Does size really matter?

"Body weight management can involve a combination of less eating and increased physical activity to create a calorie deficit."

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You can steadily achieve weight loss by consuming less food, which results in fewer calories. It is critical to maintain a healthy physical well-being, fitness level, and overall body activities by losing weight in an effective and safe manner. Too much calorie burn may cause greater muscle loss than fat loss. You can reduce the calorie intake moderately by about 500-600 per day to facilitate fat loss while minimizing muscle loss.

Consuming fewer sugar-sweetened beverages and products and more fruits, lean proteins, and vegetables facilitates weight loss.

It is rarely sustainable to lose weight in the short term. Sticking to long-term healthy habits can facilitate lasting weight loss and healthy wellbeing.

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Here are some tips and methods for controlling your portion size for weight loss:

Use your hands as a serving guide

You can use your hands to measure the portion of food intake rather than measuring tools to make it easier because the size of your hands corresponds to your body size.

The rough guide to measuring each meal is:

• Salads and vegetables: use about two first-sized portions for men and one first-sized portion for women.

• Proteins: Consume two palm-sized portions of protein for men and one palm-sized portion of protein for women when eating high-protein foods like beans, poultry, meat, and fish.

• Fat-rich foods: take about two thumb-sized portions for men and one thumb-sized portion for women of fat-rich foods such as nuts, oils, and butter.

• Carbs: Use about two cupped-hand sizes for men and one for women of carbs such as starchy vegetables and whole grains.

Serving with your hands has a significant impact on the amount of food consumed and is an appropriate guide for portion sizes. Different food groups correspond to various parts and shapes of your hands. Measuring the portion of food consumed is the ideal nutrition hack for healthy weight loss because it guides you to identify what is in the food and how much to consume in order to meet the set body weight management goals.

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Use a smaller plate

Eating everything from a smaller plate will make you feel satisfied rather than not eating everything from a larger plate and thus consuming fewer calories. It can make you feel full and enjoy the meal as it tricks the brain into feeling satisfied. The small plate portion also guides you on the optimal macronutrient ratio that aids in a well-balanced meal that will facilitate better weight management. The following is a rough guide to portion sizes for each meal:

• Salads and vegetables: take about a half plate, depending on the size of the plate.

• Proteins: You can take about a quarter plate of high-quality proteins such as eggs, tofu, fish, meat, pulses and beans, and poultry

• Fatty foods: take a half tablespoon, which is about 8 grams of high-fat foods such as butter, cheese, and oil.

• Carbs: Take a quarter plate of complex carbohydrate foods, such as starchy vegetables and whole grains.

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These are rough guides as different people have different dietary needs. For instance, people who engage in physical activities and body fitness need more food intake. Veggies and fruits contain low calories, high fiber content, and other nutrients; therefore, filling up on these options may limit the intake of high-calorie foods, facilitating healthy weight loss. A smaller plate will enable you to control your total food consumption. You can divide your plate depending on the food groups.

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When eating, request a half portion

Restaurants' servers are about 2.5 times larger than the standard potions; when eating out, you can ask for a children’s dish or a half portion to prevent overeating that will increase your calorie intake. To avoid overindulging, order salads and vegetables with your main course and avoid buffet-style dining. These will allow you to take less and feel satisfied while reducing the total amount of calorie intake, which in turn will promote weight loss.

Take a glass of water before starting any meal

Water intake about 25 minutes before the meal will suppress your appetite and naturally aid in portion control. It also helps you distinguish between thirst and hunger. Water intake of about 500 ml (17 ounces) before starting any meal can decrease your weight by about 45% in 12 weeks due to reduced food intake. With the same amount of water intake before meals, you consume about 13% fewer calories as water results in a feeling of fullness, causing less food intake.

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As a result, drinking water before meals can help with portion control and prevent overeating, which can lead to a decrease in calorie intake. Water intake is the best way to control your weight management, as it has a positive effect on reducing the amount of food intake that results in steady weight loss.

Choose a suitable serving size

You can select the appropriate measuring scale to assess the amount of food consumed. Consider reading the labels indicated on the product as it builds awareness of the proper portions. It also helps you to take the recommended serving sizes, which allows you to moderate your food intake.

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Here is a rough guide for each meal:

• Salads and vegetables: take about one to two cups, which is approximately 150–300 grams.

• Cooked rice or pasta: measure at least a half cup, which is about 150–300 grams.

• Butter nuts: measure at least 16 grams, which is two table spoons.

• Cooked meat: take about three ounces, which is approximately 85 grams.

• Cereals for breakfast: at least take one cup, which is equivalent to 40 grams.

You do not have to always measure all the meals, but it is essential for a short time to develop awareness of the appropriate calorie intake that will suit your weight management goals.

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Overindulging may lead to unhealthy habits, which in turn result in weight gain. The portion size of your food intake has a great impact on your general weight management. Reduced food intake causes a calorie deficit, which in turn leads to steady weight loss. Minding the portion sizes and measuring out different meals, such as grains, veggies, and fruits, and weighing proteins, will help you track food and take control of your healthy eating habits.

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