Health

Ten unlikely but proven diet tips

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Struggling to shed those few extra kilograms? Leading UK health and fitness magazine, Men’s Health, has compiled a list of 100 weight-loss tips proven to get results. Here are our favourite diet tricks from the lengthy list that will help you shrink your waistline and reach your weight goals.

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Did you know training with a friend can help you get better weight-loss results? Hit the gym with a friend or train in a group and you’ll see fat fall from your waistline faster.

It can be difficult to stay motivated when exercising alone, but when you have a buddy pushing you to get fit it’s easier to stay on track and vice versa for your training partner.

People who train with friends lose a third more weight than if you go on your own, Men’s Health reported.

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Not willing to forgo alcohol on your diet? A daily glass of red wine can stop you putting on fat, especially around your belly. Resveratrol from the grapes inhibits the development of fat cells around your waist.

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Sex burns 630 kilojoules every 20 minutes and releases a hormone that increases your metabolism. So it’s time to undress and ruffle the sheets.

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No matter how stressful your day is or how booked up your diary may be, you need to take your lunch break away from your desk. You’ll consume 1050 fewer kilojoules in a day than those who eat as they work. Plus, it’s good practice to also go for a short walk during your lunch break. Not only will it help you reach your weight goals, it will also help you stay focused and see better more productive results in the afternoon at work.

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Soy proteins interact with receptors in our brains that tell us we’re full. Just don’t drizzle too much as soy sauce is high in salt. And if you’re wheat intolerant it’s a good idea to avoid as most contain wheat.

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They also suggest taking a calcium supplement. You’ll lose 2.6 percent more fat than those who don’t.

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Eating chillies is great way to fast-track your weight-loss goal. They assist in speeding up your metabolism to help you lose weight. They’re also high in vitamin C, potassium, magnesium and iron.

Men’s Health said the reason the magazine listed con carne in their top 100 is because an enzyme in kidney beans tells the body to break down stored fat instead of carbs for energy, while mince boosts your metabolism.

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Dust off the dinner table, people, and stop eating meals on the couch in front of the TV. The distraction of what’s on the box postpones the point at which you stop eating. Eating at the dinner table can cut 3.5kg of weight gain each year.

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Aside from making your sandwiches a little soggy, tomatoes have been found to make you feel fuller for longer and also keep hunger pains a bay. The fruit suppresses the hormone ghrelin, which is responsible for hunger pangs.

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Cinnamon spice is a powerful metabolism-raiser. Half a teaspoon a day is enough to burn an extra kilo a month.

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A good strong laugh for 10 to 15 minutes a day increases weekly energy consumption by up to 1200 kilojoules. Got any jokes anyone? For more tips and tricks, visit the UK’s Men’s Health website.

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