23 Time-Honored Weight-Loss Strategies That Always Work

Should eating habits be as ephemeral as fashion trends?

Let's face it: the most effective weight-loss tactics are those that have stood the test of time.

So, let's get back to the fundamentals.

We've compiled a list of 23 timeless suggestions from our favorite health and nutrition gurus. These straightforward tactics may not be as glamorous as the newest fad diet, but they will never go out of style.

1. DON'T FORGET TO EAT BREAKFAST

Consume breakfast. It will fuel you for the day and help you stay on track with your diet.

2. DON'T GOBBLE, NIBBLE

When it comes to dessert, follow the three-bite rule: Take three little nibbles and then place your fork down. Give the remaining items to your husband.

3. KEEP THE FIRE BURNING

Rest no more than 30 seconds between exercises during your workout. This will significantly increase your calorie burn. You'll lose weight even when you're not working out, all day long.

4. STAY AWAY FROM LATE-NIGHT SNACKS

Finish eating three hours before going to bed. When you sleep, your metabolism slows, and your body shifts from fat burning to fat storage.

5. REMEMBER THE DUMBBELLS

Increase the amount of strength training you do in your workout. Adding lean muscle to your body not only tones it, but also boosts your metabolism.

6. INQUIRE ABOUT YOUR DESIRES

'Am I hungry?' ask yourself before you eat. Eating will not fulfill a yearning unless it is caused by hunger.

7. DO NOT SKIP SLEEP

Get at least six to eight hours of sleep every night. Without it, the appetite hormone ghrelin rises, perhaps leading to weight gain. Also, plan at least two three-minute pauses during the day to perform deep breathing exercises. It will lower the stress hormone cortisol, which causes fat to accumulate around your midsection.

8. BRING YOUR OWN LUNCH

It's a brown bag. Dieters who go out for lunch even once a week lose 5 pounds less on average, according to a 2012 research published in the Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.

9. IMPROVE YOUR MENTAL SKILLS

Make it a point to be explicit about your weight-loss objective. When the brain perceives a discrepancy between where you are and where you want to go, it deploys resources such as willpower.

10. BEGIN WITH GREEN

Eat-in the proper sequence. Eat veggies first to naturally consume more of them and, as a result, consume fewer calories.

11. APPLY TIME-TESTED METHODS

Take a hint from National Weight Control Registry dieters who have dropped 66 pounds (on average) and kept it off:

- Seventy-five percent of people weigh themselves at least once a week.

- Breakfast is consumed by 78% of the population.

- 62 percent restrict their TV viewing to fewer than 10 hours each week.

12. SNACK ON THE GO

Eat every three to four hours to prepare yourself to say no to temptations.

13. BE OBJECTIVE-ORIENTED

Set a measurable goal with a specific timeframe, such as scheduling an 'after' picture session. It will assist you in remaining motivated.

14. STRENGTHEN YOURSELF

Be prepared for some discomfort. You're breaking free from your previous eating patterns. Knowing that it will be unpleasant will help you get through it.

15. PLAN A CHEAT DAY

Resist urges by deferring indulgence until a later date when you can eat everything you want.

16. TASK FOR NOTES

Keep a dietary diary. According to a 2012 research published in the Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, women who do lose six pounds more on average.

17. MAKE USE OF YOUR ARMS

Add arm workouts with modest weights to your treadmill routine to enhance your calorie burn.

18. NEVER SHOP WHILE HUNGRY

Always go grocery shopping with a full stomach, a written list, and a cart (heavy baskets trigger instant-gratification decisions, research shows).

19. VOTE NO TO SODA

Step away from the soda, even if it's diet or low calorie. Regular soda consumption may reduce the ability of muscles to burn fat.

20. GET ENOUGH FIBER AND PROTEIN

You'll be too full to eat anything else after eating so many nonstarchy veggies, nuts, seeds, and lean meats.

21. OMIT THE SALT AND THE FIZZ

Reduce your sodium and carbonation intake! Carbonation can cause bloating in your stomach, causing it to seem swollen for hours or even days! Sodium is a fluid-binding element.

22. APPLY THE APPLE TEST

You are not hungry if you are not hungry enough to eat an apple.

23. ENJOY A CARBOHYDRATE-FREE AFTERNOON

One of the most difficult (rules) to follow is no carbohydrates after lunch. However, if you stick to this guideline, YOU WILL LOSE WEIGHT.

LAST BUT NOT LEAST... YOU SHOULD TRY THIS 10-SECOND "DAILY FIX" THAT BURNS UP TO 3 POUNDS OF BELLY FAT IN 3.5 DAYS...

Click here to see the 10-second "daily fix" that helped me drop 33.5 pounds in 30 days.