Dieters Lose Pounds with New and Improved Ideas

Weight Loss Strategy Includes Dining Out Tips and Home Decorating

May 8, 2009 Mary King

Eating small portions and using small plates helps reduce calories. Cleaning house plus a few simple changes to the home will strengthen a weight-loss strategy, as well.

Smaller plates and smaller portions may not be anything new to the veteran dieter, but why stop with portion cutbacks and dinnerware? Temptation lurks all through the house when one is hungry. A few changes here and there can suppress an appetite and keep the dieter on the right track. Shown below are a few old strategies that cover the kitchen and dining room, plus a few new ideas to keep the calories in check.

Common Weight-Loss Strategies

These ideas are worth repeating because they've been proven to work. Cheating, of course, is not allowed.

Smaller plates. Portions don't look so skimpy on smaller plates.
Keep a journal. Write down every food that goes into the mouth – even gum. This may be time-consuming for the busy person, but the shock is a good motivational tool.
Measure accurately. "Guesstimating" can ruin a weight-loss plan.
Drink water. Drinking a glass of water before a meal suppresses the appetite, keeps one hydrated, and washes salt from the body.
Divide and take home restaurant meals. Many restaurants still serve large portions – enough for two meals in some cases – so divide and take home the rest for leftovers the next day.

New Ideas for Losing Weight

Check out new ideas for losing weight that just might work well for a lot of dieters. Remember to avoid super-sizing restaurant foods, too.

Hang wall mirrors. People don't eat as much when they see themselves eating, so hang mirrors to aid weight loss or even mirror tiles in strategic locations. C.M. Herold of the Web site, EHow, "How to Lose Weight with Feng Shui Tips" (1999-2009), adds, "Place a lot of mirrors in your home for the best way to lose weight with Feng Shui. Hang a mirror near the dining table. Put a small mirror on the refrigerator. Make sure there is a lot of natural light especially in the kitchen and dining areas."
Use plates that are not microwave safe. A dieter is less tempted to eat seconds when the food cannot be reheated.
Don't put bowls of food on the table. Fill plates in the kitchen and put leftovers away promptly after cooling. It's usually too much trouble to drag everything back out for seconds.
Plan the day's calorie-limited menu. Select food for the entire day and divide into 3 to 6 meals. Eating small meals throughout the day keeps one satisfied without going over the calorie limit.
Clean the house. When a house is clean and free of clutter it feels lighter. The occupants also feel less stressed. For dieters, cleaning house means physical activity, as well.
Do away with red home accents. Red foods like tomatoes, apples, and red meat make up an important part of daily nutritional requirements, but red also stimulates the appetite. Restaurants customarily use red to draw customers. Replace red home accents throughout the house – throw pillows, tablecloths, and dish towels, for example – with appetite suppressing purple, black, or blue colors.
Avoid all-you-can-eat restaurants. These places are becoming quite popular, but are just too tempting for calorie-counters with shaky willpower.

Dieting is not easy, but making small adjustments in the home and lifestyle can help keep one on track. It's not enough to count calories and select smaller portions; dieting involves changing the attitude and recognizing dangerous diet pitfalls.

Tried and true weight-loss methods still work well for the serious calorie counter, especially keeping a food journal and drinking water before meals. New strategies include dieting with Feng Shui, where simply avoiding certain colors can suppress the appetite and mirrors are used to deter eating. More people than ever are starting to incorporate dieting strategies throughout the home and in public eating places. With a lot of motivation and work, dieters will someday tip the scales in a favorable direction, wiping out obesity and related illnesses.

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