What are your top diet tips?

[Flissity83]

I have been classed as obese for the last 10 years. I've tried every diet going and had a bit of success with some but mainly just failed.

Until this time. Two months ago I just made a few changes to my eating habits and so far I have lost a stone.

So my tips are:

1. If you have sugar in your tea/coffee change to sweetner (or learn to drink without). Also start using skimmed milk.
   
2. I found once I stopped eating obvious carbs after lunch (rice, pasta, potato, grains) it made me less hungry the next day so less likely to binge. It also meant that by replacing these items with more salad or veg I was consuming less calories.
   
3. My biggest weakness is chocolate, but Curly Wurlys are only 118 calories per bar, and because they're toffee they take a little while to eat. A standard chocolate bar (kit kat etc) is roughly 220 calories, so if you're feeling particularly needful for chocolate you could have two curly wurlys and not over consume.
   

Do you have any other tips you could pass on that might help a fellow dieter?

[MissBattleaxe]

thin soup is very filling and low calorie and makes me not want to eat very much afterwards.

[TheWomanTheyCallJayne]

If you think you're hungry, have a drink of water first. Chances are you're thirsty not hungry.

[popcornpaws]

Plan everything you eat and don't make excuses!
Dont obsess about what the scales say, if you stick to your plan you will lose weight.
Never look at food as a treat.

[ItMustBeBedtimeSurely]

Dh and I eat after the kids are in bed because he gets home too late for us to all eat together. I really struggled with picking at food while making the kid's dinner, and I really struggled to lose weight because of it. The solution I've found is to have a decent snack at about four (oatcake and cheese or some nuts are good) and then stick some chewing gum in my mouth while feeding the children. Simple but very effective if like me you can't stop picking! I do the same if I'm cooking a big dinner - I'm dreadful for coming the table already full because I've been tasting everything multiple times.

[bec3105]

Love the chewing gum tip definitely going to try that as I always have the children's leftovers (have even been know to accidentally cook them too much so there will be leftovers)

[Milllii]

Only eat when truly hungry and stop when satisfied, not full. Eating for reasons other than hunger will cause weight gain. Don't eat processed/artificial food. Eat natural foods and you will be helping your body to optimal health for life.

[TalkinPeace]

No Snacking.
Ever.
Close the kitchen between meals.

Drink a large glass of water before every meal.

Eat meals at the table and once down from the table, not a morsel till the next meal time.

If needs be brush your teeth after every meal as the taste of mint wrecks all food.

[Lottapianos]

Eat real food as much as possible. Plan your menus for the week and shop ahead of time if you can. Avoid processed food

Sugar - cut it right down. Some people cut it out completely but that's not me! I do no processed sugar in the week and modest amount of cake, chocolate and alcohol at weekends. I lost my gut and my jowls this way

No eating after dinner in the evening

No carb / few carbs at dinner time

Drink plenty of water / herbal tea

Get as much sleep as you can - very tempting to stuff your face if you're exhausted

[DownWithThisTypeOfThing]

The freezer is your friend:

Frozen fruit - ideal for adding to overnight oats or a nice sweet snack to suck on.

Frozen low cal desserts - there if you REALLY want them, but have to wait for them to defrost so I usually leave them alone.

Freezing batches of healthy food so no excuses about time/too busy/ best order a takeaway...

I tend to split my calories between 50% for breakfast & lunch, 50% for the rest of the day which gives a bit of flexibility.

[IvanOsokin]

Eat clean as much as possible. So have fresh food and avoid ready meals, artificial sweeteners, processed carbs (bread, pasta, sugar), fruit juice, 'diet' products etc.

Drink plenty of water.

Eat fats, such as butter, olive oil, coconut oil, avocados etc. They are good for you and fill you up.

Try fasting for one or two days a week (see 5:2 threads on this site) if only to teach yourself that hunger (for people who have access to enough food) is not a frightening thing and you don't need to eat whenever you fancy a snack. This is surprisingly liberating and makes it far easier to sidestep comfort/boredom eating because you know you can have whatever it is you fancy later or tomorrow if you really want.

[FurtherSupport]

Porridge! Gradually reduce the sugar and eventually you'll learn to enjoy it without, or with a little fruit, then in makes a breakfast that keeps you full all morning and is good when you really "need" something in the evening.

[Emz449]

Batch cooking and making sure you weigh everything. Scales don't cost must and I have found them invaluable and the results surprising!