By Tami Rupe

There aren’t too many people in this country who wouldn’t love to lose ten pounds or more—especially after the holidays! Unfortunately diets don’t work for everyone. If you have tried diets before and had negative results, there are still options available for you to lose weight without dieting.

Here are a few tips:

• Time Your Meals. Set a timer for 20 minutes and eat more slowly. Savor each bite and make it last so that the hormones that help your body feel full have time to kick in. Eating too fast blocks these signals and causes overeating.

• Sleep More. Sleeping an extra hour each night helps reduce late-night snacking and other activities, cutting calories. There is also evidence that not getting enough sleep revs up your appetite.

• Eat More Veggies. The high fiber and water content of veggies fills you up with fewer calories, so add more to your daily meals and snacks.

• Eat More Whole Grains. Whole grains such as brown rice, barley, oats and whole wheat help fill you up with fewer calories, and also help lower your cholesterol.

• Cut Back on Sugar. One less sugary drink a day saves you about 10 teaspoons of sugar. Choose water, tea or other low-calorie drinks flavored with lemon, mint or fruit.

• Limit Alcohol. Alcohol has more calories per gram (7) than carbohydrates (4) or protein (4). It can also weaken your willpower, causing you to eat other high-calorie foods.

• Drink Green Tea. Some studies suggest green tea can rev up your body’s calorie-burning capacity because of the phytochemicals it contains. In addition, it is also low calorie and great tasting.

• Eating at Home. Eating at home at least five days a week is the top habit for successful weight loss. Have pre-made foods ready for quick prep times.

• Chew a Strong Mint Gum. When you have a hunger attack, grab a stick of mint sugarless gum.

• Use Smaller Plates. Choosing a smaller plate tricks your brain into eating less. It can cut 100–200 calories a day and 10–20 pounds a year.

• Go Meatless More Often. Vegetarians tend to weigh less than meat eaters, and legumes play an important role. Beans and other veggies are packed with fiber and fill you up.

• Burn an Extra 100 Calories Every Day. Walk, clean, mow the lawn, pull weeds or jog for 20 minutes.

Weight loss can be difficult, but using these tips could make a difference and help you reach your weight-loss goal.

Taken from a WebMD article