Small changes in daily eating habits aid weight loss

Small changes in daily eating habits aid weight loss

    Arecent study has claimed that making small easy changes to eating habits on a consistent basis — 25 days or more per month — can lead to sustainable weight loss. But the challenge is to figure out which changes work for specific individuals and how to stick with changes long enough to make them second-nature.
    To explore this issue, researchers launched an online healthy eating and weight-loss programme that focused on simple eating behaviour changes, instead of dieting. Participants, after answering questions about their eating goals, background and well-being, were sent three customised tips to follow for a month. They could download a checklist to track their adherence to tips and receive email reminders to keep them on track. At the end of each month, they were expected to send in a follow-up survey. Of the 504 participants who completed at least one follow-up survey, over two-thirds (42%) either lost weight or maintained their weight (27%). Weight loss was highest among people who made changes consistently. According to the study, common barriers that prevented people from making changes included personally unsuitable tips, forgetting, being too busy, unusual circumstances such as vacations and emotional eating.
   
Keep counters clear of all foods but the healthy ones. Never eat directly from a package — always portion food out on to a dish. Eat something hot for breakfast within the first hour of waking up. Avoid going more than thee or four hours without having something to eat. Put down your utensils between bites to slow down your eating.