Cut calories without noticing

1-Hide the remote control

No, it's not just a sure-fire way to annoy everyone else in your household. Getting up to change channels can give you a low-impact workout during an otherwise lazy night in front of the TV. 

'You could burn an extra 100 calories per day simply by getting up off the sofa,' says Jane Michell,  Just think of the calories you'll shift while flicking between The X Factor and Strictly Come Dancing on a Saturday evening!

2-Buy smaller crockery

It might seem a little extreme to splash out
on a new dinner service – but getting in the habit of using smaller bowls, mugs and plates can help you eat and drink less without noticing a difference. 

Want proof? A US survey published in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine found that people who used larger bowls when serving themselves ice cream ate 30 per cent more than those who used smaller bowls.

3-Try supermarket aerobics

Hate doing the weekly shop? See how quickly you can get it done - and burn extra calories in the process. The rules? 'Ensure you go up and down every aisle,' says Dean Hodgkin, fitness expert at Ragdale Hall. 'Pack your own bags and carry them to the car yourself. 'If you must use a trolley, take it back to the store rather than leaving it at the collection point in the car park.' An hour-long supermarket trip burns around 140 calories – but you could shift another 100 if you really pick up the pace.

4-Ditch the pizza crust

Stop trying to saw your way through that super-tough crust – and concentrate on chatting to your dining companion instead! 'Pizza crusts are almost always laden with fat, so you'll save around 100 calories if you don't eat them,' says Jane Michell. 

Want more ways to resist temptation in Pizza Express? 'Say no to garlic bread and ask for your salad dressing on the side – and you could save a further 200 calories,' says Jane.

5-Start talking

Just about to email a colleague? Stop right there! 'If someone's in the same building, try getting up to speak to them face-to-face instead,' suggests Dean Hodgkin. Walking to someone else's desk – particularly if it's on another floor – is a good way to build exercise into your day. Likewise, if you're at home, don't call friends who live in the same neighbourhood – pop round and see them. 

Expecting a call? Leave your mobile upstairs. That way, you'll have to run upstairs to answer it every time it rings.

6-Get spicy!

Adding herbs and spices to your cooking gives it extra zest and flavour – while naturally making you take smaller mouthfuls. The result? You feel full-up quicker and don't consume so much. 'Health spas have used this weight-loss trick for ages to cut calories without sacrificing taste,' says Jane Michell. 

What's more, research suggests that eating spicy food – particularly chilli – can raise your metabolic rate by 5 to 8 per cent for up to three hours after you've eaten.

7-Give your seat up on the bus

You might shift a few calories in the scrum to grab the last free seat on the bus or train – but standing up has its advantages too. In fact, you'll burn off around 15 more calories an hour by standing tall and thinking slim than you will by sitting down and slouching. Need more persuading? According to scientists at the University of Missouri, the enzymes responsible for burning fat shut down whenever we sit.

8-Have a good fidget!

It might be a tad irritating for the poor soul sitting next to you in the office or on the sofa – but being a constant fidget can help you shift more calories. 'Faffing and fidgeting can burn up to an extra 350 calories per day,' says Fitness First personal trainer Julie Seymour. 

'Research has shown that people who fidget more are generally slimmer and find it harder to put on weight than those who find it easy to get settled.'

9-Drink ice-cold water

The prospect of dropping ice cubes into your drinking water isn't particularly enticing on cold days – but it could be worth a go. The reason? 'Drinking ice-cold water gives your body a little extra calorie-burn because the water needs to be heated up in your tummy,' says personal trainer and sports therapist Joslyn Thompson. 'It's only 17.5 calories per 16 fl oz – but every little helps!' 

What's more, ensuring you drink plenty of water can help you feel full up so you'll be less likely to reach for sugary snacks.

10-Cut the cappuccino

Although caffeine is commonly used to assist weight loss – with frequent consumption it can be very calorific. A large latte can contain as many as 300 calories, and if you make it a mocha, it could be as many as 600 – or a third of your daily calorie allowance.
Turn things around: make it a skinny, or order a black coffee.