Zero-effort Ways To Lose Weight

These sneaky cheats will help you shed unwanted kilos – no diet required

- Angela Dowden

If the thought of living on liquids and feasting on celery sticks makes you want to curl up in a dark corner with a slab of chocolate, we’ve got good news. Believe it or not, you really can shift the extra bulge you’ve been carrying around by making small changes to your eating habits. simply tweak your portion sizes, make a few healthy swaps and get moving.

DRINK MORE WATER

Staying fully hydrated can curb the urge to snack. Drink at least six to eight cups of liquid a day (cups of herbal tea count too). What’s more, research shows that drinking 500ml cold water increases resting metabolism by up to 30% for about an hour.

EAT EGGS FOR BREAKFAST

A study of overweight women who ate two eggs in the morning found that they felt a lot less hungry during the day, and consumed fewer kilojoules over the next 36 hours, compared to when they ate bagels for breakfast.

CHOOSE FAT-FREE MILK

Try fat-free milk – it has over 200 fewer kilojoules and less saturated fat per cup than full cream.

SWAP YOUR SANDWICH FOR SOUP

Soup increases satisfaction compared with non-liquid meals that have similar ingredients and kilojoule content, according to studies at Pennsylvania State University. Instead of a chicken salad sandwich, try a large bowl of chicken and veg soup with a small slice of bread.

WORK YOUR SNACKS