TRICK YOURSELF INTO LOSING WEIGHT

Dieting and exercising not your thing? Try these five useful expert tips instead

You’ve got all kinds of weight loss advice from family, friends, colleagues and acquaintances – and you’re fed up because it all boils down to ‘exercise more and eat less’. You know that it’s easier said than done. But before you completely give up, try some of the tricks mentioned below that will prevent you from piling on further kilos, and lose a few too. 
NO HIGH-CALORIE BEVERAGES BEFORE YOUR MEAL 
Bid goodbye to colas, cold coffees and chocolate milkshakes. “These beverages are high in sugar and calories and low in nutritive value. They will give you a feeling of fullness and instant energy, but can  cause extreme highs and lows in your blood sugar levels as well, since they get absorbed faster in the body and you’ll end up feeling hungry sooner. This will certainly not help your weight loss programme,” advises nutritionist and dietician Zainab Sayed. 
A SPICY APPETISER “Hot spicy foods generally work as stimulants – they stimulate blood circulation and raise the body’s temperature. Hence, they might help give your sluggish metabolism a boost, and you might burn more calories,” reasons Sayed. 
NO HEAVY MEALS BEFORE BEDTIME 
We all know that our body weight is the result of how many calories we consume and burn. But when we eat is also important. Studies suggest that having high-calorie and fatty foods right before bedtime decreases the calorie burning process and increases the body’s tendency to store fats. Dietician Supriya Mhatre says, “A major drawback of eating large meals before going to bed is disrupted sleep, as it takes time for your digestive system to function and the food eaten may not get digested, which becomes a major reason for obesity and indigestion.” One of the easiest ways of avoiding large meals before bed is to sleep early. The longer you stay awake, the more likely you are to feel peckish, says she. 
A HOT SOUP BEFORE YOUR MEAL The real trick is to avoid cream-based soups and opt for clear soups with vegetables. “Having a hot soup before meals makes one consume about 30% less calories during your meal. Also, a hot soup will make you full and help increase your metabolism,” says Sayed. 
NO TIME FOR GYM? WALK, CLIMB If you don’t have time to hit the gym, the least you can do is walk and take the stairs instead of the elevator or escalator. Fitness expert Samir Purohit gives an idea of the amount of calories burnt by an individual weighing approximately 68kg in the following physical activities: Pilates (beginner) – 126; cycling (leisure) – 135; cycling (19kmph) – 297; badminton – 153; push-ups (moderate) 171; pilates (advanced) – 216; walking (4.5kmph) – 148; climbing up the stairs – 274. So don’t give up on your weightloss plan for lack of exercise – start today!