International Day Without Diets in 2024: 10 Non-Diet Strategies for Weight Loss

How Not to Diet in Order to Lose Weight

1. Emphasize Foods High in Nutrients

“Rather than counting calories or following strict meal plans, you should focus on consuming nutrient-dense foods. Make sure to fill your plate with colourful fruits, vegetables, lean proteins, whole grains, and healthy fats”, said Dr Chhajer. These foods not only supply vital vitamins and minerals, but they help prolong feelings of fullness, which lessens the temptation to overindulge.

A 2014 study on young women discovered that eating high-protein yoghurt as a midday snack led to fewer feelings of hunger and fewer calories being consumed at meals afterward.

2. Make Mindful Food Choices

Eating mindfully entails being aware of your body’s signals of hunger and fullness without passing judgment. During meals, you should take your time, enjoy every bite, and pay attention to your body’s cues about when it’s hungry or full. An analysis of eight studies revealed that people with slower meal consumption had a significantly lower Body Mass Index (BMI) than people with faster meal consumption.

3. When Eating, Use Smaller Plates

Dr Chhajer added, “Another way to shed kilos without dieting is by opting for a smaller plate while eating. This way you tend to eat less since it makes your servings appear larger.” Choosing smaller plates reduces food consumption while giving the impression of having consumed more, per a randomised controlled research published in Pediatrics.

4. Maintain Hydration

Water is necessary for several body processes, such as metabolism and digestion. When they feel hungry, a lot of people confuse it with dehydration. In order to stay hydrated and avoid mindless eating, you should make an effort to drink lots of water throughout the day. Water consumption before to meals was observed to reduce food intake in a Clinical Nutrition Research research, but it had no discernible effect on feelings of fullness. To spice up and diversify your hydration regimen, try using herbal teas and infused water.

5. Make Sleep Your Top Priority

Were you aware that hormones that control hunger can be upset by sleep deprivation and result in weight gain? Therefore, in order to support your body’s natural functions, make sure you get seven to nine hours of decent sleep every night. To encourage peaceful sleep, set up a soothing nighttime ritual, minimize screen time before bed, and create a cozy sleeping space.

6. Refrain From Focusing

“You need to reduce your stress levels as it can disrupt your hormonal balance, which can increase your appetite, leading to weight gain. When stressed, the body releases cortisol, which can increase appetite and cravings for sugary, fatty, and salty foods”, added Dr Chhajer.

7. Refuse Sugar-Coated Drinks

Sweetened beverages may seem appealing, but in order to reduce weight, you must avoid them. A study published in 2020 found that since liquid calories don’t affect feelings of fullness the same way as calories from solid meals do, it’s quite easy to consume excess calories from sugary drinks.

8. Increase Your Diet With Probiotics

Frontiers in Physiology reports that gut and brain function have been linked, suggesting that probiotics may have an effect on mood, weight, and fat mass. Probiotics may affect weight reduction in a number of ways, including appetite control and gut microbiota modification.

9. Include Spices in Your Meals

Although they won’t miraculously melt away pounds by themselves, chilli peppers can aid in weight loss efforts. A review published in the International Journal of Food Sciences and Nutrition found that consuming chilli in a variety of forms—from one meal to a continuous 12-week intake—has been shown to aid in weight loss. In this sense, chilli mainly affects thermogenesis, energy expenditure, and fat metabolism.

10. Make sensible objectives

Instead of concentrating only on the scale, set attainable and realistic goals for your health and well-being. Appreciate the little things that go right along the way, like more energy, a happier attitude, or better physical ability.