How to Lose Weight Before Dinner
What you eat for dinner obviously plays a big part in determining whether you will lose (or gain) weight, but there are also things you can do before the final meal of the day that have been scientifically proven to shrink your waistline. And while it's important to remember that optimal weight loss occurs on account of dietary changes and exercise, you'd be silly not to give these four simple habits a shot.
Go ahead and scroll down to see how you could easily help yourself lose weight before dinner, and while you're on a weight loss kick, check out this list of 14 Ways To Lose Your Belly In 14 Days!
Snack on a Salad
Starting with a salad can help you lose weight in a myriad of ways. According to researchers at Cornell University, snacking on a salad first helps your body keep its blood glucose levels stable, meaning you'll stay fuller, longer, and because leafy greens are high in water and low in calories, they work at keeping your appetite at bay. To make the most of this greens first habit make your salad using arugula and kale, as both lettuces contain compounds that turn off your fat-storage genes. Then, be sure to load up your salad with fiber-packed veggies such as lentils and artichokes, which will also keep you especially satiated.
Fill Up On Fiber
Speaking of fiber, there's no reason your intake of the diet-friendly nutrient needs to stop with a salad. If you're going out to dinner and worried you'll be no match for that tempting bread basket, nibble on a high-fiber snack before you leave such as carrots and hummus or a handful of unsalted almonds. Stocking up on the satiating nutrient will keep you full, meaning you'll eat less throughout the meal. For some added inspiration, check out this list of The 43 Best Foods for Fiber!
Drink Two Glasses Of Water
If you're looking to shed some pounds by changing up your dinner habits, drinking prior to the meal is nearly as important as what you put on your plate. In a 2015 study, British researchers recruited 84 adults looking to lose weight. They broke the participants into two groups and instructed one faction to drink 16 ounces of water 30 minutes before eating, while the second group was told to simply imagine their stomachs feeling very full before a meal. After 12 weeks, the scientists weighed all of the participants and discovered the water-guzzling group dropped almost three more pounds than their imaginative counterparts. Scientists speculate the water drinkers faired better because drinking H2O helps people feel more full, naturally curbing their appetite and causing them to eat less.
Exercise Before You Eat
While there's no need to hit a high-intensity spin class before you sit down to dinner, scientists in New Zealand found that men and women who engaged in three 6-minute "exercise snacks" before each meal saw lowered blood glucose levels—a fat-busting benefit these folks displayed all day long! If that task sounds too daunting, consider taking a brisk walk around the block before dinner in order to get your heart rate up. Speaking of your heart, check out these tips for how to drink without harming your ticker or getting fat!
