Top 3 Tips to Eating Less and Finding Your Perfect Weight

“Nothing would be more tiresome than eating and drinking if God had not made them a pleasure as well as a necessity.” ~ Voltaire

Edouard Manet’s Déjeuner sur l’herbe

Disclaimer: I am not a doctor, have no training in medicine, and have to admit to having the genetic code that makes it easy for me to be thin. But I have watched many family and friends suffer, trying to lose and keep weight off. So here my top ten tips to cut the amount of food you eat. Getting close to your perfect weight doesn’t have to be an exercise in pain.

1. Eat nude. No, seriously. Fortunately for me, I’m not the only one suggesting this. Glamour’s Health & Life, amoung others, have written on this. My simple assertion is that when you eat in the nude there are a couple of things going on. It can be hard to concentrate on eating. It’s more than just the visual aspect, there is also the heightened awareness, hyper-critical nature of most people, and the desire to be thin like the media world would recommend… repeatedly.

With the right person, the experience is wonderful. Before you poo-poo this idea, think about it. Gourmet says this about the experience of eating while nude,

“But say, for the sake of argument, that you actually are going to eat in the nude: Chinese food isn’t the worst choice. Probably it’s best to stay away from sizzling shrimp and hot and sour soup, but if you happen to drop the occasional noodle or morsel of fried rice on yourself or your partner, well, no great harm done. It’s certainly a whole lot better than dropping a plate of chicken vindaloo in your lap, or a steaming hot artichoke, or (to think again of Scottish cuisine) a deep-fried Mars bar.”

2. Snack healthy. If you feel very hungry and it isn’t a meal time, consider options that are super healthy. Crisp baby carrots, nuts, or just a glass of water with ice can be very satisfying. There is this notion of eating many small meals rather that three big meals. Just think of it snacks spread throughout the day.

Find foods you like that are healthy. Maybe it’s a bowl of puffed rice in skim milk. Or it could be a piece of toast lightly buttered. Fry up an egg and consider that a snack. The world is your oyster.

3. Exercise Daily. I can not emphasize this enough. Build exercise into your day. If you work at a job where you sit for long periods of time, here are some times. Eschew the use of the elevator. Try to get 10+ up flights of stairs into every day. Stretch when you get up in the morning, every morning. Walk after the big meals to keep your metabolism going longer than if you just sat.

Hey, I’m not saying you buy into a gym membership, although that does have a lot of benefits for those really active folks and voyeurs. But planning exercise into everyday will benefit you in more ways than just weight control.

If you really want to lose weight, you might need the assistance of a doctor or dietician. Or you can research the subject and find your custom solution. Whatever you decide to do, consider running it by your doctor. And remember, a solution that works when you are 30 might need to be adjusted when you are 50.