10 Simple Rules to Lose 5 Pounds


1. Practice Portion Control

Over the years, portions have become supersized. Larger serving sizes make it easy to consume excess calories, even when it comes to healthy foods. Curb your consumption by being mindful of proper serving sizes: a serving of meat should be no larger than the palm of your hand or deck of cards. When it comes to snacking, don’t eat out of the package or bag. When you’re dining out, ask for a doggy bag at the beginning of your meal and immediately place half of your dish in the to-go container so that you won’t be tempted to clean your plate. As a rule of thumb, make sure half of your plate is filled with fruits and colorful veggies at every meal.

2. Lose “Low-Fat” Labels

Many dieters fill their kitchens with foods branded as “low fat” – but all too often that label is a diet trap. To improve their flavor, manufacturers tend to add more sugar, flour and thickeners to fat-free products, which boost calorie content. The fats in these foods are replaced with low-performing white carbs that digest quickly and are rapidly absorbed into the bloodstream. This causes the classic sugar high and crash followed by a hunger rebound.

Additionally, studies show that people often view a low-fat label as a green light to eat much more than they normally would, unaware that low-fat versions of foods are usually not much lower in calories than the regular versions.

3. Rev Your Metabolism

Metabolism is the process your body uses to convert food into energy. If your weight loss is stalled, your metabolism might just need a little boost. Luckily, there are easy things you can do to ignite your body’s fat-burning engines.

Add Protein and Greens

Digesting high-fiber green vegetables is an easy way to make your metabolism work harder, and it can kill cravings for unhealthy foods. Likewise, your body burns twice as many calories by digesting proteins than it does when digesting carbs. Add more protein to your diet with two fish-based meals per week. Packed with protein, fish, such as halibut or salmon, also contains omega-3 fatty acids, which increase fat-burning enzymes in the body.

Spice It Up

Some plants contain the bioactive ingredient capsaicin, which not only makes them spicy hot, but also doubles your body’s energy expenditure for 3 hours after a meal. Plants belonging to this family are a hot ticket for boosting metabolism. Include red peppers, cayenne, jalapenos, habaneros, and tabasco in your cooking. Capsaicin may also work to suppress appetite centers in the brain by boosting the release of certain neurotransmitters.

Ginger is also another good addition. It not only aids in digestion but increases body temperature and metabolic rates as much as 20 percent after eating. Slice fresh ginger and stir-fry it with vegetables for an energy invigorating meal.

4. Cut Out Artificial Sweeteners



5. Cut Out Soda


6. Get Moving!

Part of any effective weight-loss routine is exercise. At minimum, make sure you’re walking at least 10,000 steps a day. Beyond that, select a workout routine that best fits your fitness and lifestyle needs.

Blast Fat

Fitness guru Tony Horton, creator of the P90X workout, has a plan to help transform your body in just 10 minutes a day. Try this special workout plan to trim and tone your body.

5-Minute Workouts

This Oz-approved series from celebrity trainer Joel Harper will tone your core, butt, arms, thighs and more in minutes.

Run a 5K

Get in shape and hold yourself accountable by signing up for a 5K race.

7. Vary Your Caloric Intake

Once your body gets used to consuming the same amount of calories every day, your weight loss naturally levels off to match what you burn. For example, your body simply adapts to 1,800 calories and stops slimming down. To keep your body working hard at shedding those pounds, vary your caloric intake. Consume 1,800 calories one day; then reduce to 1,600 calories the next day; and 1,700 the following day. Keep this pattern going, and your body will have to exert more energy to make adjustments, which can trigger bigger weight loss.

8. Drink More Water!

We all know that water is healthy, but what you may not know is that it could help you shed excess pounds. Each day, drink enough water so that your urine is clear. A recent study showed that your metabolic rate jumps within 10 minutes of drinking ice-cold water, and it stays up for an additional half-hour after you drink it. Research has also found that drinking an average of 6.5 cups of water per day helped people consume 200 less calories a day.

9. Switch to Whole Grains

Instead of white pastas, breads and flour, switch to whole grains. Packed with fiber, whole grains keep you full longer, stabilize blood sugar, and are loaded with vitamins, minerals and antioxidants. Plus, a diet rich in whole grains has been tied to lower rates of chronic disease such as diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol and obesity. Restock your pantry with fiber-rich whole-grain carbs such as:



Whole wheat bread

Brown rice

Whole grain pasta

10. Try a Cleanse

Still can’t quite shed those last couple pounds? The answer might lie in a cleanse, a quick way to eliminate toxins that might cause bloating and inflammation. Traditional cleanses can involve extreme low-calorie fasting, which can slow your metabolism and actually harm your body. Luckily, Dr. Oz has formulated a 48-hour weekend cleanse is based upon eating certain foods that keep your detoxifying systems running smoothly and revitalize your body.


Courtesy of Oprah.

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