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9 Weight Loss Tricks A Dietitian Uses During The Holidays

Stay healthy this holiday season without missing out on the fun.

Evidence-Based

This content references scientific studies and academic research, and is fact-checked to ensure accuracy.

Our team of licensed nutritionists and dietitians strives to be objective, unbiased, and honest.

We are committed to bringing you researched, expert-driven content to help you make more informed decisions around food, health, and wellness. We know how important making choices about your overall health is, and we strive to provide you with the best information possible.

Maria Lucey
Maria Lucey/Instagram
Evidence-Based

This content references scientific studies and academic research, and is fact-checked to ensure accuracy.

Our team of licensed nutritionists and dietitians strives to be objective, unbiased, and honest.

We are committed to bringing you researched, expert-driven content to help you make more informed decisions around food, health, and wellness. We know how important making choices about your overall health is, and we strive to provide you with the best information possible.

The holiday season brings joy, festivities, and, unfortunately, the dreaded weight gain that comes with endless parties and tempting treats. But registered dietitian Maria Lucey has good news: you don't have to choose between enjoying the holidays and maintaining your health goals. With her expert guidance, you can navigate the season's celebrations while keeping your wellness on track. Read on to discover nine proven strategies that will help you enjoy every festive moment while keeping those extra pounds at bay.


1. Keep Your Holiday Season Actually Holiday-Length

"The average person only gains one pound over the festive season," Maria points out in her post, "but this can vary significantly depending on how long you extend your holiday eating." She emphasizes that the key is not letting holiday eating stretch from late November through mid-January. Instead, focus your celebrations on actual holiday celebration days.

2. Practice Mindful Portions

When it comes to those irresistible holiday dishes, Maria suggests a smart approach: "I love to try a little bit of everything, but that's the key here—a little bit of everything." Start with small portions of rich foods and balance your plate with lighter options like salads, roasted vegetables, and lean proteins.

RELATED: The Top 20 Foods For Ultimate Weight Loss

3. Track Those Treats

Calories counting , diet , food control and weight loss concept. Calorie counter application on smartphone screen at dining table with salad, fruit juice, bread and fresh vegetable. healthy eatingShutterstock

While Maria doesn't advocate counting calories during holidays, she recommends maintaining calorie awareness. "One celebration chocolate typically has around 50 calories, a Ferrero Rocher has 70, and a Lindt chocolate has 80," she explains. Keep track of wrappers to avoid mindless eating that can add up to a meal's worth of calories.

4. Bring Your Own Healthy Option

"Offer to bring a dish to gatherings," Maria advises. This thoughtful gesture ensures you'll have at least one healthier option available without drawing attention to your health goals. She shares how her mother would bring both biscuits and a fruit platter to gatherings, providing a balanced choice for everyone.

5. Take Your Time Between Courses

Maria emphasizes the importance of pacing: "It takes about 20 minutes for your brain to register that your stomach is full." She suggests taking breaks between courses, even if it's just standing up or helping to clear plates, to recognize your fullness cues better.

RELATED: The 7 Worst Breakfast Habits For Weight Loss

6. Focus on People, Not Just Food

"The true heart of holidays is spending time with loved ones," Maria reminds us. She encourages shifting focus from the food to creating memories and engaging in meaningful conversations with family and friends.

7. Maintain Simple Routines

During the in-between days, Maria recommends setting small, achievable goals. "Focus on how you want to feel, not just how you want to look," she says. Simple habits like having a balanced breakfast or taking short walks can help maintain momentum without adding holiday stress.

8. Start Light, Stay Satisfied

For big holiday meals, Maria suggests starting with vegetable-based soups or salads. "Studies show people who start with veggie-based options end up eating fewer calories overall," she notes. She also emphasizes maintaining protein portions to promote fullness and trigger appetite-reducing hormones.

9. Be Kind to Yourself

Maria Lucey.8Maria Lucey/YouTube

Most importantly, Maria stresses self-compassion: "You will overindulge at some point, and that's okay. The key is to draw a line, move on, and start fresh at the next meal." She encourages moving away from an all-or-nothing mindset and focusing on consistency rather than perfection.

RELATED: The 8 Foods That Fight Bloating and Help Shrink Your Waist

10. The Science Behind Protein and Satiety

"Protein decreases the hunger hormone ghrelin and increases hormones like peptide YY, GLP-1, and cholecystokinin, which promote feelings of fullness and satisfaction," says Mayo Clinic. This explains why including protein in your holiday meals can help prevent overindulging. The Cleveland Clinic recommends athletes and heavy exercisers consume 1 to 1.5 grams of protein per pound of their goal weight, though needs vary based on activity level and individual factors.

11. Timing Matters: The Rhythm of Eating

According to the National Institutes of Health, "Consistent meal timing aligns with the body's circadian rhythms, potentially reducing the risk of obesity and improving metabolic health." This research supports Maria's advice about maintaining regular eating patterns during the holiday season. The NIH also notes that "eating during inactive periods, such as late at night, can disrupt the body's internal clock, leading to weight gain and metabolic issues," making it especially important to mind your meal timing during holiday celebrations. And if you enjoyed this article, take advantage of these 15 Quick Ways to Lose Body Fat Percentage in a Week.

More For You

Maria Lucey
Maria Lucey/Instagram
Evidence-Based

This content references scientific studies and academic research, and is fact-checked to ensure accuracy.

Our team of licensed nutritionists and dietitians strives to be objective, unbiased, and honest.

We are committed to bringing you researched, expert-driven content to help you make more informed decisions around food, health, and wellness. We know how important making choices about your overall health is, and we strive to provide you with the best information possible.

The holiday season brings joy, festivities, and, unfortunately, the dreaded weight gain that comes with endless parties and tempting treats. But registered dietitian Maria Lucey has good news: you don't have to choose between enjoying the holidays and maintaining your health goals. With her expert guidance, you can navigate the season's celebrations while keeping your wellness on track. Read on to discover nine proven strategies that will help you enjoy every festive moment while keeping those extra pounds at bay.


1. Keep Your Holiday Season Actually Holiday-Length

"The average person only gains one pound over the festive season," Maria points out in her post, "but this can vary significantly depending on how long you extend your holiday eating." She emphasizes that the key is not letting holiday eating stretch from late November through mid-January. Instead, focus your celebrations on actual holiday celebration days.

2. Practice Mindful Portions

When it comes to those irresistible holiday dishes, Maria suggests a smart approach: "I love to try a little bit of everything, but that's the key here—a little bit of everything." Start with small portions of rich foods and balance your plate with lighter options like salads, roasted vegetables, and lean proteins.

RELATED: The Top 20 Foods For Ultimate Weight Loss

3. Track Those Treats

Calories counting , diet , food control and weight loss concept. Calorie counter application on smartphone screen at dining table with salad, fruit juice, bread and fresh vegetable. healthy eatingShutterstock

While Maria doesn't advocate counting calories during holidays, she recommends maintaining calorie awareness. "One celebration chocolate typically has around 50 calories, a Ferrero Rocher has 70, and a Lindt chocolate has 80," she explains. Keep track of wrappers to avoid mindless eating that can add up to a meal's worth of calories.

4. Bring Your Own Healthy Option

"Offer to bring a dish to gatherings," Maria advises. This thoughtful gesture ensures you'll have at least one healthier option available without drawing attention to your health goals. She shares how her mother would bring both biscuits and a fruit platter to gatherings, providing a balanced choice for everyone.

5. Take Your Time Between Courses

Maria emphasizes the importance of pacing: "It takes about 20 minutes for your brain to register that your stomach is full." She suggests taking breaks between courses, even if it's just standing up or helping to clear plates, to recognize your fullness cues better.

RELATED: The 7 Worst Breakfast Habits For Weight Loss

6. Focus on People, Not Just Food

"The true heart of holidays is spending time with loved ones," Maria reminds us. She encourages shifting focus from the food to creating memories and engaging in meaningful conversations with family and friends.

7. Maintain Simple Routines

During the in-between days, Maria recommends setting small, achievable goals. "Focus on how you want to feel, not just how you want to look," she says. Simple habits like having a balanced breakfast or taking short walks can help maintain momentum without adding holiday stress.

8. Start Light, Stay Satisfied

For big holiday meals, Maria suggests starting with vegetable-based soups or salads. "Studies show people who start with veggie-based options end up eating fewer calories overall," she notes. She also emphasizes maintaining protein portions to promote fullness and trigger appetite-reducing hormones.

9. Be Kind to Yourself

Maria Lucey.8Maria Lucey/YouTube

Most importantly, Maria stresses self-compassion: "You will overindulge at some point, and that's okay. The key is to draw a line, move on, and start fresh at the next meal." She encourages moving away from an all-or-nothing mindset and focusing on consistency rather than perfection.

RELATED: The 8 Foods That Fight Bloating and Help Shrink Your Waist

10. The Science Behind Protein and Satiety

"Protein decreases the hunger hormone ghrelin and increases hormones like peptide YY, GLP-1, and cholecystokinin, which promote feelings of fullness and satisfaction," says Mayo Clinic. This explains why including protein in your holiday meals can help prevent overindulging. The Cleveland Clinic recommends athletes and heavy exercisers consume 1 to 1.5 grams of protein per pound of their goal weight, though needs vary based on activity level and individual factors.

11. Timing Matters: The Rhythm of Eating

According to the National Institutes of Health, "Consistent meal timing aligns with the body's circadian rhythms, potentially reducing the risk of obesity and improving metabolic health." This research supports Maria's advice about maintaining regular eating patterns during the holiday season. The NIH also notes that "eating during inactive periods, such as late at night, can disrupt the body's internal clock, leading to weight gain and metabolic issues," making it especially important to mind your meal timing during holiday celebrations. And if you enjoyed this article, take advantage of these 15 Quick Ways to Lose Body Fat Percentage in a Week.

Abbey Sharp
Copyright Abbey Sharp/YouTube
Evidence-Based

This content references scientific studies and academic research, and is fact-checked to ensure accuracy.

Our team of licensed nutritionists and dietitians strives to be objective, unbiased, and honest.

We are committed to bringing you researched, expert-driven content to help you make more informed decisions around food, health, and wellness. We know how important making choices about your overall health is, and we strive to provide you with the best information possible.

Struggling with contradictory weight loss advice and fad diets that just don't deliver? You're not alone. Abbey Sharp is here to help cut through the noise with science-backed strategies that actually work. As a Registered Dietitian (RD), TV personality, and founder of Abbey's Kitchen, with over 700,000 YouTube subscribers, Abbey brings credible nutrition expertise to the table. Her philosophy? Weight loss doesn't have to be restrictive or complicated. Read on to discover simple, sustainable changes that could transform your health journey.

The Foundation: Understanding Calorie Deficit

"In order to lose weight, you need to create a calorie deficit. Hard stop," Abbey explains. But don't worry—this doesn't mean measuring every Cheerio or logging every bite in MyFitnessPal. According to Abbey, the most important factor in weight loss is actually appetite management, not obsessive calorie counting.

Choosing naturally satiating foods rich in protein, fiber, and healthy fats—what Abbey calls her "hunger-crushing combo"—creates the foundation for sustainable weight loss. With that foundation in place, these smaller hacks can help move the needle without deprivation.

RELATED:20 Foods You Didn’t Know Were Ultra-Processed

1. Front-Load Your Calories

"Research has shown that eating more of our calories earlier in the day can help with appetite and cravings into the evening," Abbey notes. This contradicts intermittent fasting patterns that push meals later in the day. Our bodies are more insulin sensitive in the morning, and a high-protein breakfast specifically can promote fullness throughout the day. If you usually skip breakfast and eat most calories at night, try shifting those meals earlier.

2. Harness the Power of Retrogradation

It sounds complicated, but Abbey explains this simple science: "When we cool starch-rich carbohydrate-based foods like rice, pasta, and bread, those starch molecules get rearranged into a type of fiber called resistant starch." This resistant starch supports gut health, reduces glycemic load, and promotes longer-lasting fullness. Plus, it decreases absorbable calories in starchy foods by 10-15%—making your calorie deficit easier to maintain.

3. Apply the Pistachio Principle

Named by Dr. James Painter, Abbey describes how "eating pistachios with the shells on prompted participants to eat less of them because the shells acted as a visual cue of how much they ate." This principle works with any food that leaves evidence of consumption—shells, wrappers, or even using small bowls instead of eating from packages. These visual cues promote mindful eating and help you check in with hunger signals.

RELATED:I Got My Best Body After 50 and Here’s How You Can, Too

4. Choose Whole Nuts Over Nut Butters

"Recent studies have shown that the fat in almonds is actually encapsulated by the cell wall, which is hard for our bodies to break down," Abbey shares. This means up to a third of almond calories aren't bioavailable to us. However, processing nuts into butter makes more calories absorbable. Abbey isn't suggesting eliminating nut butter entirely—it's still nutritious—but as a general rule, the more whole a food is, the more work your body needs to do to digest it, which can benefit weight management.

5. Put Out a Veggie Tray Before Dinner

A simple yet effective strategy: "Researchers found that having a high-fiber veggie preload can help with weight management by increasing fullness hormones like GLP-1 and peptide YY," Abbey notes. One study showed that participants who ate a small salad before lunch consumed fewer calories from their main meal. Putting out vegetables while preparing dinner encourages eating nutrient-dense foods when you're actually hungry, potentially reducing intake of higher-calorie options.

6. Make Your Smoothies Thick

"We know that an important trigger for satiety is a stretching of the vagus nerve, which sends a message to your brain to pump out satiety hormones," Abbey explains. Research shows that regardless of calorie content, thicker smoothies make people feel fuller than thinner ones. Abbey suggests making protein shakes "Frosty-style" by adding frozen banana, ice cubes, nut butter, and Greek yogurt for maximum satiety.

RELATED:I'm a Nutritionist and These are the Best Banana Recipes For Weight Loss

7. Increase Your NEAT

"NEAT is all of the energy that you spend throughout the day outside of structured exercise," Abbey clarifies. This includes fidgeting, cleaning, and walking—activities that can burn more calories collectively than gym workouts. Research shows NEAT plays a massive role in body weight, partly because we don't typically compensate for this movement by eating more. Abbey suggests pacing during calls, walking meetings, taking stairs, and using fidget toys to naturally increase daily movement.

8. Lower Your Bedroom Temperature

Poor sleep is linked to higher BMI, as Abbey points out: "inadequate shut-eye can mess with our hunger and satiety hormones, increase our blood sugars and appetite, and decrease our daily energy expenditure." Research suggests the ideal sleeping temperature is 65-68°F (18-20°C), as higher temperatures interfere with restorative sleep. Preliminary studies also indicate that sleeping in cooler rooms may increase brown fat, which burns calories to maintain core temperature and improves insulin sensitivity—an important factor in weight management.

9. Get Morning Sunlight Exposure

"Exposing yourself to sunlight first thing when you wake up helps to support your natural circadian rhythm," Abbey explains, which improves sleep and optimizes metabolic function. Research shows an association between morning light exposure and lower BMI. One study found that 45 minutes of morning light decreased appetite and led to fat loss after just three weeks. Abbey suggests a morning walk to combine light exposure with movement.

10. Take a Short Walk After Meals

"This is an evidence-based tip for reducing post-meal blood sugars and therefore improving overall insulin sensitivity," Abbey notes. Stable blood sugar is critical for weight management due to the relationship between insulin signaling and body fat. When insulin resistance develops, it triggers hunger hormones, leading to increased calorie consumption and abdominal fat gain, which further perpetuates insulin resistance. A quick post-meal walk helps break this cycle.

RELATED:Tone Sagging Arms in 2 Weeks With These 5 Exercises

Simple Changes, Sustainable Results

Abbey emphasizes that these hacks aren't prescriptive—they're options to consider incorporating if they feel manageable for your lifestyle. "For a lot of people, sustainable weight loss comes from a collection of small changes that are so simple and intuitive that they can actually be maintained," she concludes. Choose the strategies that work for you, and remember that consistency with small changes often leads to the most lasting results.

Courtney Rushing rushingtothekitchen
Copyright rushingtothekitchen/Instagram

Are you on a weight loss journey but not getting the desired results? One expert has some tips that are helping her lose weight now. Courtney Rushing is a nutritionist with a master's degree in clinical nutrition. In a new post, she reveals what she is currently doing to accelerate her weight loss. “I’m halfway through my mindful deficit and here are some non-negotiable habits (shocker- these are the same habits I have at maintenance),” she writes in the post. “Here are some key things that have helped me see results.”

Fat Loss Is About Creating a Sustainable Calorie Deficit

“Fat loss is NOT about starving yourself, doing endless cardio, or cutting out your favorite foods,” she writes. “Fat loss IS about creating a sustainable calorie deficit while prioritizing muscle retention, recovery, and overall well-being.”

RELATED:17 Pre-Meal Foods That Burn Fat Like Ozempic, According to an Expert

Prep for Success

Courtney recommends setting yourself up for success with healthy habits. “Grocery shopping & meal prep to stay prepared,” she says. This includes “making healthy sweet treats instead of ignoring cravings” and grocery shopping at the beginning of each week “with a plan so I’m always prepared,” she says.

Balanced Macros

She also recommends keeping macros balanced. “Prioritizing protein & fiber for balanced meals,” she says. “Ensured all meals are balanced with protein, carbs, fat, fiber.”

Hydration

Hydration is also key. “Ensured adequate water intake daily along with electrolyte support,” she writes. According to the Mayo Clinic, hydration is essential for various reasons. Water helps eliminate waste through urination, perspiration, and bowel movements, keeps your temperature regular, lubricates and cushions joints, and helps protect sensitive tissues.

RELATED:30 Best Protein Foods That Melt Fat Almost Instantly

Strength Training

She also lifts weights. “Strength training 5x a week to preserve muscle,” she says. According to the Mayo Clinic, strength and weight training help reduce body fat, preserve and increase lean muscle mass, and burn calories more efficiently. Strength training may also help you:

  • Develop strong bones
  • Manage your weight
  • Enhance your quality of life
  • Manage chronic conditions
  • Sharpen your thinking skills

Walking

Get your steps in. “Adding in more daily movement (NEAT matters!) ” she says. One way she does this is by adding in more walks. A 2018 study published in the journal Obesity found a link between walking 10,000 steps a day and weight loss and weight management. Other studies published by the Journal of American Medical Association (JAMA) in JAMA Neurology and in JAMA Internal Medicine also linked walking 10,000 steps a day to less dementia and less cardiovascular disease overall, with less heart disease, less heart failure, and fewer strokes.

Rest and Recovery

“Prioritizing rest, recovery, and stress management should also be a priority. “Breathwork, prayer, and practicing gratitude” are three habits she recommends.

RELATED:10-Min Walking Workout Burns Fat at Home, Says Coach

Sleep

Make sure to get enough sleep. “7 to 9 hours of sleep per night,” she says. What are the health benefits of sleep? According to the Sleep Foundation, getting enough z’s is a mood booster, promotes heart health, regulates blood sugar, improves mental function, restores your immune system, helps relieve stress, and aids in weight loss.

Stay Consistente

Make sure to stick to your healthy habits. “Staying consistent (not perfect!) over time,” she says.

RELATED:7 Simple Daily Exercises To Shrink Hanging Belly Fat

Make Them Your Lifestyle

Focus on making these habits your lifestyle. “Fat loss doesn’t have to feel miserable and it’s MUCH easier when you have spent time at maintenance turning these habits into your lifestyle already,” she says. And if you enjoyed this article, don't missthese 8 High-Protein Foods with Nearly Zero Calories That Melt Fat.

Trish_Koeslag_liftwithtrish11
Copyright liftwithtrish/Instagram
FACT CHECKED BY Christopher Roback
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We adhere to structured guidelines for sourcing information and linking to other resources, including scientific studies and medical journals.

If you have any concerns about the accuracy of our content, please reach out to our editors by e-mailing editors@bodynetwork.com.

Are you struggling to lose weight? Trish Koeslag is revealing the truth about two popular diet myths. In a new social media post, the women’s nutrition and fitness coach, whose mission is to help women over 40 simplify macros and movement to lose weight, reveals that she struggled to lose weight until she finally learned two things. “It took me two decades to unlearn these 2 dieting myths that helped me lose 15 pounds in my 40s and keep it off,” she writes in the series of Instagram snaps, revealing her truth.


Myth 1: If You Eat Clean, You Will Lose Weight

The first myth? As long as you “EAT CLEAN,” you will lose weight, she says in her post. “For 20+ years, I believed this. I thought if I had chicken, rice, and broccoli, my food intake was on point. Don’t get me wrong, choosing whole foods is truly my jam, BUT eating clean doesn’t guarantee fat loss.”

Truth: A Calorie Deficit Helps You Lose Weight

What is the secret to weight loss? It’s simple, according to Tricia. “A calorie deficit is what guarantees a fat loss. (It’s science, please don’t @ me),” she writes.

RELATED:I Lost 30 Pounds and Kept It Off and Here are 13 Habits That Changed My Life

What to Do: Track Food Using an App

“So 👉🏻 all this time I was eating clean, I wasn’t losing fat because I wasn’t in a calorie deficit. You can still eat clean and gain weight. Shocking, right ⁉️⤵️,” she says. “So 👉🏻 I started tracking my food in an app to get an accurate idea of what my calorie intake was ✅.”

Myth 2: You Deserve Cheat Meals

The next myth she is busting may be hard to hear. “I deserved weekend ‘CHEAT MEALS’” is another thought that prevented her from listing weight. “Yup! I ate ‘clean’ Monday to Thursday and then ate ‘dirty’ Friday, Saturday and Sunday. I thought because I did ‘good’ all week with my food, I deserved a reward with ‘bad’ food,” she says.

Truth: There Are No Good or Bad Foods

You need to shift your mindset, she explains. “So 👉🏻 first of all, there are no good or bad foods. Food is food. Let’s stop labeling it. Are there better sources of food? Yes, but that doesn’t make food good or bad, clean or dirty.”

RELATED:Gillian Ferguson Flaunts Tiny Waist and Reveals 3 Things That Will “Speed Up Fat Loss” That You Probably Aren’t Doing

What to Do: Eat Maintenance Calories 7 Days a Week

Instead, be consistent with your diet, she encourages. “ I stopped the weekend binges by eating my maintenance calories 7 days a week, fitting in all the foods I love, in moderation.”

Also, She Recommends Reverse Dieting

In another post, she offers a few more tips on how she lost 15 pounds in 3 months, starting with following a reverse diet protocol. “Most people do not do this part, and this is a huge reason why people gain fat back,” she says.

And Eating at Home

A few more diet recommendations, in addition to “tracking your food,” keeping “your protein high,” and choosing “mostly whole foods (90% whole foods vs 10% fun food), " are eating at home “most of the time,” which she calls “a big one.”

RELATED:14 Walking Mistakes Sabotaging Your Weight Loss That Experts Urge You to Stop

Hydrate and Rest Are Important, Too

Hydration and rest are also key. “Limit alcohol, keep water intake at 3-4L/day, sleep well, manage stress,” she says. What are the health benefits of sleep? According to the Sleep Foundation, getting enough z’s is a mood booster, promotes heart health, regulates blood sugar, improves mental function, restores your immune system, helps relieve stress, and aids in weight loss. And if you enjoyed this article, take advantage of these 15 Quick Ways to Lose Body Fat Percentage in a Week.

Evidence-Based

This content references scientific studies and academic research, and is fact-checked to ensure accuracy.

Our team of licensed nutritionists and dietitians strives to be objective, unbiased, and honest.

We are committed to bringing you researched, expert-driven content to help you make more informed decisions around food, health, and wellness. We know how important making choices about your overall health is, and we strive to provide you with the best information possible.

Do you want to lose weight with some easy, expert-backed tips? Cori Lefkowith is the founder of Redefining Strength and is devoted to helping people get in shape no matter their age. In a new YouTube video, she reveals a few of her simple tricks for losing weight fast. “Stop believing that losing weight and maintaining your results has to be a full-time job because it doesn't. And the more we act like it has to be, the more we're ultimately sabotaging ourselves. We're just creating unsustainable habits that, while they may yield some fast initial results, also lead to a quick plateau and us just regaining the weight and even more,” she says in the clip. “To help you stop this extreme dieting cycle, I'd found myself personally caught in for years. I wanna share five weird but extremely effective weight loss tips to help you build your leanest, strongest body ever.”


1. Stop Trying So Hard to Lose Weight

Her first trick is one of the “oddest sounding weight loss tips ever,” she admits in her post. “Stop focusing on losing weight. That goal weight you have in mind that you've tried countless times to get back to is actually stopping you from losing weight,” she says. “It's causing you to eat less as you train harder, which doesn't make you actually lose fat any faster. Our singular focus on that scale and that number changing leads to burnout and metabolic adaptations that make each weight loss attempt harder and harder.

Measure Success by Non-Scale Victories

“Instead, we need to focus on multiple ways of measuring success and even step away from the scale for a bit because it isn't that number on the scale we're truly after. It's how we feel at that weight that we want back. And that feeling isn't attached to the number. It's how energized we felt,” she says. “Focusing only on that number being our only measure of progress often leads to us giving up on habits that are working habits that would yield the results we want if we gave them time because the scale doesn't really show us true fat loss happening, especially as we retain and even gain muscle.” She recommends using how your clothes fit, progress pictures, and measurements instead. “We need to celebrate the other signs of success such as improved energy, better sleep, crushing our workouts, and inches being lost that show us the habits are working.”

RELATED:8 Tips to Make Losing Weight Feel Effortless, From Proven Experts

2. Build Your Diet Based on Meals You Live

The next weird tip, and it's more a way of thinking about how to make diet changes, is to build your diet based on meals you love,” she says. “When we think about adjusting our diet, we go to all the foods we can't have and then find diet meals we now need to make. This makes us honestly often feel deprived and really not enjoy our lifestyle. It makes us dream of going back to what we were doing, and this is why the changes don't stick. We don't evolve our diet to match our needs and goals.”

Tweak Your Meals to Make Them Healthier

“Instead of focusing on diet meals, take meals you already eat and love and find ways to adjust them to match your goals,” she says. If you love pizza, she recommends finding ways to add protein or adjust the portion. If you are a pasta lover, either add more protein or swap regular pasta for chickpeas or lentils. “Take the dishes you ultimately want to enjoy and find ways to tweak them so you don't feel like everything you love is being cut out or that your meal prep and cooking habits all of a sudden have to shift so dramatically you're miserable. Stop making yourself extra miserable, trying to overhaul your diet completely.”

RELATED:Woman Lost 42 Pounds With These 7 Simple Protein-Rich Recipes

3. Cut Back on Cardio

“The third tip is something some of you may hate here and others may love: Cut back on the steady state cardio,” she says. “If you love running or cycling, I'm not telling you not to do it, but if you've been struggling to lose weight and see the muscle definition you want, you may want to cut back on your mileage for a bit or really acknowledge the cost of doing this cardio and make massive changes to your strength workouts and diet to account for this. For those of you who refuse to cut back on the cardio, slow down your strength workouts. Lift heavier with lower reps and longer rest periods while increasing your protein more than you want to. And even deprioritize your endurance sports to focus on your lifting when you're freshest.”

Instead, Focus on Building Muscle

“For those of you who are thinking, I don't like cardio, but it's always helped me lose weight in the past. Think about that statement. You are here because you need to lose weight again. So, as a long-term strategy, cardio didn't work. Part of the reason is that we've always used it to try to out-exercise our diet instead of making dietary changes, but also because we haven't really built muscle, and we've even lost it in the process of eating less. As we try to burn more, this negatively impacts our metabolic rate and how many calories we burn, not only in our workouts but at rest. And the more calories we burn at rest, the more muscle we have, the more toned we look, and the easier our results will be to maintain. So instead of turning to cardio, focus on strength workouts, whether you challenge yourself with body weight sessions or hit the gym to lift, focus on building muscle,” she explains.

RELATED:Doctor Reveals 4 Foods That Trick Your Body Into Losing Weight Like Ozempic

4. Don’t Always Be on a Diet

“This next tip was one of the weirder realizations for me, but also why I feel I'm able to stay leaner all year round: Stop acting like the person always on a diet. When we're working to lose weight, we can feel like the friend who can never eat out. We can feel weird at parties or celebrations. We can feel like we have to avoid the baked goods at our work or office lunches. We can feel a bit like we have to isolate ourselves and not really have fun. No wonder most of us dread making diet changes and ultimately fall off the healthy habits we're trying to build. But we often do this because we feel this need to be perfect, to eat clean based on what someone else told us a healthy diet should look like. We also don't own who we are, our current lifestyle, or what we want our lifestyle to look like ultimately. We approach habit changes as being these very set things we have to do in one rigid form instead of finding ways to implement them to match what we need,” she says.

Instead, Practice Moderation

“If your friend invites you out to dinner at your favorite restaurant, instead of saying no, instead of trying to deprive yourself of a meal you love, plan it in. Maybe you go for a lower calorie and higher protein earlier in the day to have flexibility at that meal instead of feeling like you've ruined the day. Just focus on that portion control and getting right back into your healthy habits the day after, too. Don't let that dinner become multiple meals. If you love the baked goods someone surprised you with at work, maybe you have one, but instead of feeling guilty for it so that you end up eating ten or forgetting about the rest of your healthy meals the rest of the day, just enjoy it and even adjust your other meals to create a balance,” she says.

RELATED:Nutritionist Reveals 8 Simple Food Swaps That Actually Burn Fat

5. Take More “Movement Snacks”

The final tip that she “found to be super key in not only achieving amazing body recomposition but sustaining it over the course of the year is to take more movement snacks,” she says. “I think so often we put this emphasis on working out and working out intensely over just moving more. But the more active we are, the more we want to be active and the more active we want to be. Often, the more we wanna do other healthy habits that support the fact that we feel good, the more we do, the more we do.”

The More You Move, the Less Likely You Are to “Indulge in Mindless Eating”

“Throughout the day, include movement, snacks, and getting up and doing something, even if it's just for a minute or two. Listen to a song or quick podcast and walk around your office. Get up and stretch to reverse, sitting hunched over. Get up between episodes of your nightly TV show and go roll out or even wash the dishes quickly. Do a quick post-dinner walk, but get up and move around,” she suggests. “The less we're just seated, bored, lazing around doing nothing, the less likely we are to indulge in mindless eating. And often, a big habit we have to break on top of the benefits of moving more is mindless eating. Especially the desire to eat late at night while watching TV. However, just trying to willpower our way through this desire can often lead to losing the battle when stressed because we haven't shifted our patterns or environment. That's why these movement snacks can be so key. We aren't focusing on what we shouldn't be doing. We're focusing on something good. We want to do this mindset shift in focus to help us feel positive or feel like we're fighting something.” And if you enjoyed this article, take advantage of these 15 Quick Ways to Lose Body Fat Percentage in a Week.

Denise Hamdan denisehamdan
I Lost 30 Pounds While Eating These High-Protein Foods
Copyright denisehamdan/TikTok
Evidence-Based

This content references scientific studies and academic research, and is fact-checked to ensure accuracy.

Our team of licensed nutritionists and dietitians strives to be objective, unbiased, and honest.

We are committed to bringing you researched, expert-driven content to help you make more informed decisions around food, health, and wellness. We know how important making choices about your overall health is, and we strive to provide you with the best information possible.

Denise Hamdan (@denisehamdan) is a food and fitness influencer on TikTok who regularly shares her tricks and tips on weight loss with her 71,000 followers. Hamdan lost a whopping 30 pounds by following a healthy diet and exercising. In a recent clip, she reveals her diet. “Hey y'all, here's everything I ate in one day to stay lean as someone who lost 30 pounds,” she says, revealing that she eats 1829 calories and 147 g of protein per day. Body Network’s Resident RDN, The Diet Diva, Tara Collingwood, MS, RDN, CSSD, LD/N, ACSM-CPT, a Board Certified Sports Dietitian, co-author of the Flat Belly Cookbook for Dummies, also weighs in.

Breakfast

“I started my morning with my breakfast cocktail of oxygen and creatine. I just added the products to my showcase. So go check them out. I have my cocktail with Greek yogurt with strawberries and blueberries and a drizzle of granola,” she says. The total calories equal 157 and 14 g protein.

Lunch

“I'm in this phase where I eat nearly the same thing every day, and that's been scrambled eggs with cheese and spinach and some turkey bacon on the side,” she says about her lunch. “And honestly, I'm not complaining because it hits every time. Her total calories are 562 and 52 g protein.

Green Smoothie

Sometimes she will have a smoothie instead. “I made a cute little green smoothie and it was a little messy, but it was good regardless,” she says.

Pre-Workout Snack

“Later, for a pre-workout snack, I made some cute little tuna crackers with the green onion and bell pepper,” she says about the snack totaling 430 calories and 28 g protein.

OxyShred and Pre-Workout

“Then I got to the gym and made my OxyShred and pre-workout combo before hitting cardio and abs,” she continued. “It had me sweating.”

Protein Bar

“Right after my workout I had my favorite dark chocolate pretzel protein bar,” she continued.

Dinner

“And finally for dinner I made this super easy teriyaki chicken bowl over brown rice,” she said, adding that the 560 calorie and 52 gram protein meal is “so delicious and the macros forward are amazing.”

Dessert

“Lastly, for dessert, I had some chocolate 'cause I cannot end the day without a little sweet treat,” she said about the 120 calorie sweet treat.

RDN Weighs in

tara collingwoodI'm a Nutritionist and These 9 High-Protein Snacks Keep My Clients Full While Losing 50 Pounds

Copyright Tara Collingwood

“1800-1900 calories seems like a good amount for her, but I don’t know her exact age, height, weight, or exercise level,” says Collingwood. “147 grams of protein is probably more than she needs, but it is not dangerously high.”

Try Eating More Vegetables, Expert Says

“I see a little bit of fruit on the yogurt and a tiny bit of spinach in eggs and peppers in tuna but overall not much veggie intake (green smoothie was green powder and not real whole veggies) which is proven with only 16 grams of fiber for her overall day,” Collingwood continues. “I would recommend increasing veggies to aim for 25 grams of fiber each day.” She also likes how often she is eating with the meals and snacks in between. “I do worry about the OxyShred. I couldn’t find on their website anywhere exactly how much caffeine is in it and having it later in the day could definitely impact sleep since caffeine has a 5 hour half-life,” she points out.

💪🔥Body Booster: How much protein should you consume per day? Aim for 0.8 to one gram per pound of bodyweight. And if you enjoyed this article, take advantage of these 15 Quick Ways to Lose Body Fat Percentage in a Week

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20 Things to Avoid While on Ozempic
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Evidence-Based

This content references scientific studies and academic research, and is fact-checked to ensure accuracy.

Our team of licensed nutritionists and dietitians strives to be objective, unbiased, and honest.

We are committed to bringing you researched, expert-driven content to help you make more informed decisions around food, health, and wellness. We know how important making choices about your overall health is, and we strive to provide you with the best information possible.

Ozempic can be highly effective for weight loss, but there are definitely some unpleasant side effects to contend with, as the makers of the drug, Novo Nordisk, warn about. Nausea, constipation, and stomach pain are common, but avoiding certain foods and behaviors can make a difference. Here are 20 things to avoid while on Ozempic, to make the most of the medication and encourage healthy weight loss.

Too Much Sugar

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Added sugars, and sugary sodas, can spike blood sugar. Novo Nordisk, the maker of Ozempic and Wegovy, recommends that people avoid sugary foods while on the drug. “If you are taking medication to lower your sugar levels, it is advisable to avoid excess sugar consumption,” Dr. Dina Peralta-Reich, MD, FAAP, FOMA, tells Parade. “Failure to watch what you eat and keep your sugar levels elevated may prevent you from seeing the intended results of the medication,” she shares.”

Ultra-Processed Foods

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Ultra-processed foods can make side effects of Ozempic worse. “This medication slows down gastric emptying and the dense food will move much slower through your intestines, which can make you feel sick [and experience] nausea, vomiting, reflux and abdominal pain,” says Dr. Peralta-Reich. “Someone may not see the results they're looking for either.”

High-Fat Foods

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Foods high in saturated and trans fats can make side effects of Ozempic worse. Some people complain of diarrhea and stomach pains. “I’ve seen an almost dumping syndrome-like response in people taking GLP-1s when they eat simple carbohydrates and high-fat foods,” Dr. Shauna Levy, a specialist in obesity medicine and medical director of the Tulane Bariatric and Weight Loss Center in New Orleans, tells TODAY.

Sitting All Day

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Staying active is important while on Ozempic. Regular exercise is not only important for health, it can prevent muscle loss. The goal should be fat loss, and getting strong.

Not Hydrating

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Don’t forget to drink your water and stay hydrated. Drinking water can help with side effects of Ozempic, especially nausea. Ozempic.com recommends drinking clear or ice-cold drinks to combat any nausea and discomfort.

Too Much Alcohol

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Avoid alcohol on Ozempic, experts advice. “One, it’s just empty calories. Two, it tends to make people make decisions that they otherwise might not make,” says Dr. Levy. “It could increase hunger, and the whole point of GLP-1s, or at least one of the points, is to decrease hunger. So it sort of negates their purpose.”

Be Mindful of Portions

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Ozempic keeps food in the stomach longer, so bigger portions can cause discomfort. “Understanding that overall portions are smaller on these medications, we want to optimize nutritional intake and consume the ‘best’ calories available,” obesity medicine physician Dr. Christopher McGowan tells TODAY. “The focus should be on lean protein, healthy fruits and vegetables, adequate fiber and adequate fluid intake.”

Be Mindful of Coffee

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“Overall, coffee is perfectly fine to consume, but for some individuals can lead to stomach irritation,” says Dr. McGowan. “Therefore, I recommend drinking coffee in moderation, such as one to two cups a day. Patients should also be mindful of calorie-dense additives, like cream and sugar.”

Don’t Skip Meals

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It’s easy to skip meals when on Ozempic, but make sure you’re getting enough nutrition. Some people have even become malnourished as a result of not eating. “It’s never healthy to not eat,” Dr. Hwang said. Dr. Janice Jin Hwang, the division chief of endocrinology and metabolism at the University of North Carolina School of Medicine tells the New York Times.

Don’t Consider It a Quick Fix

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Ozempic should be part of a long-term health plan. “It’s important to note that if you start taking either of these drugs for weight loss, your body may get used to it, establishing a new normal,” says UC Davis Health. This can cause your weight to plateau. Research has shown that if you stop taking Ozempic (or Wegovy), it's likely that you will gain back the weight you lost.”

Same Unhealthy Lifestyle

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Don’t continue an unhealthy diet and assume it’s ok because of Ozempic. “You can likely lose weight on semaglutide medications without changing your diet and activity behaviors, but these lifestyle changes will make the treatment more effective,” Richard Siegel, MD, tells the Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy. “Also, we don’t know if weight loss will have the same health benefits if one does not change their behaviors.”

Protect Your Health

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Some doctors warn that taking Ozempic can make people complacent about their health. “It is important to remember that obesity is heterogenous, chronic and complex,” Vijaya Surampudi, MD, physician nutrition specialist and assistant director of the UCLA Weight Management Program (RFO), tells UCLA Health. “There is no cure for obesity. It requires lifelong treatment that’s not one size fits all.”

Carbonated Beverages

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Ozempic slows down digestion, keeping food in your stomach for longer. This causes a feeling of fullness and some unpleasant side effects for some people like belching. Stick to still water as carbonated beverages can make stomach issues worse.

Long-Term Goals

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If you plan on only taking Ozempic or Wegovy for a short while, it’s likely your weight will come back on. “In one trial of Wegovy, people regained about two-thirds of the weight lost within a year of stopping the drug,” Dr. Siegel explains. “Lifestyle changes can help maintain weight loss, but it’s unusual to maintain all weight loss once you stop any weight loss medication.”

Refined Carbohydrates

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Refined carbohydrates tend to spike blood sugar, which is exactly what Ozempic is meant to treat. You don’t have to cut these foods out entirely, but be aware it makes it harder for Ozempic to do its job. “Foods like white bread, white rice, crackers, or even cereals may seem like better choices than foods with added sugar, but refined carbohydrates still metabolize as glucose in the body,” Christine Fallabel, MPH, tells Diabetes Strong.

Watch Out For High Fiber

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While many green vegetables are low GI, be careful about the fiber. “If you’re not used to eating a lot of vegetables, you may experience side effects such as bloating and gas, until your body has acclimated to eating a more fiber-filled diet,” Fallabel says.

Junk Food

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Junk food—which you should be avoiding either way for weight loss purposes—often contains high levels of sodium. “Ultra-processed foods are high in sodium, saturated fats and added sugars, which contribute to a range of health problems,” Elizabeth Ko, MD, and Eve Glazier, MD, tell UCLA Health. These include an increased risk of Type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, lowered immune response, certain cancers, dementia and early death.”

Spicy Foods

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Ozempic can cause acid reflux due to slow digestion. Spicy foods can make acid reflux worse, experts warn. However, if acid reflux is not an issue, people can probably enjoy spicy foods if they wish.

Always See a Medical Professional

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Ozempic should only be prescribed by a medical professional. “Typically, I prescribe Ozempic for diabetes and have more often prescribed Wegovy for weight loss,” endocrinologist Alyssa Dominguez, MD, tells Keck Medicine. “I have used Ozempic, sometimes, off-label for weight loss, though getting insurance approval for that can be challenging.”

Fried Foods

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Fried, greasy foods can make Ozempic stomach issues worse. “Foods high in fat can make digestive side effects worse. Since food hangs around longer in the stomach, it has more time to cause problems,” Sarah Bullard, MS, RD, LD, tells Signos. “Some studies have shown that consuming too much fat can increase symptoms of fullness, nausea, and bloating in individuals with digestive issues and heartburn. Reducing fat intake resolved symptoms.”

💪🔥Body Booster: A whole foods Mediterranean diet is ideal while taking Ozempic.

Sophie van Oostenbrugg gainsbybrains
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Evidence-Based

This content references scientific studies and academic research, and is fact-checked to ensure accuracy.

Our team of licensed nutritionists and dietitians strives to be objective, unbiased, and honest.

We are committed to bringing you researched, expert-driven content to help you make more informed decisions around food, health, and wellness. We know how important making choices about your overall health is, and we strive to provide you with the best information possible.

Do you want to get your glutes sculpted for summer? Sophie van Oostenbrugg is a fitness trainer and the founder of the Gains with Brains app. She regularly shares workouts with her 2.4 million Instagram followers on how to burn fat and build muscle. “I grew up hearing that women should be as small as possible. That’s why I loved being able to share my bulking journey on social. I’ve done 2 bulks so far.. and I was thinking about starting and sharing a 3rd one,” she wrote in a recent post. She also revealed her “medium leg day” workout, which will help you tone up fast.

She Does Multiple Leg Days a Week

“I have good news today..it’s a medium leg day!!!🫣🤭sooo I split my leg workouts & currently have lighter, medium and heavier days. this helps me with recovery, train through a variety of rep ranges and make it more enjoyable,” she explains in the post.

She Does 8 to 12 Reps of Each Exercise

In the video she explains that she has “multiple leg days per week.” She goes onto reveal all of the exercises she does with “rep ranges from 8 to 12.”

RDLS

“I started with RDLs, four sets of eight,” Sophie reveals. To do Romanian deadlifts, start with both legs pressed evenly on the floor. “Slightly bend knees while bending over,” says The Body Network’s Resident RDN, The Diet Diva, Tara Collingwood, MS, RDN, CSSD, LD/N, ACSM-CPT, a Board Certified Sports Dietitian. “Keep your arms pointing down toward the floor and lower with you almost touching the floor. Keep hips and shoulders square facing forward throughout the exercise. Return to standing.” She suggests repeating 10 to 12 times with the right leg and repeating on the left side. “Progression includes holding a weight in the arm pointing toward the floor,” she adds.

Sumo Squat with Kettlebell

“Then I moved on to a sumo squat with kettlebell. You know the deal, form over everything, so go slow and control the weight,” she says. Sumo squats are similar to regular squats, only you point your toes outward.

Glute Bridges

“Then I did glute bridges,” Sophie continues. You can do glute bridges with or without weights.

Cable Step Up

Next up? Cable step ups, using an exercise block. “These are great as they help with balance and therefore they're easier to overload,” she says.

Seated Leg Curl

She sits down at a machine. “Then I did a seated leg curl,” she says.

Core Exercise

“I finished with some core exercises,” Sophie concludes. “I want to get my core as strong as humanly possible so I can keep recording more intense ab workouts.”

💪🔥Body Booster: Try splitting up your workouts into light, medium, and intense days to allow your body ample time needed to recover.