'I dropped 10 dress sizes in 2 months - my favourite low-calorie snacks were the secret to my success'

While it's totally possible to enjoy treats in moderation, sticking to healthier foods most of the time is always advisable.

A slimmer who dropped 10 dress sizes in eight weeks shared some of the low-calorie options that helped her make a major transformation. During this period, she stocked up on plenty of veggies.

The slimmer (who goes by @mentalgastric on TikTok) listed her "10 favourite foods that are basically zero calories".

She credited her transformation to eating more cucumber, celery, broccoli, bell peppers, asparagus, pickles, lettuce, tomatoes, kale and cabbage.

These can be added to meals to bulk them out and make them more filling, or snacked on between meals.

Nutritious, low-calorie veggies make excellent swaps for common processed snacks such as crisps, chocolate and pastries.

Eating more vegetables is widely hailed as an effective weight loss strategy. The NHS advises slimmers to get their five-a-day - 80g of fresh, canned or frozen fruit or vegetables count as one portion.

It's important to be mindful of calorie density (how many calories are in a given weight of food) when selecting what you want to eat.

Top 10 (basically) zero-calorie foods

1. Cucumber
2. Celery
3. Broccoli
4. Bell peppers
5. Asparagus
6. Pickles
7. Lettuce
8. Tomatoes
9. Kale
10. Cabbage

Vegetables are typically low-calorie-density, meaning that even if you eat a lot of them, you won't be consuming many calories.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention added: "The water and fibre in fruits and vegetables will add volume to your dishes so you can eat the same amount of food with fewer calories. This means you can feel full while eating fewer calories."

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For those trying to incorporate more vegetables into their diets, one top tip is to watch how you're preparing it. Slimmers should aim foruncooked veggies or ones that have been cooked with fat-free or low-fat cooking techniques.

In another video, slimmer @mentalgastric shared before and after pictures from her weight loss journey, explaining that she was able to lose 7st in 10 weeks because she is "bigger" and excess weight comes off faster the more you have to lose.

Heavier people can lose weight faster than lighter people because they naturally burn more calories than lighter people. What's more, they can create a more sustainable calorie deficit as their starting calories will likely be greater.

If you are concerned about your weight, diet or any other health issues, it is always best to consult your doctor, as they can offer you tailored professional advice.