Starving Tip of The Day!
1) Be careful who you tell. It’s great to have online friends – in fact, I would encourage it – but unless you’re 100% positive that your friends or boyfriend will understand or help, DON’T TELL THEM. But, if you’re sure a friend or your boyfriend will be supportive (lucky!), ask them to help you stick to your plan and meet your goals. (12/23/08)
2) Learn to LOVE that empty feeling in your stomach. Trust me, you’ll feel disgusting when it starts filling up again. (12/24/08)
3) If you must eat, ONLY eat when people are watching you. All other calories are eaten in vain. (12/26/08)
4) Get your vitamins! Calcium and iron are super important; take a mulit-vitamin everyday. (12/27/08)
5) Pay close attention to other girl’s bodies. Pick them apart – try to find faults even with the best bodies. Then apply these high standards to yourself. (12/28/08)
6) Live by the scale and the measuring tape. Unlike people, they will not lie to you. (12/29/08)
7) Sleep at least 6 hours a night. Less than 6 hours sleep a night stimulates appetite by 15%. (12/30/08)
8 ) Buy tiny little clothes – the nicer, the better. Get that sexy cocktail dress or the expensive designer jeans you’ve wanted but buy them one or two sizes too small. You’ll be inspired to slim down so you can fit into them. Try them on regularly to monitor your progress. (12/31/08)
9) Keep in mind: if your skinny friend eats a lot, that DOES NOT mean you can, too. (1/2/09)
10) Never eat anything bigger than your fist. If you have to stretch your lips, it’s TOO BIG. (1/5/09)
11) DIET SODA! It’s amazing – it’ll fill you up and after a while, it actually tastes better than regular. (1/6/09)
12) Compete!! Compare your body to your friends’ and coworkers’ bodies. Are you the thinnest? If not, why not? If you are, think about how jealous they are of you. (1/7/09)
13) Eat on lighter colored plates whenever you can, you will eat more on a darker plate. (1/8/09)
14) When you’re exercising, listen to music or watch TV. It helps pass the time and you exercise more without realizing it. (1/9/09)
15) Take a Niacin (Vitamin B3) supplement. If you don’t get enough through your diet everyday (15mg or so), a deficiency can decrease the efficiency of your metabolism (and immune system). It’s also good for keeping your skin and hair healthy; detoxing because it promotes more blood flow to your skin and organs; and promotes good cholesterol as well as nervous system. Though it will turn you red so take it before bed or buy the no flush kind. (1/12/09)
16) Exercise every day, even if it’s only for 15 minutes. Take 5-10 minute chunks out of the day and do 100 crunches, or run in place, or take the dog for a walk. These shorts burts of exercise will help fuel your metabolism and burn calories. They’re easier to swallow than a longer exercise regime. (1/18/09)
17) Resist the temptation to take a nap after a large meal. If you stay awake a few hours longer and take a 20 minute walk, your body will use some of the extra calories for energy instead of storing them as fat. (1/19/09)
18) When eating out, order something small and inexpensive. Usually, inexpensive means less. If you order a salad, make sure you skip the dressing. (1/20/09)
19) Start to hate butter. Even a tiny amount can have excessive calories. (1/21/09)
20) Sit up straight. You’ll burn at least ten percent more calories sitting upright than reclining. (1/23/09)
21) Eat slowly. Put your fork down between each bite. If you’re right-handed, try eating with your left, or vice-versa. You’ll eat a lot less this way. (1/26/09)
22) Thinspo is your best friend. You think you’ve lost weight? Check out some fashion models or skinny celebrities online and you’ll realize that you can probably do better. (1/28/09)
23) Chew sugar-free gum. It curbs your appetite and keeps your mouth busy so you won’t want to put anything else in it. Gives you fresh breath too! (2/2/09)
24) Eat to live, not live to eat. Food is about sustenance to feed your body, not a substance to heal your soul. If you feel that you eat not to fulfill a physical need, but an emotional one, try to look within yourself to figure it out. (2/4/09)
25) When eating with others, cut your food up into really tiny pieces and move it around the plate. It makes it look like you ate a lot more than you really did. (2/9/09)
26) When you feel the urge to eat, start by drinking a cup or two of water or a zero-calorie drink. See how you feel after five minutes. If you are still hungry, grab a low calorie snack. (2/12/09)
27) If you are going to eat dinner, have a snack 20 minutes before. The secret is to eat foods with “good fat” such as nuts or avocado slices. It takes 20 minutes for your stomach to tell your brain that you’re satisfied. (2/16/09)
28) For those that exercise at home (or have privacy)–exercise in your underwear. They are far less forgiving than workout pants and can really motivate you to go for an extra ten minutes. (2/19/09)
29) Eating five walnuts or eight almonds (approximately 65 calories) stimulates production of cholecystokinin, a hormone that slows your stomach from emptying so you feel fuller much longer. (2/23/09)
30) If you’re feeling super starved, eat a handful of popcorn. Air-pop it and eat it slowly. Do not use butter or salt. This will help fill you up, while only setting you back about 30 calories. (2/26/09)
31) Try to only eat in one room in your house. The kitchen is usually the best place. Make sure you keep your bedroom strictly a food-free zone, this is your best sanctuary when times get hard. (3/5/09)
32) Keep a food journal or diary. Writing down what you eat and the calories can really encourage you to eat less. Look at it often and frequently. You don’t realize how many calories you consume in a day until you are forced to look at it – it will make you sick. Also, you can add a calorie counter gadget to your homepage which is very handy! (3/16/09)
33) Drink ice cold water. Your body has to burn calories to keep you body temperature up! (3/18/09)
34) Throw away all clothes that are too big for you – don’t keep them for “just in case”. (6/1/09)
35) When you are hungry, boil or microwave water and put a chicken or beef broth cube in. They’re only 15-20 calories and the taste makes you feel like you ate. (9/16/09; thanks, Nicole!)
36) Put a mirror in front of your refrigerator or pantry – see if you’ll be able to pig out then! (10/8/09; thanks, Pro-thinChic)
37) Drink water with the juice of one lemon before every meal. Citrus shrinks your stomach and is a natural appetite suppressant. And you get your Vitamin C which is a powerful detoxifier and helps strengthen your skin. (10/15/09; thanks, Irene!)
38) Protein is super important because it helps to keep your muscles functioning properly and your heart is a big muscle that needs help when keeping super skinny. If you don’t want to eat a lot of it, get some canned tuna and eat that. Fish is naturally low calorie anyway but the taste of the tuna will make you want to eat less of it! (10/22/09; thanks, Elle!)
39) When in restaurants, ONLY order off the appetizer menu, and ONLY eat half of it. For example, if you order an appetizer of chicken wings, only eat 3 of the 6. If anyone asks, just say you’re not that hungry. (10/29/09; thanks, Sheena)
40) When eating at home, eat your meals on salad plates. This way you’re consuming less. No meal should EVER be more than 400-500 calories. (11/4/09; thanks, Sheena)
41) Brush your teeth frequently – at least 3-4 times a day. Not only will this give you a great smile and keep your breath fresh, but you’re much less likely to want a snack after brushing your teeth. (11/12/09; thanks, D.K. Lindon)
42) My favorite skinny tip is sugar-free jello! It comes in so many flavors and it’s only 10 calories per serving. If you add in some plain gelatin but no extra water it makes it firmer, and somehow better. The kind I use only adds about 5 calories per serving. It makes nails grow faster too! Sometime I’ll add two teaspoons of cayenne pepper for an extra metabolism kick–spicy, sweet and delicious! (11/20/09; thanks, Breezy C)
43) Drink some cider vinegar – it curbs your appetite, speeds up metabolism and detoxes your liver and basically flushes you out. (11/30/09; thanks, Julia)
44) One thing to help you lose weight fast is detoxing. Some claim to have lost up to 20 pounds through detox. There are many ways and some are inexpensive – ways that won’t get your family and friends raising eyebrows when they realize you are having colon irrigation etc. These are natural ways which include things you can get from the supermarket or in your pantry. Here’s the link! (12/4/09; thanks, Julia)
46) There are some very simple things you can do to burn calories, for example, make the bed every morning. Also, get a picture of a model you would like to look like and every time you feel like eating something look at the picture – it will stop you from eating. (1/9/2010; thanks, Maddy)
47) Always check the food labels and calories on everything you eat! Many labels are confusing and tricky so it is important to understand what all the claims mean. Something that is labeled fat-free might contain zero grams of fat but can still be loaded with lots of sugars. These can be hidden calories that we might overlook when reading certain labels.
This is a helpful resource to understanding food labels, it is worth checking out – The Low-Down on Food Label Claims. (1/13/2010)
48) Thinspiration is key to skinny success. Keep a thinspiration notebook and thinspo pictures everywhere you can. Keep a little picture in your purse for a constant reminder. Also, keep one right behind your credit card so that you are reinforced each time that you buy something, especially food. When traveling or when you will be away from home for a long time, bring your thinspiration notebook with you. Take a look when you feel the temptations – they are usually worse when you are away from home. (1/19/2010)
49) Eat what you crave OCCASIONALLY and eat it in MODERATION! Those two points are key here! For example, if you are craving chocolate cake don’t buy an entire chocolate cake – the temptation is way too significant and you’ll eat more than you should. Instead, buy a single serving piece and only eat half. Allow yourself to enjoy the things you love and crave. Deprivation leads to binging. (1/21/2010)
50) A good rule is to limit yourself to one to three bites of anything you crave. For example, whenever I go to a buffet I get one piece or serving of everything I want. This usually means that my plate ends up being completely full. Because I have a fast metabolism, I am able to have one bite of each thing and then throw the rest away. Another upside to this is that people will never question you about your weight because they will see you with a lot of food on your plate and at least some of it with bites eaten. It’s kind of expensive but TOTALLY WORTH IT! (1/22/2010; thanks, Carolyne)
51) Here’s a trick if you have friends that frequently offer you some of their food and then get really suspicious when you say no; then they try and force you to eat it even more. To avoid this, always chew gum around them. Food tastes horrible after gum so you’ll have a good excuse to say no! (1/26/2010; thanks, Lizzie)
52) There are so many ways to burn off calories without really trying. Whenever possible, take the long route to your destination. If you have to deliver something, take two trips instead of one. This will force you to move longer, faster or both; thus burning more calories. (1/29/2010; thanks, VonDramatica)
53) Stop thinking that you’re deprived of that bite of chocolate or a cookie. How about being deprived of the chance to get to a skinnier you or fit into that smaller dress? Ever felt deprived of confidence of your body? Give yourself that chance now. (2/2/2010; thanks, Chloe)
54) I have a tip that works great for me to help me not eat, similar to the lemon water tip. When I feel hungry, I suck on a Vitamin C drop. They’re the same price as generic cough drops and have the same benefits as lemon juice. And a bonus: only 15 calories. Three a day is as filling (for me at least) as three big meals and that’s ONLY 45 calories for the whole day! They have different flavors too so it’s not boring. (2/3/2010; thanks, Randa)
55) I just wanted to mention something that is really important for me and really helps resist temptation. Always look your best, always have your hair exactly how you want it and keep reapplying your make up through the day. Have your whole outfit perfect, whether your a goth girl or preppy or whatever. Always project a perfect image of who you are. Don’t skip your morning shower, or rush your make up. Getting up early to do these preparations will help you burn more calories anyway. When you feel perfectly presented, you won’t want to ruin that image by stuffing your face. You will feel more and more like perfection as you get better at presenting this perfect image, and as you get thinner. This goes for your room too, keep everything tidy and in its place. This helps with your control issues and gives you something active to do. When people notice this controlled perfection about you, they won’t care if you don’t eat much or often. They will see it as part of who you are, and be jealous that they don’t have the same self-control. (2/5/2010; thanks, Grace)
56) Lower the temperature in your house by 10 degrees to burn more calories, or take an icy cold shower. Just as with drinking ice water, it will cause your body to burn calories while warming you back up. (2/7/2010)
57) If you want to binge – distract yourself! Try decorating or organizing something. When I pick a project to do, it distracts my mind for a while and keeps me from thinking about food. Plus after I’m finished, I feel a great sense of accomplishment for what I just did. Still want to binge? Drink three big glasses of water. Really chug ‘em and I guarantee you’ll feel too sick to even eat. Another idea – drink a couple of teaspoons of vinegar. It makes your stomach feel really weird and you won’t want to eat. (2/18/2010)
58) If you have problems with gaining weight in a particular area, a certain problem zone, such as the stomach, wear underclothes designed to disguise or help with that problem zone 24/7. Instead of taking off your Spanx after work or school, keep them on. When the body is trying to find a place to store any piece of fat, it will look to those places but will not be able to squeeze the food there. I have struggled with my problem area of my stomach for years – no matter how skinny I get (I am 5′5″ and 101 pounds), I always have a bit more weight then I would like in that area and can never seem to get the flat stomach I want especially when compared to my longer limbs, like so many other women. A couple months ago, I decided to experiment and wore a tight pair of new Spanx to sleep. To my delight, I woke up the next morning with a completely flat stomach. It seems that the food bypasses my stomach and moves it to other areas now, leading to a more proportionate body fat distribution and the silhouette I have always dreamed of. I bet it sounds crazy, but there are lots of women who use sweat bands or other such garments to burn fat, and corsets have been shown to actually change the bone structure of women over time, so this is no different. I hope this helps, because for many women, no matter how skinny you get, you can’t get rid of problem areas and this often leads to disappointment. It even can cause people to give up entirely on their quest to be skinny, once they feel that their ideal body is simply unachievable. It has worked for me and I can’t say how excited I am! (2/23/2010; thanks, Carolyne)
59) Exercise the first thing in the morning. And exercise every morning. Get up earlier than everyone else to exercise. This helps me in several ways:
- Fat-burning will definitely occur because you haven’t had breakfast.
- It “wakes” you up, and you won’t feel lethargic for the rest of the day and end up reaching for food.
- You feel more in control because you’ve done something that most other people have no will power to do – getting up earlier to exercise. This has ripple effects on your confidence for the rest of the day.
- You wouldn’t want to “ruin” your exercise by overeating later. This is as opposed to exercising at night, when it simply feels like you’re “cancelling out” what you’ve eaten for the day.
If you can’t seem to muster up enough energy in the morning, simply take a nice walk. The weather’s cooling and perfect in the mornings. (3/2/2010; thanks, Chloe)
60) If you don’t know how many calories are in something, don’t eat it! If you absolutely must eat something that you don’t know the caloric content of, always go with it being much more than what you think it is. It’s better to think you’ve eaten more than you have than to think that you’ve eaten less. (3/3/2010; thanks, Minnie)
61) Food JUST SITS THERE. Whenever you feel like reaching for some food, take another look at it and you’ll come to realize that it just sits there. That cookie isn’t going to jump up at you and into your mouth. It is harmless. All you have to do is NOT reach for it and you’re safe. It’s not going to get at you if you leave it alone. Drink some water, and continue with your work 
(3/5/2010; thanks, Chloe)
62) Whenever you feel hungry, try to visualize that gnawing feeling in your stomach in problem areas like your thighs. Imagining your fat being burned away will help give you motivation and to not eat for longer periods of time. (3/8/2010; thanks, Evelyn)
Please feel free to email me (gurl at skinnygossip d0t com) with tips of your own and I will post those as well!