Tweak your lifestyle
There is a better way: Swap the all-or-nothing approach for one or two healthy switch-ups in your daily routine. "Doing this can lead to more weight loss than you ever imagined," says Marissa Lippert, RD, author of The Cheater's Diet.
In fact, we talked to readers who knocked off 10, 25, even 60 pounds with some easy tweaks. Borrow their slim-down secrets to transform your body the real-world way.
Swap your go-to order
2 of 18
"I reached my goal weight after I stopped routinely buying
snacks at the grocery store. If I wanted a bag of chips or a candy bar,
I had to walk to the store to get it. That inconvenience usually made
me ignore my cravings." —Heather Del Baso, Worcester, MA
"I used to skip breakfast, but now I never go without. I
always eat about 300 calories of a healthy mix of protein and whole
grains. My go-to meal: a sandwich with natural peanut butter and apple
butter. It keeps my hunger down so I snack less throughout the day. In a little over a year, I've shed 65 pounds." —Bo Hale, Tulsa, OK
"I try to fit in small bouts of exercise whenever
possible, like doing jumping jacks or crunches during television
commercials or dancing while washing dishes. This burns extra calories
and keeps me from mindlessly munching in front of the TV. Now my clothes
fit way better, and I’m more toned than ever." —Megan Tiscareno, Hammond, IN
"I quit smoking, and right away joined a gym and started
working out with a personal trainer. There was no way I could exercise
and feel healthy if I kept lighting up. I've already dropped 37 pounds
in three months!" —Leila Fathi, Memphis, TN
"I totally cleaned out my pantry. Once I replaced the
foods I used to overindulge in, like ice cream, with lower-cal snacks,
such as roasted sunflower seeds or Special K Chocolatey Delight cereal, I
began making better choices automatically. Now, I'm slimmer than I was
before I had my two kids!" —Lori Feldman, Coconut Creek, FL
\
"After work, my colleagues and I always grabbed dinner—and
it was usually deep-fried. Then we changed things up. Instead of nights
out, we started walking and running around a local track. A year later,
I’m down 40 pounds." —Ellen Setzer, Cleveland, OH
"I loaded my iPod with jams that make me look forward to
going to the gym. They energize me, allowing me to pick up speed on the
elliptical—and because I want to hear my entire playlist, my workouts
are longer now. Two months later, I'm down 13 pounds and have killer
legs." —Kara Marshall, York, ME
"By adding vegetables to the foods I love—like eating pizza
topped with arugula and green peppers instead of pepperoni—I became so
full so quickly that I no longer had room to eat things like chips or
super-rich desserts. I said good-bye to four dress sizes!" —Janessa Mondestin, New York City, NY
Skip the salty aisle
"I reached my goal weight after I stopped routinely buying
snacks at the grocery store. If I wanted a bag of chips or a candy bar,
I had to walk to the store to get it. That inconvenience usually made
me ignore my cravings." —Heather Del Baso, Worcester, MAHave a 300-calorie breakfast
"I used to skip breakfast, but now I never go without. I
always eat about 300 calories of a healthy mix of protein and whole
grains. My go-to meal: a sandwich with natural peanut butter and apple
butter. It keeps my hunger down so I snack less throughout the day. In a little over a year, I've shed 65 pounds." —Bo Hale, Tulsa, OKGet fit in five
"I try to fit in small bouts of exercise whenever
possible, like doing jumping jacks or crunches during television
commercials or dancing while washing dishes. This burns extra calories
and keeps me from mindlessly munching in front of the TV. Now my clothes
fit way better, and I’m more toned than ever." —Megan Tiscareno, Hammond, INKick the habit
"I quit smoking, and right away joined a gym and started
working out with a personal trainer. There was no way I could exercise
and feel healthy if I kept lighting up. I've already dropped 37 pounds
in three months!" —Leila Fathi, Memphis, TNDo a purge
"I totally cleaned out my pantry. Once I replaced the
foods I used to overindulge in, like ice cream, with lower-cal snacks,
such as roasted sunflower seeds or Special K Chocolatey Delight cereal, I
began making better choices automatically. Now, I'm slimmer than I was
before I had my two kids!" —Lori Feldman, Coconut Creek, FL\
Healthy up your happy hour
"After work, my colleagues and I always grabbed dinner—and
it was usually deep-fried. Then we changed things up. Instead of nights
out, we started walking and running around a local track. A year later,
I’m down 40 pounds." —Ellen Setzer, Cleveland, OHGet fired up
"I loaded my iPod with jams that make me look forward to
going to the gym. They energize me, allowing me to pick up speed on the
elliptical—and because I want to hear my entire playlist, my workouts
are longer now. Two months later, I'm down 13 pounds and have killer
legs." —Kara Marshall, York, MEPile on the veggies
"By adding vegetables to the foods I love—like eating pizza
topped with arugula and green peppers instead of pepperoni—I became so
full so quickly that I no longer had room to eat things like chips or
super-rich desserts. I said good-bye to four dress sizes!" —Janessa Mondestin, New York City, NY
