Already have an account?
Get back to the
From the Magazine

3 Easy Ways to Lose a Few Pounds Without Dieting

Tags:

Wish you could lose a few pounds without losing out on fun? The good news is, you can with these science-backed tricks that boost metabolism and burn fat, no diet required.

Supercharge your smoothie.

A University of Massachusetts Medical School study found that subjects who made no change to their diet other than adding the equivalent of 10 grams more fiber to each meal lost 5 extra pounds without even trying. “Fiber keeps you full longer and decreases the hormones that promote hunger,” explains Jeanette Kimszal, RDN. And it’s easy! Just tossing 2 Tbsp. of nutrient-dense chia seeds into a tasty berry smoothie packs a full 10 grams of fiber into your morning sip.

Sneak in a siesta.

If you’ve ever reached for donuts after a late night, you won’t be surprised to learn that folks who don’t get enough sleep consume a whopping 559 extra calories the next day without realizing it, according to French research. That’s because lack of sleep throws hunger-control hormones leptin and ghrelin out of whack, leaving you craving high-calorie food even when you’re not hungry, explains Warren Willey, DO, author of Obtainable: Enjoy the Body and Energy You’ve Always Wanted ($19.99, Amazon). Having trouble getting eight hours? “Taking a nap is like hitting control-alt-delete on your computer. It resets the brain,” says Dr. Willey. “A rested brain craves less high-fat, sugary food.”

Snack on macadamias.

Adore rich, buttery macadamia nuts? Reach for them! Two separate studies suggest that enjoying a handful every day might lessen weight gain by 77 percent, as well as shrink fat cells. “Macadamia nuts contain a mix of healthy fats, including palmitoleic acid, an omega-7 fatty acid that’s been shown to increase metabolism,” explains Kimszal. The optimal amount: a dozen nuts a day. 

This article originally appeared in our print magazine.

We write about products we think our readers will like. If you buy them, we get a small share of the revenue from the supplier.

More From Woman’s World

9 Keto Bread Recipes That Are Low-Carb and Highly Delicious

Reduce Belly Fat by Splashing This Common Ingredient on All Your Meals

This 16-Week Diet Can Help Shed Pounds and Improve Gut Health and Blood Sugar

Use left and right arrow keys to navigate between menu items. Use right arrow key to move into submenus. Use escape to exit the menu. Use up and down arrow keys to explore. Use left arrow key to move back to the parent list.