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Don’t eat your favorite foods. Never snack between meals. Always avoid the scale. When it comes to losing weight, you’ve probably heard it all. But unfortunately, these popular diet tips are all tidbits of disinformation—common myths and misconceptions that could do more nutritional harm than good. Looking for tried-and-true weight-loss advice that really works?  Read on as we reveal the seven smartest diet tips of all time.

Don’t eat your favorite foods. Never snack between meals. Always avoid the scale. When it comes to losing weight, you’ve probably heard it all. But unfortunately, these popular diet tips are all tidbits of disinformation—common myths and misconceptions that could do more nutritional harm than good. Looking for tried-and-true weight-loss advice that really works?  Read on as we reveal the seven smartest diet tips of all time.

1. Don’t Deprive Yourself. Eliminating favorite foods from your diet can actually have adverse effects on your diet goals. People who sacrifice their favorite treats often wind up eating several other foods to replace the ones they gave up because they didn’t feel satisfied. Most experts believe that it’s okay to eat virtually any food—the key is moderation. Treating yourself to an occasional reward can actually be a practical way to limit unhealthy splurges.

2. Eat Your Fruits and Veggies. Fruits and vegetables are perfect diet foods—loaded with fiber to help you feel full and packed with vitamins and nutrients to help prevent disease. But a study conducted by the John Hopkins Bloomberg School of Health revealed that only 11 percent of U.S. adults are meeting the USDA guidelines for fruit and vegetable intake. Be sure to keep both fresh and frozen produce on hand, for a healthy side dish or a quick snack.

3. Leave It to the Pros. Rather than try to arbitrarily figure out what’s going to work for you, check in with those who know for sure. For example, a nutritionist or registered dietician will be able to set you up with an easy-to-follow eating regimen, while a personal trainer can design a strength-training program around your individual needs. Worried about these expenses burning a hole in your pocket? Consider consulting students in a nutrition program at your local college, or meet with a trainer once or twice, just to get motivated.

4. Don’t Compare Yourself With Others. Everybody is different, and so it stands to reason that everyone will lose weight differently. When you start comparing yourself to your coworker who has managed to lose twice as much weight as you or your best friend who hasn’t gained a pound since high school, you’re only going to get discouraged. The key is to keep your goal in sight, and make healthy choices to meet it.

5. Have a Snack. It’s often said that you shouldn’t eat between meals, but diet experts disagree. Most research suggests that eating six small meals a day, as opposed to three large ones, helps to maintain energy and keeps blood-sugar levels from plummeting. What’s more, according to a study published in the British Medical Journal, nibbling throughout the day helps to jump-start your metabolism, allowing your body to process calories more efficiently.

6. Weigh In. While diet experts once advised against weighing yourself on a daily basis, patients enrolled in the National Weight Control Registry have proven that weighing yourself every day on the same scale can help people to lose weight and keep it off. Experts attribute the scale’s effectiveness to the fact that people can catch small changes as they occur and take measures to correct any weight gain immediately.

7. Stick With It. Remember, losing weight takes time. There’s no magic pill, no secret formula, and no special exercise routine that will make your body shed extra weight any faster than eating less and moving more. And experts agree that losing weight is a gradual process—about a pound or two per week is considered healthy. As you near your goal weight, though, you may find yourself losing just one pound a week or even hitting a plateau. But if you stick with it long enough, results will come.

Related Links:

6 Tricks for Portion Control 

10 Ways to Eat More Fruits and Veggies

8 Ways to Conquer a Plateau


Nubella News, a division of Marketing Technology Solutions, Inc., offers content intended for informational purposes only. It is not a substitute for medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. We encourage our readers to seek prompt medical care for health issues and consult their physicians before starting a new diet, fitness regimen, or medical treatment.