Tricks to Slim Down

Whether you're trying to fit into a bathing suit or simply trying to get healthier, losing weight can prove to be a challenge. Daily stresses, hectic schedules and poor eating habits can make the road to slimming down at times feel overwhelming, but with a little determination and a few tricks, you can achieve your weight-loss goals.

Calories

• As tedious as it can be, counting calories does have benefits. Working out won't get you the results you're expecting unless at the end of the day, you're burning more calories than you're expending. Typically, 3500 calories equals a pound of body weight, so if you cut 500 calories per day, you would lose about a pound a week, as long as you are eating an otherwise balanced diet. Also consider breaking up your meals into four to six smaller portions throughout the day, because skipping meals can lead to your metabolism slowing down. The body can go into starvation mode and begin storing more calories. If you eat more consistently, your body won't believe its being starved. Another important thing to remember is to continue to watch calories after you exercised. You can undo the calories you've just burned by eating a fattening dessert or extra helping of pasta. You can also help each meal seem larger by using a smaller plate, keeping you from adding more food to fill up the empty space.

Not Too Restrictive

• Most diets fail, according to Dr. Mehmet Oz, because they are too restrictive. Cutting out all carbohydrates does promote rapid weight loss, but its also very restrictive and hard to maintain. Depriving your body completely of something makes it more likely that you will really break your diet by overeating when you do break. It's important to try to find a balance in your diet. It will take longer to shed the pounds, but you will increase the odds of the pounds staying off in the long term. Quick fixes aren't sustainable and usually lead to actually gaining more weight in the long run.

Remove Temptation

• If you have a favorite unhealthy snack, remove it from your cupboards and take it out of the house. During times of stress, its much easier to eat mindlessly, which can get you into trouble. A particular unhealthy snack might be your go-to when feeling stressed, and while you can't completely remove the risk of getting stressed out, you can remove the temptation. Replace the temptation with a healthy alternative. An apple or peach contains about 60 calories and 1/2 cup of raw veggies, like broccoli, contains about 25 calories.

Water

• You can burn 25 calories just by drinking two cups of cold water that is less than 72 degrees F. This means that drinking a liter of cold water a day would lead to taking off 5 lbs. a year, if you didn't add any more calories to your diet. You can also dilute juices with water in order to reduce calories per glass. Drinking water fills your stomach, which can make you feel fuller, reducing the amount of food you eat and sugary beverages you imbibe. Sometimes when you're dehydrated, you can feel hungry. Drinking water can reduce the feelings of hunger.

Interval Training

• According to the National Academy of Sports Medicine, interval training not only burns calories while you're working out, but also after the exercise session. Introducing high-intensity bursts of activity, along with a short period of time at a lower intensity, promotes weight loss. Repeat the cycle between high and low-intensity throughout the cardio activity. This means to start with five minutes at 65 percent of your estimated heart rate, then progressing to 80 percent for two minutes, then back down to 65 percent.