Showing posts with label Tips. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Tips. Show all posts

Monday, September 28, 2009

Baking Tips...

I love to bake. Sometimes more than others, but lately I've been on a baking kick and it has reminded me of a few of my favorite healthy tricks. When something calls for flour use half white/half whole wheat flour. I've experimented with this and using only wheat flour is too much wheatiness where as half the called for amount seems to be just enough to add a kick of fiber while not sabatoging the recipe and making it taste like cardboard.
Also another good tip is to exchange applesauce for butter. I've found this works best with breads, muffins, and cakey type things verses cookies. Although it works with cookies too you just have to add more flour because it causes them to be a little thin and flakey when they cook.
I also never use whole milk when they call for that. I always use skim or 1% and if you do use butter use smart balance and/or canola oil. Never shortening or margarine.
These are just a few of my tried and true tips that work for me everytime. I also would like to add I've tested these on my hubby and he doesn't notice how healthy they are either as long as I throw in a few chocolate chips as well. Moderation in all things right :)

Wednesday, March 25, 2009

A very commonly asked question...



When is the best time to workout to burn the most calories?

Isn't it better to do cardio in the morning?

Don't be confused like the poor girl in the above picture. She just can't figure it out. She's like, "Should I go now, or will I burn more calories and lose more weight if I go later?"

This is a very common question and it has a simple answer...

There is no perfect time to exercise and burn a magical amount of extra calories.

When is the best time to workout?
WHEN YOU ARE GOING TO CONSISTENTLY DO IT!!!

I'll use myself as an example. I'm not a morning person. As much as I'd love to get up at 5 or 6 and workout everyday it just isn't going to happen. I've tried it and that warm bed just is more inviting. But get me to the gym around noon or my favorite is in the evening and I can work out for two hours easy. It just takes me a bit longer to get my blood flowing in the mornings so I've found it best to work out later in the day.

HOMEWORK ASSIGNMENT: work out at different times and see what works best for you. The biggest key is finding a time that you can stick with. I plan my workouts into the day as if it were an appointment or part of my work day so I just don't go home until I get it done. The second I get home and relax it's a lot harder to get back out and get to the gym.

There you have it! Now you have the magic answer...That there is no magic answer you just have to be CONSISTANT.

Wednesday, February 18, 2009

"I be up in the gym just working on my fitness"

Fergy, Britney, JT, Christina, 50 Cent, Black Eyed Peas, Timberland...These are just a few of my favorites that I listen too when I'm working out. Now I love me some great mellow music, but not when I'm working out. To be honest I've never been able to figure out why people go to the gym and read a book. Next time you're at the gym take a look at those people and you'll notice they usually aren't going at a very fast pace.

After doing a little research there are studies that prove my theory to be true. What you are doing while working out can actually enhace your performance. A recent study showed that music can enhance endurance by 15% and help you enjoy your workout more. Another study I found suggests that listening to music while exercising helped to increase scores on a verbal fluency test among cardiac rehabilitation patients. There are also several websites dedicated just to this topic of working out and music. A few of my favorites were the top ten health benefits of working out to music you can find here and another website that maps out the best songs and playlists that will increase your pace and thus your overall beats per minute. Have a favorite song? Go to this website and see if it's at a fast enough pace for you to be working out to.

Take home message: Working out has to be fun and adding music to your routine is one more way to motivate and encourage you to keep going. My rule of thumb is to mix up my play list and get new tunes when I start to feel sluggish in my workouts. It's amazing what a few new songs can do!!! Give this tip a try and I guarantee you'll be looking like Fergalicious in no time.

Saturday, February 14, 2009

Mini Meals

Just thought I'd give a quick reminder/challenge to eat mini meals through out the day. It seems like most people maybe get 3 meals if they're lucky. Best rule of thumb is to eat smaller meals that are more like snacks every 4 hours. By doing this you will actually speed your metabolism which will help you burn more calories just by eating. (Your body has to burn calories just to eat food and when you constantly fuel your body you will have an increase in your total calorie burn for the day.)

For those of you that still don't believe me I'd like to use my survivor example. If you were stranded on a island and were only eating once or twice a day your body would hold onto your body fat and not let you lose weight. Even if you're only eating 1000 calories or so. It doesn't make sense but it's true. Trade this with eating about 300 calories 5-6 times a day and you will likely lose weight and/or you won't be hungry anymore knowing that you can eat again in a few hours.

Challenge for the week: add mini meals to your day and notice the increase in energy and decrease in cravings and hunger pangs.

Thursday, December 4, 2008

Do it yourself...

Okay so I love these things. Snacks, treats, crackers, etc. made into these cute little 100 calorie packs so you won't overeat or overindulge. Whoever thought of these things was on the right track because our portions are out of control these days and we all know it's hard to eat only two cookies when the whole bag is sitting there staring at you. (Please tell me I'm not the only one this happens to!)

The only downside...you pay extra for the packaging and in these economic times who wants to pay 2-3 extra dollars when you don't have to. I say do it yourself. This is just a reminder that with a little bit of planning you can make the same thing at home and save lots of money in the process. So next time your at the store pick up some of the snack size Ziploc bags and start portioning out your favorite snacks ahead of time.


ADD MOMENT: Along these lines, if you want to read an interesting study on fast food portions click on this link. It's shocking to see how much extra food we consume now compared to just 20 years ago.

Friday, November 21, 2008

Traveling Tips...

Holidays are coming up and that means a lot of people are traveling on the road and spending extra time in the car. What's worse for your healthy lifestyle/diet than a road trip and sitting all day? Eating convenience food and fast food along the way. If you're lucky you'll get a Subway at your rest stop, but most of the time your left with either Burger King or even better Dairy Queen...(said with sarcasm in my voice.)

Don't play the game of "I had no other choices and I had to eat the junk food because that's all there is." Plan ahead!!! Bring snacks such as fresh fruit, string cheese, nuts, pretzels, granola bars, water, and gum. Rather than stopping at fast food places for lunch stop at a grocery store and get stuff to make sandwiches or something else that's light and easy to take on the road.

Also don't forget to get in your exercise along the way. Stop every couple of hours and stretch your legs, run around in a park or along the side of the road, and get your blood flowing by doing a few lunges, push ups, or even bring a jump rope. Plan extra time into your trip to stop and go on a hike or see a site along the way to get you outside and give your body a break from being cramped in a car all day.

Follow these tips and I guarantee you'll feel rejuvenated when you get to your destination instead of feeling like you've gained an extra five pounds.

Tuesday, November 18, 2008

Late Night Eating...

Tip of the Day:
There's a huge rumor out there to cut off eating at a particular time of day to lose weight and that eating late at night will make you gain weight. I've heard 7 is the magic number for some reason. The truth is there is no science that says if you stop eating at a certain time of the day your body is going to burn calories and you'll lose weight. I like to think of it as a overeating food trap if you cut off your calories at 7. Especially if you're a night owl like me you'll end up starving by 11 and you'll want to eat everything in sight.

A good rule of thumb that you can apply to your own schedule and lifestyle is to cut out food 3 hours before bed. Calories are calories and your body can't tell if you're eating at 6 p.m or 10 p.m. It's a good idea to cut off food about 3 hours before bed so you can digest your last meal. Otherwise you'll go to bed on a full stomach that will likely store those calories not burned away as fat.

But don't try and force yourself into cutting out your calories early in the evening thinking it's a magic trick that will solve all of your problems. Because it's not and the law of thermodynamics just doesn't work that way. Total calories during the day are total calories. Overeating in general causes you to gain weight. It doesn't matter when you eat them they all still count!

Tuesday, October 28, 2008

Just a little reminder...

Halloween can be dangerous on the pant size. Don't get too excited and tell yourself you have the energy of a two year old and you're going to run off the hundreds of extra calories from all the sugar. It's most likely that you'll overindulge and then feel gross afterward wondering how that whole pile of extra Halloween candy ended up in your mouth.

A few things that help me this time of year to avoid the excess junk is make a plan. Plan for the treats you are going to enjoy. Guaranteed every time you turn around you are going to have an excuse/opportunity to have extra treats that normally aren't around. Last week I allowed for a caramel apple and this week I am going to allow for one special treat on Friday. That's it. I plan for it into my day and then I don't feel guilty and I can enjoy the special holiday goodie.

Also if you're passing out candy don't pass out your favorite. I personally love M&M's and Peanut Butter Cups. However...there's no way I have these in the house. I get tootsie rolls or the sour candies that don't appeal to me. Takes a bit of the temptation away.

Just remember the holidays are full of fun and should be enjoyed, but just don't go too crazy because I will bet if you gain five pounds looking back it will not have been worth it!

Thursday, October 16, 2008

Interval Training

Quick Fitness Tip:
Mix up your normal cardio routine with interval training. I see people at the gym do the same thing everytime they come in. They hop on the treadmill, elliptical, or bike and just dilly dally along for 20-30 minutes leave and then wonder why they're not losing weight or seeing changes in their body. If you're just trying to maintain weight this might be fine, but most people are not so be effective with your workouts and your time.
Try adding intervals. Sprint as fast as you can for 1-2 minutes and then recover at a normal speed for 1-2 minutes. Keep repeating this for the rest of your cardio and I guarantee you will feel a major difference.
To see changes you have to push your body past it's comfort zone. It's hard to sprint for an extended period of time, but by switching back and forth between a sprint and recovery you will still reap the benefits from pushing your heart rate to the max. Try it next time you're at the gym and see for yourself.

Monday, October 6, 2008

Cooking/Baking Tips

One of the benefits of cooking your own food is knowing exactly what you're putting in it.  Still lots of recipes call for things that can be exchanged with healthier options to cut out excess fat and calories. And the best part is it can still taste good!
Here are a few of my personal favorites that I use all the time in the kitchen:
  • Instead of using butter for grilling (or even a more healthy option olive oil) just use cooking spray.  zero calories is better than 150-300 extra calories that often aren't remembered.  
  • If you have to use butter use Smart Balance or I can't believe it's not butter butter spray.  For oils best options are olive or canola.
  • Substitute whole wheat flour for white flour.  I personally like the taste with all wheat flour, but if it's too strong for you do half white flour/half wheat flour.  Adds fiber to the recipe and isn't as noticeable.
  • Swap out butter in baked goods with applesauce, mashed bananas, or low fat yogurt.
  • Add vegetables to everything. 
  • Don't add salt and if you do a little goes a long way.  In cooking I don't use it at all.  Average american has high blood pressure and we naturally get enough sodium from our daily foods.  Adding extra salt just isn't necessary.
  • Use Splenda instead of sugar.  Zero calories yet again!
  • Don't forget your spices.  They add tons of flavor to all sorts of recipes.  Cinnamon is my personal favorite because it helps with digestion and circulation. 
  • If given an option always go for the low fat or zero fat option.  Ex: Sour cream, cheese, sauces, dressings, etc.
  • Oatmeal is great for baking.  Adds fiber in a second.  I try add it into cookies and muffins even if it's not called for. 
  • Need a chocolate fix?  Cocoa powder has quite the punch and dark chocolate and semi-sweet goes a long way.  Try and use these when baking.
Hopefully some of these will help you in the kitchen.  If you have a few of your own please comment and let the viewers know them as well :)

Thursday, October 2, 2008

DOMS

You might be asking yourself what's this?  DOMS=Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness.  I like to call it DOBS=Delayed Onset BODY Soreness or when you feel like your muscles are so tight they are going to fall off.  
I recently ran a marathon and I had some extremely sore muscles for a good 2/3 days.  I was quickly reminding myself of all the helpful tips I've learned to relieve muscle soreness and to get back to normal.
First of all lets talk about why we get DOMS.  After putting the muscles through any type of stress (exercise, lifting weights, physical therapy, etc.) the body actually breaks the muscle down in order to build it up and make it stronger.  The torn muscle fibers then result in stiffness and pain that can come anywhere from 12-48 hours after.  
People get sore for different reasons.  A few examples of when you might get sore would be starting a new workout program, changing your workout routine, increasing intensity/duration of a program, or just switching to a different type of movement that your body isn't used to.
Ways to treat DOMS
-Rest/Ice/Compress/Elevate 
-Gentle massaging
-Ibuprofin (800 mg every 4 hrs) this doesn't help the muscles to actually recover it just helps to relieve some of the pain
-Warm baths (add 1-2 cups of Epsom salt in bath to help even more) 
-Gentle stretching/yoga if you feel up to it
-Keep moving.  light exercise or just walking.  If you completely stop activity your muscles will contract even more and it will feel like they're just getting worse
-Drink plenty of water to help with circulation
So there you have it.  A few of my tips that helped me get my legs back.  Hopefully this will help next time you feel like your 90 years old walking around with a cane.

Monday, September 15, 2008

Treadmill Desk-Primetime 20/20


Extreme weight gain calls for extreme fitness measures. According to the CDC in 2007 66.3% of people over the age of 20 are overweight (BMI 25-29.9) and 32% are obese (BMI 30 and above.) As a society we are eating too much and not getting enough activity. There are lots of things that can cause a person to gain weight, but I think a couple of the biggest things are desk jobs, fast food, cars, and not inconveniencing ourselves.
We've come from just about 100 years ago where we had to hunt our food, walk everywhere, and prepare our food/clothes/shelter from the ground, scratch, and whatever we were able to find. Verses today where everything is convenient and you can buy food cheap, quick, and lacking any type of nutrition.
Someone is definitely thinking outside the box with this treadmill desk. Do I think it will work? I don't think it will really take off, but I could be wrong and if it's making a difference and getting people moving I'm all for it.
This video was just one more reminder to me of the importance of keeping your body moving, trying to eat healthy, and take that extra walk around the neighborhood to avoid those extra pounds that tend to pile on when sitting in front of the computer or whatever else might be keeping you sedentary.

Tuesday, September 2, 2008

Food/Exercise Journal

I've recently recommitted myself to writing down my food and exercise logs in a journal. This is something I've been really good about doing the last 2 or so years of my life. I got a little off the bandwagon with the summer, but I've started it back up.
I like this idea for a couple of different reasons.
1. Accountability-It's like a little coach. Maybe I'm the only one, but I hate having to write down a junk food binge or not being able to jot down any type of activity for several days in a row. Even if I'm super busy I'll just get out and take a brisk walk so I can write something down for the day.
2. Recognize Habits/Trends-Getting everything on paper is a huge step to see what is going on. We like to make ourselves out to be perfect and oftentimes in our mind we think we're doing a lot. After a week of writing everything down you can look back and notice you might have a energy drop at 2 and you're always going for sugar or that if you don't get in a workout in the morning it doesn't happen. Just get in the habit of writing it down. Good or bad and then you can work on your weaknesses and recognize your strengths and build upon them.
3. It works-Of all of the clients I've trained the most successful were the ones who religiously kept a food/exercise log.
So what are you waiting for? Grab some notebook paper and start keeping a log of your food/exercise each day. Keep it simple and stick to it!!! I promise it will help you move forward in reaching your goal quicker than if you don't.

Tuesday, August 26, 2008

Are pets good for your health?

I'm a dog owner and I absolutely love it. Gunner is such a great little friend and he brightens my day in so many ways. He's always full of affection and loves even if I've had a rough day or I'm upset about something. He plays with me and loves to follow me around the house and check on what I'm doing. Right now as I'm typing this up he is napping at my feet. What a special little friend he is to me and I never realized the bond a person can have with an animal until I got my very own. This has got me thinking recently about the pet/human connection.
There are so many positive things about being a pet owner. I was very excited to share some of the things I found out...
According to the CDC pets are good for cardiovascular health. Owning a pet can lower your blood pressure, your cholesterol, and triglyceride levels.
Studies have also found that pet owners are more likely than people without pets to survive after hospitalization for a heart attack, and that owning a pet lowers anxiety and decreases feelings of loneliness and depression.
Pets also keep their owners fit from walks and chasing them around the house. Owning a pet increases the opportunities for outdoor activities and more exercise. (I know Mike and I like to do certain things outside so we can take Gunner along.)
A pet can give their owner a sense of meaning and purpose, companionship, and protection. This is especially great for empty nesters or older people who feel a void after a loved one passes away or all of their kids have moved away from home.
Take home message...if you're thinking about getting a pet find the one that is best for you and for your lifestyle. (The last thing we need is an impulse buy and more pets in animal shelters.) But hopefully after reading this article you wont just think of pets as annoyances that potty where they shouldn't and leave messes. They will become your best friend and along the way help you become a little more healthy without you even having to lift a finger.

Sunday, August 17, 2008

Exercise and Satiety

Do you ever feel more or less hungry after working out? For me it depends on what I'm doing. After running I'm never really hungry just thirsty, but after lifting weights or swimming I am ravenous. I headed to the research to see what I could find on this topic.

The verdict...It looks like the harder you work and the hotter your body gets the less you want to eat. For example if you go for a morning swim you will still feel ready for a big breakfast versus going for a morning run it's more likely that you're not going to be hungry at all. This difference is largely due to the cool water keeping your core body temperature low. Swimming is not the only exercise that seems to not decrease your appetite. If you go work out but you're not working very hard you're likely to not reap the benefits of a decreased appetite either.

Take home message...work out to help trick your stomach into feeling more full and also when working out you'll want to make healthier decisions with your diet so you don't ruin the extra calories that you just burned off.

(click here for more information on this topic. Also I got this post idea from one of my readers. Please feel free to keep throwing questions out there and I'll do my best to answer them!)

Saturday, July 5, 2008

Pancakes for Breakfast...Count me in!!!

There was a study released June 17th that is helping to show the importance of eating breakfast and actually that by taking it to the next level and consuming about 600 calories for breakfast you can lose more weight. It's called the Big Breakfast Diet. When I first heard about this my initial thoughts were pancakes, sausage, bacon, etc. It's just another gimmick diet and there's no way this can work. But after doing a little research I liked some of the things I saw.
They had two groups on separate diets. One group followed a low calorie/low carb diet and the other group was on the low calorie/big breakfast diet. Here's the overall breakdown:

Low Carb Group
about 1000 total calories with 290 calories for breakfast
Big Breakfast Group
about 1200 total calories and 610 for breakfast

What were the results? After the first 4 months the low-carb diet had an average weight loss of 28 pounds while the big breakfast diet group lost an average of 23 pounds. It was after eight months, however, that the true benefits of a big breakfast diet became apparent. After eight months the low-carb dieters had regained 18 pounds. The big breakfast diet group continued to lose weight, losing another 16.5 pounds on average.

This is a substantial difference worth talking about. I always encourage my clients to really think about breakfast and make sure they get in a solid meal to start the day. One of my philosophies is eat breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince, and dinner like a pauper. This way you are tapering off the food as your body is winding down and you're not consuming extra calories that you don't need.

Take home message, evaluate what you're doing for breakfast and 600 calories might seem a little high for some, but 350 should be doable and your body and metabolism will thank you later for it.

(sample 600 calorie breakfast would be: 1 slice whole grain toast, 1 tbsp peanut butter, 1 cup milk, 1 cup orange juice, 1/2 banana, and 1 hard boiled egg)

Wednesday, July 2, 2008

Do you have a healthy body image?

I was at the pool today and I overheard two young girls (like 9 years old) talking about how fat their thighs were and how they need to lose weight. These girls were miniature and I couldn't believe what I was hearing. I think as women we are attacked daily about not feeling pretty, thin, and/or young enough. Satan has really figured something out by getting us down about our body and self esteem he can keep us from building up the kingdom and serving others. Poor body images are starting younger and younger. There has to be something we can do. Hopefully this post will give everyone a few insights on their body image and ways to make it a better.

With a positive or healthy body image, a woman has a real perception of her size and shape, and she feels comfortable with her body. With a negative body image, a woman has a distorted perception of her shape and size, compares her body to others, and feels shame and anxiety about her body. Being unhappy with your body can affect how you think and feel about yourself as a person. A poor body image can also lead to emotional distress, low self-esteem, dieting, anxiety, depression, and eating disorders. Developing a positive body image and a healthy mental attitude is crucial to a woman's happiness.

If you think you have a negative body image you are not alone. Women in the U.S. are under pressure to measure up to a certain ideal of beauty, which can lead to poor body image. Women are constantly bombarded with perfect celebrities in movies, models on magazines, people on TV, the super slim coworker who looks amazing, etc. By presenting an ideal that is so difficult to achieve and maintain, the cosmetic and diet product industries are assured growth and profits.

We all want to look our best, but a healthy body is not always linked to appearance. In fact, healthy bodies come in all shapes and sizes! Changing your body image means changing the way you think about your body. At the same time, healthy lifestyle choices are also key to improving body image. Make lifestyle changes: eat right, exercise, sleep 8 hours, and just take care of yourself. If you do these things you're naturally going to feel better about yourself. Along with making lifestyle changes, try not to obsess about what size pants you're wearing or what number the scale reads. If you need to lose weight to be healthy and get back to your natural weight that's one thing, but if your trying to force your 150 pound frame to be 20 pounds lighter you are never going to be happy.

It's definitely a process to change one's body image. Keep working at it and take it a day at a time. Hopefully if we all keep working together and encourage our sisters, friends, daughters, etc. we can change so many people's negative body image mindset to a more positive one.

Tuesday, June 24, 2008

Step outside of your comfort zone!

I've had quite a few posts lately about nutrition and food so I thought I'd add one in about exercise. My philosophy on exercise is doing something you like and make it fun. I'm all about the lifelong fitness. If you do something you hate eventually you'll burn out and stop doing it. I for example hate the elliptical machine for some reason. I've tried doing it several times but I usually stop after about 5 minutes. I love running, but after running a marathon last year I've had to find ways to trick myself into doing it. Right now I'm really liking just taking long walks with Gunner and hiking when I can.

So here are a list of ideas to mix up the routine:
  • go swimming
  • play frisbee
  • sign up for 5K
  • if your feeling like a challenge go for a triathlon
  • sign up for yoga classes
  • go to a cycling or kickboxing class
  • get some videos...Billy Blanks anyone? (Taebo creator for those who don't know)
  • switch your workouts to morning instead of evening or vice versa to mix it up
  • get out in the yard and garden, mow the yard, or plant some flowers
  • add some intervals into your workout
  • play with the kids
  • go to the park
  • plan a sports date night
Also remember that it's good to mix up your routine and make the body have to use different muscles. Hope this gave you some ideas of ways to make exercise fun and keep you moving. Let me know what things you end up venturing into too. I'd love to share with the other bloggers out there.

Friday, June 20, 2008

6 Tips for Dining Out

Food is relatively cheap in this country, and as a result portions are often overly large, especially in fast-food restaurants. But if you're smart about what you order, you can get a healthy meal (including dessert) when eating out. Here are some guidelines:

  • Avoid fried foods. Frying adds more fat to a food than broiling, baking, or sautéing. Restaurant fryers often use hydrogenated oils, a source of harmful trans fat.
  • Avoid dishes prepared with gravy and heavy sauces. Because gravy is often made with fatty pan drippings from meat, it is relatively high in saturated fat. Many sauces are made with cream, which is also high in saturated fat.
  • Ask the waiter how large the entrées are. If they're bigger than the meals you usually eat, consider ordering an appetizer instead or sharing an entrée with someone else. And you don't have to eat everything on your plate. Take home your leftovers for tomorrow's lunch.
  • Find out how dishes are prepared. Ask whether a meal you're interested in is made with butter or animal fat. If it is, consider asking that the dish be prepared with olive oil instead, or that it be baked, steamed, or sautéed with less fat. Steer clear of meals that are prepared with a lot of cheese or cream.
  • Eat a light, healthy snack. Munch on a piece of fruit or some carrots before going out. That way, you won't be so ravenous when you arrive at the restaurant that you'll gorge on the bread served at the table (which will probably be white bread and, therefore, have a high glycemic load).
  • Share desserts. If you want a sweet dessert, consider sharing it with others at your table. You'll get the full taste, but just a fraction of the calories, sugar, and bad fats.

Monday, June 16, 2008

The All-or-Nothing Mindset

Have you ever filled up on your favorite foods the day before a diet? Or slipped off your diet and then figured the damage is done, so why not go for broke? If so, you've fallen victim to the all-or-nothing mentality, and research shows that people who think this way are more likely to overeat when they believe they've blown their diets (and then they feel like this angry dieting piggy.)

Changing this mindset and adopting a more moderate approach can help you achieve lasting weight loss. Nobody can be good all the time and if you expect that from yourself, you really are setting yourself up for failure, because there are occasions when you want to eat whatever you feel like, and there are times you need treats.

Here are a few solutions:

  • Think differently. Changing your eating habits takes time and practice. Pick a catchphrase to focus on when the going gets tough such as
    • "Progress not perfection"
    • "I deserve to eat healthfully"
    • "Every day is an opportunity to eat better"
    • "Every little step adds up"
    • "How will I feel after I eat that..."
  • Include your favorite foods. Instead of being "on" a diet or "off" it, shoot for eating nutritiously in a way you enjoy and can continue to do. If you deprive yourself of your favorite foods, you'll be miserable and more likely to binge or abandon your healthy eating plan. (Myself for example I have to have ice cream and brownies in my food plan or I'll go crazy.)
  • Change your dietary focus. Expand your diet to include a wider variety of fruits and vegetables. Make a conscious effort to eat produce, and you'll naturally wind up consuming fewer calories. Aim for a minimum of five servings a day.
  • Honor your hunger. Break the diet mindset that says that feeling hungry is a good sign. Go too long without eating, and you'll feel tired and cranky and more likely to overeat when you finally do eat. Feed your body on a regular schedule.
  • Stay on track. Slipping off your diet doesn't mean your weight loss efforts have been sunk. Even if you had two donuts for breakfast, you can still opt for a light lunch and dinner. By not letting minor setbacks derail you, you'll help ensure that your healthier habits have a lasting effect.
  • Lastly, get rid of the mindset that there are good foods and bad foods. You can eat everything within moderation. It's just when we overindulge and consume too much of one thing that we end up feeling guilty.