eaten.
It doesn’t mean you should eat alone all the time, but try to bring to the table only what you’re going to eat, your personal portion, so that you can always enjoy good conversation without worrying about the amount you eat.
4. If you’re hungry, smell bananas.
This may sound a little crazy, but it has actually been proven that smelling foods like apples, mint, or banana can fool your brain and make it believe that you’re eating.
A study involving 3,000 volunteers who smelled these foods when they were hungry found that their appetites decreased and the results were soon reflected on the scales. Amazing, huh?!
5. Blue is your new favorite color.
One recent study has shown that the color blue decreases appetite. So try some changes like decorating your table with a blue tablecloth, blue napkins, blue plates, and glasses.
This is called the psychology of colors, and there are colors that actually stimulate your appetite. But blue will do the opposite for you.
6. Eat in front of a mirror.
You’ll probably say it’s just ridiculous, but scientific facts assure that eating while looking at yourself in the mirror reduces the amount of food you eat to one-third.
