Flab fighters
By Julia SavacoolFrom Health magazine
You may have tried a diet or two in hopes of dropping pounds. But a new Harvard study has uncovered a no-diet way to shed: Adding certain foods to your day while nixing others can slim you.
Researchers analyzed eating habits and gains and losses over several years. Based on their findings, we mapped out a sample day that'll lead to weight loss.
Keep up this eating style, and you'll ditch up to 5 pounds in a year.
7:00 a.m.
Skip itRise 'n' shine. Forgo your usual O.J. and scone.
You'll lose: .28 pounds a year. The combo of juice and a giant scone each day would pack it on.
7:05 a.m.
Eat itAt the cafe bag up a yogurt parfait for breakfast.
You'll lose: .41 pounds a year. Every additional daily serving of whole grains can peel off .09 pounds over a year. A serving of fruit helps you shed another .12 pounds; a daily dose of yogurt leads to a .2-pound loss.
Credit: Colin Cooke/agefotostock.com
10:30 a.m.
Eat itHungry again? Nibble on a bowl of blueberries.
You'll lose: .24 pounds a year. Two extra servings of fruit daily means another .24 pounds lost this year.
Credit: istockphoto.com
11:00 a.m.
Skip itStep away from the supersize soda. Swap for a diet one.
You'll lose: : 1 pound a year. For every regular serving of sugary drink you down daily, you could gain .25 pounds.
1:00 p.m.
Skip itDeli dilemma: Ham or pastrami? Neither. Skip cold cuts on white bread. Pass up the cheese, too.
You'll lose: : .44 pounds a year. A daily serving of cold cuts adds on .23 pounds a year. Cheese and white bread also set you back. If you crave a sammy, have one with turkey breast and veggies instead.
1:05 p.m.
Skip itHold the potato chips!
You'll lose: : .42 pounds a year. In the study, potato chips were one of the biggest offenders, causing .42 pounds of weight gain per year if eaten every day.
1:15 p.m.
Eat itPick up a vegetable stir-fry from your favorite takeout restaurant.
You'll lose: : .18 pounds a year. A daily serving of veggies leads to .06 pounds lost in a year; so any meals, like stir-fry, that offer three or more servings are golden
3:00 p.m.
Eat itDodge the vending-machine munchies and grab a banana.
You'll lose: : .12 pounds a year
6:00 p.m.
Drink itQuench commute thirst with water, not a sugary sports drink.
7:30 p.m.
Skip itSteak? Go easy on it, research says.
You'll lose: : .72 pounds a year. A daily serving of red meat can pack on .24 pounds in a year; many steak entrees are three or more servings.
7:35 p.m.
Eat itOn tonight's menu: Brown-rice veggie sushi. So good!
8:10 p.m.
Drink itToast your success with a glass of wine. Of all the indulgences studied, alcohol had one of the smallest associated gains.
