If you want to lose five actual pounds by next weekend, listen up: Losing weight fast, though possible, is almost always unhealthy. That’s because aiming to lose five pounds in a week can set you up for binge-eating and fluctuations that interfere with long-lasting results, which basically defeats the whole point, right?

You could try the following safe and proven tips to help you lose your desired pound of weight.

1. Choose Quality over quantity: If you focus your consumption on quality instead of quantity, you will stand a great chance of eating more nutrient-filled options that lead you more satiated
2. Track your diet: Bring to memory that “no food is inherently good or bad” But if you would feel guilty or anxious jotting down everything you eat, then you should probably steer clear of it. On the flip side, it is said that those who have the propensity to track what they eat stand the chance of recording success in their quest to lose weight because it raises awareness about how you enthusiastically consume too much food.
3. Focus on plants: People who feed majorly on grains or vegetables are often termed “vegetarian” Fibre, unlike protein and fat, slows the digestion process and optimizes fullness and nutrients intake at mealtimes, a plant-based diet can help you get to the level of satisfaction long after eating
4. Settle for low-glycemic carbohydrates: A food glycemic refers to how easily sugar settles in the bloodstreams and how slowly the food gets digested. Foods like potatoes, white bread and short-grain rice slow down metabolism which makes it difficult to shed weight.
5. Make dinner small rationed: Eating heavily at night is more dangerous to your health than poison (if I should exaggerate). Whatever you choose to eat at night, ensure you focus on the small ration of food.
6. Do not skip meals: “Eating at regular intervals during the day optimizes your blood sugar control, meaning you avoid the spike and crash that comes with eating a big meal on an empty stomach” Romano. When you avoid eating when you are hungry, your chances of welcoming hunger pains or food cravings could force you to settle for snacks and junks which are rich in fat and sugar making your weight shedding unsuccessful.
7. Get your protein from lean source: Dietary protein is one of the most important tools in your weight shedding armoury, partly “you expend more energy digesting protein versus carbohydrate and fat” Dr Seltzer. A lean source of protein could range from chicken breast, cheese, white fish, and others.