21 Weight-Loss Tricks in One Minute

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12. Log Your Food

Writing down what you eat can help you cut calories and stay in control because you're more accountable. No need to record it perfectly or review what you wrote: The benefit is in the writing itself.

13. Buy Small

The bigger the package, the more you're likely to eat—up to 44 percent more, according to one study.

14. Break Into a Jog

If you already jog, speed up to a sprint. These brief intervals allow you to cover more distance, burn fat and calories—without lengthening your workout. The increased impact will also help make your bones stronger.

15. Drop and Do 10

Before you pry open that tub of ice cream, do 10 situps or push-ups. Doing something physical can put you back in touch with your body—and your goals.

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16. Slurp Chunky Soup

People who ate soup containing large vegetable pieces reported feeling fuller and ate 20 percent less during lunch than those who had a pureed soup made of the same ingredients.

17. Blot the fat

You can dab off about a teaspoon of oil—or 40 calories and 4.5 grams of fat—from two slices of pizza.

18. Skip "Light" Foods

The weight of food—not just the fat and calories—is what fills you up. Eat less and still feel satisfied with low-calorie heavyweights such as oranges, strawberries, grapefruit, cantaloupe, cooked spinach, collard greens and broccoli.

PLUS: While dieting can definitely help you reach your ideal body weight, make sure not to ditch these 7 supposedly "forbidden" foods that actually help you lose weight.

19. Order Fish

Varieties rich in omega-3 fatty acids—tuna, mackerel, cod, and salmon—may help you drop pounds by improving fat metabolism. Overweight people who ate a reduced-calorie diet that included fish every day lost about 20 percent more weight than those on a fish-free diet.

More5 Tasty Seafood Recipes for Busy Runners

Beware: Not all fish are healthy. Here are 12 Fish You Should Never, Ever Eat.

20. Trick Your Taste Buds

Sucking on a menthol/eucalyptus cough drop or hard mint can stop cravings instantly.

21. Post Inspiration

To keep yourself on track, place quotes in strategic spots where you might need some motivation: on the fridge, TV, dashboard or computer. Some suggestions: "I'll take this one day at a time."

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