What are your favorite diet hacks?

LAT1963 · December 2020

Most recipes as-published or as-posted contain about 1/2 to 1/3 more sugar than they need. I find I can usually cut the quantity to 2/3 or 1/2 of the recipe specification without impacting the taste.

dailyzey · December 2020

This is not a diet hack more of a mental hack. If I am really craving dessert or chocolate after dinner at night, I tell myself I can have it for breakfast. Then at breakfast, I never want to eat a dessert of course.

kbru19 · December 2020

I do "snack prep" in addition to meal prep. For example, as soon as I get home from the grocery store I take all the grapes off the vine, wash them, and separate them into 1 cup portions and put them in the fridge. Or I cut up bell peppers into slices for a crunchy snack for later. I find it much easier to grab a healthy snack when I'm hungry when the "work" is already done.

Sailor555 · December 2020

OK, this isn't for everyone but it works for me.

When I know I'm dealing with a craving and/or need a little boost, I'll have a single slice of those low-cal, part-skim "processed cheese food" slices. They come in cheddar or Swiss now. It's only 45 calories and gives me a protein boost that usually gets me over the hump, with less fat than real cheese.

If I'm more hungry, I'll have it with black coffee. Usually every afternoon around 4:00 or so, just when I'm vulnerable to late-afternoon cravings. I find this usually gets me through to dinner, where I can have something larger and healthy. It's just a little device for me but it's been helpful.

And of course, mini carrots. Always mini carrots.

springlering62 · December 2020

Sailor555 wrote: »

....with less fat than real cheese.

I don’t know whether to shower you with approval or horror!

Someone here suggested low carb tortillas. They taste just like regular ones and the things are only 45 calories apiece! Opens back up the possibilities of fajitas with (gasp!!!) tortillas, and I’ve also started using them for lunch and breakfast. Great with a little dry-pan fried chopped ham and cheese, or “buttered” with a low cal teriyaki or peanut sauce and rolled with chopped chicken and some veggies.

Healthy Life brand bread and burger buns has also been a game changer. They taste just like regular bread but are basically cut thinner, or slightly smaller buns.

And as I always harp on, flavored balsamics rock my world. I go through a wine bottle size every week or two. Use in lieu of salad dressing, on roasted fruits or vegetables, marinate meats in them, and best of all, on top of cottage cheese with frozen fruit. I’m on a frozen cherry kick right now. (Frozen fruit takes longer to eat so I have to really slow down the process. I’m an inattentive eater, which is how I put on weight.) only problem is, then I get bad chills and have to follow up with a lap robe or hot tea!

missblondi2u · December 2020

My biggest "hack" is just having food ready BEFORE I get hungry. For example, I was getting hungry around 4pm on work days and by the time I got home I'd be looking for something to munch on before dinner. Now I plan for that and make myself a green smoothie around 3:30 so I never get that "must have food now" feeling.

Falconscoach · December 2020

Pita Pizzas! When I feel like I need a treat I make a couple of these. Each one one is only 260 calories and they taste great without the guilt of ordering from one of my many favorite pizza places.

slimgirljo15 · December 2020

This is gunna sound gross but it worked for me. When there were occasions where there was food around like cake etc that I couldn't eat ( yeah, I know its possible to fit it in) but those times where I didn't have enough calories left. I'd look at that delicious cake and imagine it covered in mould and grubs 😬 yep, appetite for delicious cake lost quickly

DeterminedFee201426 · December 2020

I air fry most foods. that i usually would fry. no oil added in the air fryer.

The_Movie_Chair · December 2020

I have never shared that with anybody, but three years ago, when I realized I had to lose over 100 pounds I went online and ordered a box of marbles. 160 marbles in a tin box. I kept the box in my desk drawer and every time I lost a pound I took a marble out and put them in a glass vase on my desk. Two extra big marbles were used for the milestones. When I hit 250 lbs and was allowed to work out and when I lost 100 lbs.

Altogether I collected 156 marbles in my vase and nobody ever asked what the marbles stood for. :-) It helped me to stay focused when my colleagues ordered food, or when donuts and cake were in the kitchen. Also, I found it entertaining to lose all my marbles. :-)

Laney_7 · December 2020

I broke my habit of eating chips in front of the TV by substituting a bowl of spring mix lettuce. It sounds utterly ridiculous but I don't mind plain lettuce and it gave me something to nibble on until I broke the snacking habit.

Sand_TIger · December 2020

The_Movie_Chair wrote: »

I have never shared that with anybody, but three years ago, when I realized I had to lose over 100 pounds I went online and ordered a box of marbles. 160 marbles in a tin box. I kept the box in my desk drawer and every time I lost a pound I took a marble out and put them in a glass vase on my desk. Two extra big marbles were used for the milestones. When I hit 250 lbs and was allowed to work out and when I lost 100 lbs.

Altogether I collected 156 marbles in my vase and nobody ever asked what the marbles stood for. :-) It helped me to stay focused when my colleagues ordered food, or when donuts and cake were in the kitchen. Also, I found it entertaining to lose all my marbles. :-)

I love that trick! I have a poster on the wall that I drew - a big fantasy map with various landmarks and obstacles and such - with star stickers that form a path to the land of health. I love adding a sticker to the wall and seeing my progress, but your marble plan is great.

cosmiqrecovery · December 2020

slimgirljo15 wrote: »

This is gunna sound gross but it worked for me. When there were occasions where there was food around like cake etc that I couldn't eat ( yeah, I know its possible to fit it in) but those times where I didn't have enough calories left. I'd look at that delicious cake and imagine it covered in mould and grubs 😬 yep, appetite for delicious cake lost quickly

ah, the lost boys method. love it

Sailor555 · December 2020

The_Movie_Chair wrote: »

I have never shared that with anybody, but three years ago, when I realized I had to lose over 100 pounds I went online and ordered a box of marbles. 160 marbles in a tin box. I kept the box in my desk drawer and every time I lost a pound I took a marble out and put them in a glass vase on my desk. Two extra big marbles were used for the milestones. When I hit 250 lbs and was allowed to work out and when I lost 100 lbs.

-- I absolutely love this and am going to totally copy you and do it too. What a simple, charming way to remind and reward yourself for your progress. Genius!

nexangelus · December 2020

Volume eating (vegetables, salad) and taking a diet break and refeeds....that is about it...helped me with adherence...oh and no restrictions, as in no food is out of bounds....if it fits macro and calorie goals, eat what you want...

goal06082021 · December 2020

Meal prepping has honestly been the biggest game changer for me, I think. I prep breakfast for myself and my husband and lunch for myself on the weekends, so I can pre-log breakfast and lunch for the whole workweek on Sunday evening. That leaves me with a clearer picture of what I have left for dinner and snacks, which informs what I want to cook for dinner and what I want to buy at the grocery. I'm starting to dabble in meal-prepping dinner for two days at a time, so I only have to cook 2-3 nights a week. I'm a person that loves to plan ahead, so on days when I can prefill my entire diary, I feel good. Today, for instance - I pre-logged my breakfast and lunch days ago, but tonight's dinner is leftovers from Tuesday, so I've also already logged that along with an ~adult beverage~ and I know I still have at least a 99-cal buffer (plus a few more from exercise). I love not having to think about it, and also knowing that if I hit that wall 2 hours before quitting time, I have room for a little somethin' if I need it.

deadenddiva · December 2020

Frozen Grapes! They seem to taste sweeter when they are frozen, take longer to eat, and are their consistency is so sorbet-like. When my sweet tooth speaks up I get @ 4 ounces of them, and snack away, without the guilt of too many calories. Wash, take grapes off the stem, make sure they are dried well, put in a container with a lid, or in a zip-lock bag, pop in the freezer. If grapes are wet they will stick together.

LunaTheFatCat · December 2020

I really adore this thread. It's so positive and I'm definitely picking up some great ideas

Jacq_qui · December 2020

missblondi2u wrote: »

My biggest "hack" is just having food ready BEFORE I get hungry. For example, I was getting hungry around 4pm on work days and by the time I got home I'd be looking for something to munch on before dinner. Now I plan for that and make myself a green smoothie around 3:30 so I never get that "must have food now" feeling.

Agree with this - If I let myself get too hungry I will eat anything. Preventing serious hunger helps me make better choices.

ibrake4bunnies · December 2020

I eat so. many. veggies. My current favorite is zucchini just barely sauteed so it's still crunchy.

If I make any kind of baked goods I use unsweetened applesauce instead of oil and eggs and 1/3-1/2 the sugar. I also drink tons of water. If I'm hungry I down 8-12 oz and wait a bit to see if I'm genuinely hungry or just thirsty.

I also always have stuff prepped and ready. My husband eats boiled eggs quite often, I have muesli bread in the freezer, apples sliced up, grapes, carrots, hummus, etc.

What are your favorite diet hacks?

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