Two daily habits to help shed weight without a diet

If diets aren't your thing, but you want to shed some extra weight before those warm, summery months arrive, start by following these two daily habits.

Time your meals

When you eat slowly, your body triggers a release of hormones that tell your brain that you're full. Setting a timer when you eat big meals, like supper for example, is a great way to help prevent overeating. Stretch your meals out to around 20–30 minutes; this way you'll also learn to savour and enjoy the taste of food.

Tip: Get into the habit of eating meals at the table. When you eat in front of the TV, you're much more likely to overeat.

Hit dreamland early

Getting too little sleep at night can have a huge impact on your weight. One study showed that by adding just one extra hour of sleep a night could result in a six kilogram weight loss over a period of a year in someone who eats 2 500 calories a day. Other studies have shown that sacrificing sleep can increase your appetite and make you more likely to overeat.

Tip: An hour before you plan to go to sleep, get into sleep mode: turn down the lights, take a relaxing bath, do some yoga or gentle stretching, or read a book.

Recommended reading: How to lose weight when you don't have time

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