Lesser-Known Diet Tips

When it comes to dieting and weight loss, there are certain tactics that are widely accepted.  Everyone knows that consuming less calories than you expend is the key to losing weight, and we are all well aware that substituting lower calorie versions of the foods you enjoy is a great way to keep you sane and happy.  But recently, I got to thinking about some of the lesser-known (and perhaps a tad controversial) diet tips that have worked for me over four years of "keeping it off" and I thought I'd share some of those today:

Don't let the workout you were supposed to do prevent you from the workout you CAN do.  We've all had days where the crazyness of the office prevents us from making it to our workout class on time.  Furthermore, there's those days when you just aren't feelin' it.  Just because you aren't going to make it to that Zumba class or you aren't going to get that 7-mile run in doesn't mean you shouldn't do anything.  On stressful days, even if I am under the weather or waaaay too tired for a "proper" workout, I still try to go out for an easy 30-45 minute walk. It's not going to burn a ton of calories, but something is better than nothing. And all those little somethings over time really do add up.

Eat Before Bed.  While everyone knows you shouldn't eat a big meal right before you hit the sack, you should have something so that your stomach isn't growling all night (especially if you ate an early dinner).  Getting a good night's sleep is uber-important for successful weight loss, and a small snack before bedtime can help you fall asleep easier as well as keep you from waking up ravenous in the middle of the night.  I usually reach for something sweet and light at about 10 p.m., such as a 60-calorie Jello-O pudding.

Invest in a DVR.  Huh? What does my TV have to do with losing weight?!  Well, more than you may realize.  If you watch TV (especially during prime time) every other commercial is pretty much food porn.  Advertisers know what they are doing when they show you that cheesy gooeyness of a piping hot pizza just out of the oven. While you may have the willpower to resist the temptation right then and there to pick up the phone and call for a pizza, your subconscious may not be as cooperative. You may end up snacking to curb the urge to dial or end up binging on half a pepporoni pie later since it was all you could think about.  So, my advice is to spend the $8/month for DVR so that you can fast forward through the food porn.  For me, even if I am home to watch a show or sporting event at a particular time, I still record it and wait until 20 minutes in so that I can avoid the salacious commercials.

Okay, those are a few of mine...now it's your turn.  What are your favorite lesser-known tips for managing your weight?