5 Weight-Loss Tips You've Never Heard Before

May 08, 2009

I can't resist ordering pad Thai on Friday nights when I'm not going out and too lazy to cook. It doesn't do wonders for my diet. But I discovered a genius new trick to avoid pigging out: Divvy up the takeout in half and shove the rest in the freezer, right away, to avoid temptation. Allure's Cheater's Diet, online here and in our May issue, has other great tips—these are the ones I'm swearing by.

* Avoid snacking when you get home from work by distracting yourself for at least 15 minutes. As if you needed an excuse to hop on Facebook.

* Instead of guzzling several high-cal drinks when you're out for a cocktail, order one strong drink with hardly any mixer that you'll nurse all night long. (Like a tequila with a splash of orange juice. That has about 100 calories, versus a few frozen margs at about 250 calories a pop).

* Eat before you overeat. If you've been banking calories all day long, saving up for dinner out, you could go gangbusters. Have a snack (try to keep it under 200 calories) like string cheese, a non-fat yogurt, or a soup, and you'll eat less at dinner.

* Sleep enough. Getting fewer than seven hours of sleep over several nights causes your cortisol, a stress and appetite-inducing hormone, to jump. Cut caffeine after 2:30, and avoid booze within three hours of bedtime.

PHOTO: NICOLAS MOORE