I recently came across this article from Women's Health. Some of them seem so obvious, but I have to say - guilty as charged... What about you?
So you’re eating well, working
out, and that number on the scale still won’t budge. Even worse:
Between tailgating season, Halloween, and the holidays, losing weight is
about to get even harder. There is good news, though. You can take
control. Just eliminate these surprisingly destructive habits and the
sneaky foods that are responsible for destroying your diet.
#1 - YOU EAT WITH YOUR HANDS
A new study suggests that people who use tongs to serve themselves food actually eat about 30 percent less of it.
#2 - YOU'RE DRINKING TOO MUCH
Most people overlook liquid calories entirely.
So don’t expect to notice when a seemingly single-sized juice can or
bottle actually contains two or three servings—and two to three times
more calories. Your best bet: Replace juice with water, and eat your
calories instead of drinking them.
#3 - YOU EAT FRUITY YOGURT
Most fruit-flavored yogurts—and plenty of other
healthy-sounding foods—are sweetened with fructose. But unlike other
sweeteners, this one doesn’t tell your brain you’re full, according to a
new study. The result: You end up eating way more calories than your
body actually needs.
#4 - YOUR FAV TEAM IS LOSING
Turns out, you’re more likely to binge eat the day after your sports team bombs a big game, according to a 2013 French study.
#5 - YOU HIT UP HAPPY HOUR - A LOT
People don’t realize just how many calories they
drink. What’s more, the alcohol in your cocktail can reduce
your inhibitions, so you hit the happy hour menu (hello, nachos!) even
harder. To imbibe without overdoing it, stick to one of these delicious cocktails under 200 calories. And switch to water after drinking one or two of them.
#6 - YOU'RE OVERDOING IT AT BREAKFAST
While the standard serving size for cereal is
about two-thirds of a cup, breakfast bowls can hold much, much more. So
when you fill yours to the brim with cereal, and top it off with milk,
you could be eating twice as many calories as you think—or more.
#7 - YOU TREAT YOURSELF A LITTLE TOO OFTEN
When you indulge in sweet or fatty foods like ice
cream regularly, you end up craving larger portions to feel satisfied. Need a sweet treat every day? A new study published in the journal Food Quality and Preference found that a few bites really will satisfy you just as much as a larger serving.
#8 - YOU'RE GUZZLING DIET SODA
Drinking calorie-free sweeteners is like dumping
water in your gas tank instead of gasoline. (For
non-mechanics: It fills you up, but doesn’t keep your motor running.)
When hunger strikes, drink water instead, and fill up on wholesome foods
to drive off hunger pangs later.
#9 - YOU'RE DEPRIVING YOURSELF
#10 - YOU ORDER THE "REGULAR" SIZE
Think you’re in the clear because you downsized
your large order of fries? Turns out, people actually consume more
calories when they order regular-sized menu items than when they order
portions advertised as “double-sized”.
#11 - YOU'RE STAYING UP TOO LATE
People who hit the sack on the late side tend to
eat more high-fat and high-calories foods than those who tuck in
earlier. No wonder they also gain more
weight.
#12 - YOU THINK WORKING OUT GIVES YOU A "PASS"
Exercising can make you want to eat more—but that
doesn’t mean you should. And it doesn’t help that most
people grossly overestimate the number of calories they torch at the
gym. The good news: Picking up the pace might actually decrease foods
cravings, according to a new study.
