If You Hate Tracking Calories, This Will Make Losing Weight Easier

Counting calories and keeping portions small are helpful tools when trying to lose weight. Apps like MyFitnessPal and My Macros+ make it easier, but you still have to type each ingredient in, taking up precious time from your day.

Here's a tip from registered dietitian Leslie Langevin, MS, RD, CD, of Whole Health Nutrition that will help make things easier. Whether you use an app or a food journal, opt for meal repetition since "it helps with food tracking to make it faster." Leslie recommends having a handful of go-to healthy meals that you can rotate between throughout the week to prevent boredom and help you get a variety of nutrients. Choose a way to do meal repetition that works for your personality, your eating habits, and your schedule. Once you figure out the calories for your favorite meals, you won't have to waste time entering a new meal every day for every meal.

This is also a great way to keep life simple and turnkey, which helps with weight loss. "Consistency can help reduce temptation," said Leslie. And it will also simplify meal prep. Would you rather prep five different lunches for the week or just one? You can make a huge pot of soup, a slow-cooker meal, or an enormous salad, then divvy out portions each day and enter all your meals into your journal or app at once. Here are a few ways to inspire meal repetition: