A study published earlier this year in the Journal of Consumer Psychology reported that restaurant goers order differently, depending on the size of the waiter taking the order.

The study conducted two experiments: one measuring quantity of food eaten, and one looking at food choices of both dieters and non-dieters when ordering food from obese and non-obese servers.

The results may surprise you.

But then she plateaued and wanted to try weight loss surgery. (She is only 5′1″) Her doctor suggested she first try the Medifast diet for one month. She ended up doing this for 12 months and losing another 120 pounds.

Read her inspiring story and see her ‘after’ photo here.

Now although I’m sure all of that advice is well intentioned it may be harmful to your ultimate weight loss success.

For starters you won’t know what is working (or not working) if you continue to tinker with the program you are currently on and that’s why I recommend sticking with one program for at least 6 weeks to give it a fair shot. Secondly, unless the person giving you the advice lost weight using the method they are suggesting (and kept it off) then you can’t be too sure if everything they are sharing with you is valid.

Lastly, I would really be careful trying any pills, potions, crash diets, teas, creams, etc. even if a friend swears by them. Although a product advertising losing 10 inches in 10 minutes may seem like something you’d want, the long term consequences will appear far less pleasant.

My final word of advice is to stick with one, well mapped out weight loss plan and follow it to the letter. As for friendly advice, the next time your friend goes to offer you a weight loss tip just “smile and nod.”

Stephen Cabral, CSCS, CPT, NS is the owner of Stephen Cabral Studio weight loss & personal training in Boston, MA, and also offers online fitness coaching.

I find that too many people who enter a weight loss program focus on “how fat they are,” rather than on some positive aspect of their life. For example, you may not love the way you look, but if you constantly view yourself as an overweight person then it’s going to be difficult for you to envision yourself reaching your ideal body weight (which is essential to maintaining weight loss).

I’m also not saying you need to try to trick yourself into believing you are a different size than you currently are. What I would like you to do is stop being so hard on yourself. After you can stop judging how your current body looks, you will then be ready to accept your mission of reshaping your physique.
 
The focus should also be on the process and on how you are now living a healthier overall lifestyle that will benefit you for the rest of your life. Your journey to your ideal body size and shape will happen if you let go of who you are now and direct your attention on the the new healthy you that is waiting to come out.

Stephen Cabral, CSCS, CPT, NS is the owner of Stephen Cabral Studio weight loss & personal training in Boston, MA, and also offers online fitness coaching.

Look for buzz words that indicate extra calories, such as creamed, fried, crispy, pan-fried, stuffed, sauteed, scalloped, Alfredo, tempura, battered, batter-dipped, breaded, au gratin, phyllo-wrapped, in puff pastry or en croute. Same goes for bearnaise, bechamel, beurre blanc and creme fraiche.

You’ll know what not to eat once you’ve learned these, but what about the good stuff?

Choose loin, round, flank, and other lower-fat cuts of meat. Skinless poultry, fish and seafood are also good choices. Choose broiled, grilled, baked, boiled, poached, roasted and steamed.

Related: Eating Out Quick Tips

Look for buzz words that indicate extra calories, such as creamed, fried, crispy, pan-fried, stuffed, sauteed, scalloped, Alfredo, tempura, battered, batter-dipped, breaded, au gratin, phyllo-wrapped, in puff pastry or en croute. Same goes for bearnaise, bechamel, beurre blanc and creme fraiche.

You’ll know what not to eat once you’ve learned these, but what about the good stuff?

Choose loin, round, flank, and other lower-fat cuts of meat. Skinless poultry, fish and seafood are also good choices. Choose broiled, grilled, baked, boiled, poached, roasted and steamed.

Related: Eating Out Quick Tips

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On the face of it, it’s good advice.  The benefits of getting plenty of fluid go well beyond just helping us achieve healthy weights.  As far as weight loss goes, we’ve also recognized for some time that confusing thirst for hunger can lead to eating when we’re not really hungry.  By staying well-hydrated, we short-circuit that confusion before it even begins. 

On the face of it, it’s good advice.  The benefits of getting plenty of fluid go well beyond just helping us achieve healthy weights.  As far as weight loss goes, we’ve also recognized for some time that confusing thirst for hunger can lead to eating when we’re not really hungry.  By staying well-hydrated, we short-circuit that confusion before it even begins.