12 Weight Loss Tricks That Take Just 60 Seconds to Do

Once a day, take a supplement of vitamin D. Not only will it help protect your bones, strengthen your muscles, and lower your risk for cancer; a new study has found evidence that one pill a day can help the body block the effects of cortisol, a stress hormone which leads to excess tummy fat.

Snack on something that will aid your weight loss, like a handful of mixed nuts. Nuts are full of healthy fats, which help you feel full more quickly, boost your energy, and prevent you from reaching for chips when you’re feeling peckish.

Many times throughout the day, stop for a minute and sip: Staying hydrated can aid in weight loss by keeping you satisfied and energized in between meals. Throw slices of lemon and sprigs of mint into your H20, both of which will add a touch of calorie-free flavor and sweetness as well as aid in digestion.

Go on, reach for a bite (or three!) of dessert. A weight-loss study from Georgia State University found that if you eat something sugary with your meal, you remember it much more vividly than if you skip the sweets — and remembering what you ate can curb a tendency to over-consume food.

There are pieces of produce that are worth more for your total health than others, according to a recent report published in the journal PLOS. These multi-tasking fruits and veggies, the researchers found, not only boost your overall health but also have been proven to help you shed pounds. And at the very top of the list of winners? Bright, juicy blueberries.

Put a mirror near your table: Scientists found that eating eating unhealthy foods (like chocolate cake) in front of one causes foods to be "less tasty"--and leads to weight loss.

Stop for a moment in the morning--and make it every morning--and put some food in your belly. According to the federal Dietary Guidelines for Americans, skipping breakfast has been associated with excess body weight. (P.S. Your best bets for noshing are healthy carbs combined with fiber and protein; think peanut butter on toast with strawberries or a parfait made with low-fat yogurt, whole-grain cereal, and berries.)

When you're finished with dinner, light a scented candle in your home. Not just any scent will do: The aroma of vanilla has been shown to lessen sugar cravings.

Study after study has shown that you can actually reap greater benefits of exercise by working out in short, high-intensity bursts known as intervals than you can exercising for longer periods at a slower pace. Why not see how many jumping jacks you can do in a minute--and turn it into a daily habit?

Though the calories you burn doing it are minimal, chewing gum can be a great weight loss aid because the action may help distract your mouth and your brain from thoughts of food, which in turn helps curb your appetite for mindless snacking.

Add ginger to your tea. Ginger root plays a key role in weight loss by reducing your body's production of insulin, the hormone responsible for raising blood sugar levels, according to the European Journal of Nutrition. Another key to ginger's pound-shedding power is that it helps you feel fuller and helps burn fat rather than just helping you lose water weight.

Standing up straight and practicing good posture can help you look and feel thinner. Why? When we slouch, we let our bellies hang out and tend to look heavier than we really are — but standing tall also allows you to strengthen your core muscles (which in turns help burn more calories). The best part? It takes less than three seconds out of your day. Try it right now!

This article originally appeared on our sister site, Woman's World.