Health & Fitness

11 small tricks for Big Weight Loss

Blot: Use a paper napkin to blot a teaspoon of fat off a pizza slice. At a slice a week, that's more than a whole cup of fat you won't eat—or wear—this year.
Drink more milk: Consuming 1,800 milligrams of calcium a day could block the absorption of about 80 calories. Fill your coffee mug with skim or 1 percent milk, drink it down to the level you want in your coffee, and then pour in your caffeine fix.
Buy cut veggies: They cost more, but they'll pay dividends later—because you're more likely to snack on them than on some other, less healthy food
Get watered down: A recent German study showed that drinking water burns calories. Drinking about two cups of cold water—no warmer than 72 degrees—used up roughly 25 calories. Drink a liter a day and you're talking five pounds a year.
Go smaller: Use a salad plate instead of a dinner plate. Studies show that putting your portions on smaller dishes means you'll end up eating less at a meal.
Dilute juice: Add water to your fruit juice to reduce calories
Make your drinks count: Have a V8 or tomato juice instead of a Diet Coke.
Have a power snack prepared: Mix three different kinds of beans and sprinkle in some low-cal Italian dressing. Have it as a snack all week.
Think about eating: Eat without doing anything else—no TV, no reading, no working.
Stop mindless snacking: Chew a strong-flavored gum like cinnamon while you're cooking. Sneaking a taste of the food will be less appealing.
Tighten your belt: When you feel a craving and temptation to gorge, tighten your belt a notch—as a reminder of the size you'd like to be.