5 Everyday Health Tips

1. Have a carb curfew

Don’t consume carbs after dark! Starchy and sugary carbs—like quinoa, potatoes and fruit— shouldn’t be completely off limit, avoid having them at night. Instead opt for a high-protein, high-fat meal with plenty of fibrous vegetables.

2. Try some Pu-erh Tea

The fermented Chinese tea can actually shrink the size of your fat cells. Chinese researchers divided rats into five groups and fed them varying diets over a two month period. In addition to a control group, there was a group given a high-fat diet with no tea supplementation and three additional groups that were fed a high-fat diet with varying doses of pu-erh tea extract. The researchers found that the tea significantly lowered triglyceride concentrations (potentially dangerous fat found in the blood) and belly fat in the high-fat diet groups.

3. It’s okay to have cheat days

Julie Odato, a certified personal trainer and Program Director at Jump Start Retreats in the Catskills says: “Alternate days of your new diet plan with your normal eating habits,” she advises. “For example, do the new plan Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday, and observe your regular habits Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday.”

4. If you’re eating out a lot, don't feel embarrassed to make special requests

A lot of people find it tricky to maintain a diet when they’re eating out at restaurants with friends all the time. One way to avoid this problem is to drink big glass of water before the meal starts. This tames hunger, making it easier to order a smart entree. You can also order a to-go box right at the start of meal and cut your food in half for later. Out of sight, out of mind.

5. A varied diet is a healthy diet – this goes for greens as well