WEIGHT LOSS - 10 Fast Weight Loss Tips (We Tried Them!)

How can I lose weight? Here's expert advice for losing weight and burning fat fast!

Tried-and-true tips

by Melissa Daly

From Health magazine

Sick of chasing fad diets? Time to hop off the bandwagon and get some down-to-earth advice from people who have been there, done that.

Sure, we spend our days sifting through the latest research and asking super-toned celebrities about their workout secrets. At the end of the day, though, peeling off the pounds is just as challenging for us as it is for anyone else.

These 10 diet tricks aren't always easy to stick to, but they've worked for us.

Put away the (food) scale

"Portion control isn't about measuring; it's about ordering two appetizers instead of an entrée and cutting back on bread if you have pasta." —Bethenny Frankel, author ofNaturally Thin.

Stash fruit

"Keep fruit at work. It helps during the I-need-chocolate part of the afternoon." —Diana Cerqueira, Health beauty assistant.

Shake chocolate

"When I'm trying to drop a few pounds, I carry around a shaker cup of chocolate protein powder. If I'm ravenous, I add the water, and it fills me up so I don't eat something high-calorie instead." —Bobbi Brown, founder of Bobbi Brown Cosmetics.

Set limits, then go nuts!

"In the cafeteria I use a 4-by-4-inch Styrofoam box, and I put whatever I want in there. It's almost impossible to overeat." —Ellen Kunes, Health editor-in-chief.

Floss for dessert

"Brushing my teeth after dinner makes me less likely to eat again before I go to bed." —Jo Miller, Health photo director.

Take a 'before' photo

"Before I got in shape, a friend convinced me to take photos of myself wearing nothing but a sports bra and underwear. Anytime I fall off the wagon I look at those pics—that's all the motivation I need!"
—Rozalynn S. Frazier, Health assistant fitness editor.

Avoid liquid calories

"Cut out drinks with calories—juice, lemonade, and, hardest of all, after-work wine." —Lisa Lombardi, Health executive editor.

Break out the skinny jeans

"Wear something tight! It provides the extra bit of motivation to lay off the fries." —Ilana Blitzer, Healthbeauty/fashion editor.

Pitcher this

"Fill a pitcher with water and cucumbers. It's pretty—and it feels like a treat." —Olivia Rassow, Health food editorial assistant.

Set aside leftovers

"Serve yourself, then immediately pack the leftovers in a Tupperware container and store in the fridge." 
—Maria Ricapito, Health contributing beauty editor.