Trying to shed a few pounds? It’ll be easier to skip high-calorie treats when you carry a photo of a new swimsuit or dress you want to fit into and look at it whenever cravings strike. A new University of Texas at Austin study shows that having a strong reminder of the long-term benefits of not giving in to temptation—such as fitting into a smaller size—makes it significantly easier to stick to a diet plan since folks tend to focus on the short-term benefits of giving in—such as how good the treat will taste.
[photo: Alaskan Dude]
The easiest one! It doesn’t matter which weight-loss plan you choose—Zone, Jenny Craig, Weight Watchers, etc.—so long as it’s one that you find easy to stick to. You’ll lose twice as much weight on it as someone who’s trying to shed pounds on a diet they don’t like, reveals a study out of Tufts-New England Medical Center in Boston. So, ignore what works for your friends and family and pick the diet plan you prefer the most.
Have a yen for chocolate, Skittles, cotton candy and other tempting sweets, but are trying to slim down your waistline? Nibble fruit instead! “For every kind of candy you love, there’s a fruit that can give you the same satisfying taste and mouth-feel,” says registered dietician Lyssie Lakatos, R.D., co-author of Fire Up Your Metabolism. In fact, a Cornell University study shows that candy lovers are also the biggest fans of fruit, making it a natural candy alternative. Even better: Because fruit contains less insulin-spiking sugar and is packed with fiber, it keeps your hunger under control.” So, what’s your candy craving?
Turn off the television! In a recent study, volunteers who cut their TV time in half for three weeks burned an extra 120 calories a day—the equivalent of walking eight 
The empty wrappers! In a recent study, Cornell University Food and Brand Lab director Brian Wansink, Ph.D., found that people ate about half as many mini-sized candies when they kept the wrappers in plain sight. Turns out, having a visual cue is key for sending the message to your brain that it’s time to stop snacking. “Your stomach can’t count, but your eyes can when they see the empty wrappers,” he says.
You probably know that loading up on fruits and vegetables helps you lose weight since they’re low in calories and high in filling fiber. Yet, getting produce in juices and smoothies can have the opposite 
There are easy tricks that can stretch your food budget and make your favorite foods healthier—without sacrificing flavor, says registered dietician Tammy Lakatos Shames, R.D., co-author of Fire Up Your Metabolism:
The secret? Slow down as you eat. Not only does it make you enjoy your meals more by helping you focus on the flavors—for instance, the basil in your pasta sauce or the chocolate frosting on your cupcake—you’ll 
…how much money is in your bank account. And you spend less when you think of how much money is in your wallet. The reason for the difference? According to a recent study in the Journal of 
You won’t just save hundreds of dollars a year by simply eating at home, it’ll also help you whittle down your waistline. In fact, the typical restaurant meal packs even more calories than fast food, a recent study in the journal Review of Agricultural Economics reveals. Blame goes to the oversized portions, which make us consume far more fat and calories than we realize.
