13 Fast Weight Loss Tips (We Tried Them!)

By Melissa Daly
June 04, 2015
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How can I lose weight? Here's expert advice for losing weight and burning fat fast!
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Tried-and-true tips

If your mom, aunt, and best friend all had success with one particular weight-loss method, would you try it? So would we. But the truth is, most popular weight-loss tricks encourage unhealthy behaviors that could backfire. Watch the video to see which trends you should avoid.

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Put away the (food) scale

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"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 of Naturally Thin

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Stash fruit

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"Keep fruit at work. It helps during the I-need-chocolate part of the afternoon."

—Diana Cerqueira, Health beauty assistant

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Shake chocolate

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"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

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Set limits, then go nuts!

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"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

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Floss for dessert

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"Brushing my teeth after dinner makes me less likely to eat again before I go to bed."

—Jo Miller, Health photo director

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Take a 'before' photo

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"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

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Avoid liquid calories

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"Cut out drinks with calories—juice, lemonade, and, hardest of all, after-work wine."

—Lisa Lombardi, Health executive editor

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Break out the skinny jeans

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"Wear something tight! It provides the extra bit of motivation to lay off the fries."

—Ilana Blitzer, Health beauty/fashion editor

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Pitcher this

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"Fill a pitcher with water and cucumbers. It's pretty—and it feels like a treat."

—Olivia Rassow, Health food editorial assistant

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Set aside leftovers

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"Serve yourself, then immediately pack the leftovers in a Tupperware container and store in the fridge."

—Maria Ricapito, Health contributing beauty editor

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Get enough sleep

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"Sleep is a cornerstone of weight management because of the impact it has on your hormones that control how you burn fat, how you store fat, and how you're maintaining muscle. The better your hormone balance, the better your weight management.

—Jillian Michaels, The Biggest Loser Trainer

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Balance your diet

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“Pair your treat with something that's good for you. Want chips? Have a handful with veggies and guacamole, which is packed with good fats. In the mood for chocolate? Partner it with yogurt. That way, you'll fill up on good stuff so you won't devour tons of the less-healthy food.”

—Marissa Lippert, RD, Owner & CEO of Nourish Kitchen + Table

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Honor your body

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"Your specific [weight loss] program may differ from someone else’s based on climate, geography, heredity, the quality of the food you’re buying, the volume in which you’re eating that food, and so much more. A lot people take advice that doesn’t honor themselves. What works for me is not going to work for you. It’s just not. So really, it’s [about] having an honest look at who you are, what your tendencies and triggers are, and how you can build a program that revolves around that.”

—Jennifer Widerstrom, The Biggest Loser Trainer

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