Tips to help you lose weight

How awesome would it be to swear off dieting forever? That's the surprising suggestion from New York Times bestselling author Deepak Chopra, M.D., in his latest book, What Are You Hungry For? The Chopra Solution to Permanent Weight Loss, Well-Being, and Lightness of Soul (Harmony Books). The book focuses on clean and mindful eating to keep the weight off for good—rather than constantly trying new cleanses and crash diets.  

Sounds pretty amazing, right? While his plan may not be for everyone (Chopra himself swore off processed foods, alcohol, fermented foods like cheese, refined white sugar, and red meat), he gives some great ways anyone can use mindfulness to shed pounds for good. 

Here, four slimming tricks from his new book: 

Ask Yourself Why You're Hungry 
It might sound crazy, but Chopra says you should always ask yourself why you're reaching for a snack before you chow down. Are you really hungry, or are you bored/anxious/sad/around friends who are eating? If it's any of the latter, you probably don't need to dive into that bag of chips.  

Distract Yourself 
You ate breakfast an hour ago, and you're already hungry for lunch. What should you do? Chopra lists a few ways to distract your hunger—like drinking a full glass of water, eating a 100- to 200-calorie snack (like 10 almonds, five crackers, or a slice of whole-wheat bread), or reading a book for 10 minutes. 
  
Start Small 
When you're serving yourself, start taking half of what you would normally put on your plate, suggests Chopra. When you're finished, give yourself a minute to sit, digest, and sip some water. Then see if you're still hungry for that other half. 

Outsmart Sugar Cravings 
When your body wants something sweet, it's fine to give in—just don't give it a candy bar. Chopra suggests fruit with a teaspoon of sugar or honey on top. "You will get an intense sugary taste, but the actual amount of sugar ingested will be minimal, and the fruit will help buffer it," says Chopra in his book. And skip the artificial sweeteners—they'll still alter your blood sugar levels and will ultimately make you crave even more of the sweet stuff. 

 

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