In a recent study, Dr. Speechly found that when overweight people were fed a high-fat meal prior to eating at a buffet, they ate 56% more than their lean counterparts. But when offered a low-fat meal ahead of time, neither group overate. It seems to take the body longer to detect that food is being ingested when it’s high in fat. Filling up on lighter fare first can decrease the amount of high-fat snacks that you eat later. And by waiting to indulge, you’ll have less opportunity to keep on eating and more opportunity for weight loss.
Skip the Second Round
Have another hors d’oeuvre instead of a second drink, and you may eat fewer snacks later. When researchers asked 15 people to drink an extra 450 calories a day (the amount in two gin and tonics or a cup of eggnog), they gained weight. However, when they consumed the same number of additional calories from food, their was no weight gain. They made up for the extra food by eating less throughout the day. But they didn’t compensate for the drinks, thus adding 450 calories to their normal day’s total. If you really want another drink, stick to weight loss friendly calorie-free cocktails such as club soda with a twist of lime. More from Prevention: 10 Ways To Avoid Holiday Weight Gain
