8 Simple Steps to a Healthier Weight in 2009!
Gail Davis
December 29, 2008
Are you tired of making resolutions year after year that you never stick to, despite your best intentions and the sincere desire to lose weight? Do something different this year! Forget diets for now. Instead, vow to make some simple lifestyle changes that will have your scale singing and your mirror applauding!
Diets, by definition, leave you feeling deprived. Diets are something that you are either "on" or "off." Because of this, the mental side of dieting sabotages your success. If you´re not "on" then you can go hog-wild and indulge yourself to your heart´s content. For now, let´s forget the mental on-off switch. Instead, commit to these simple steps.
Weigh yourself once a week, at approximately the same time, wearing approximately the same thing. Weighing yourself daily when maintaining is a good strategy but weighing daily when losing sets you up for failure.
When eating, try to make the healthiest choices possible, given your options. For example, choose brown rice over white, whole-grain bread over white, sweet potatoes over white.
Try to hit all the major food groups each day. Be sure to get plenty of lean protein, vegetables, fruits, whole-grains, low-fat dairy, and heart healthy oils. Remember that lean protein and foods high in fiber keep you feeling full and satisfied the longest. Try to have a small portion of lean protein at every meal.
Eat one half of your normal portion at each meal and every meal. Assess your hunger level often throughout the meal and throughout the day. If a one is not hungry at all and a 10 is starving, figure out where you fall on the scale. Try to stay in the middle at all times.
Never skip breakfast as it literally wakes up your metabolism for the day. You don´t have to eat much, but eat something. A hard-boiled egg is quick, easy, and full of protein. They can also be prepared ahead of time and stored in the refrigerator.
Only allow yourself one sweet on Saturday and one sweet on Sunday, unless it´s a special occasion, such as your birthday. Chew sugarless gum if you just need a flavor in your mouth.
Drink mostly water and plenty of it. Save sweet drinks for special occasions. Limit soda-even diet. Skim milk is excellent!
Be more active. Ride a bike, take a walk, put on some good tunes and dance, jump rope, or do some jumping jacks. Try to do something that leaves you huffing and puffing for a period of time each day.
By consistently embracing these simple lifestyle changes, you will wake up one day and notice that your weight is dropping; you have more energy; you look and feel younger and more refreshed, and life seems fun again.
Diets, by definition, leave you feeling deprived. Diets are something that you are either "on" or "off." Because of this, the mental side of dieting sabotages your success. If you´re not "on" then you can go hog-wild and indulge yourself to your heart´s content. For now, let´s forget the mental on-off switch. Instead, commit to these simple steps.
Weigh yourself once a week, at approximately the same time, wearing approximately the same thing. Weighing yourself daily when maintaining is a good strategy but weighing daily when losing sets you up for failure.
When eating, try to make the healthiest choices possible, given your options. For example, choose brown rice over white, whole-grain bread over white, sweet potatoes over white.
Try to hit all the major food groups each day. Be sure to get plenty of lean protein, vegetables, fruits, whole-grains, low-fat dairy, and heart healthy oils. Remember that lean protein and foods high in fiber keep you feeling full and satisfied the longest. Try to have a small portion of lean protein at every meal.
Eat one half of your normal portion at each meal and every meal. Assess your hunger level often throughout the meal and throughout the day. If a one is not hungry at all and a 10 is starving, figure out where you fall on the scale. Try to stay in the middle at all times.
Never skip breakfast as it literally wakes up your metabolism for the day. You don´t have to eat much, but eat something. A hard-boiled egg is quick, easy, and full of protein. They can also be prepared ahead of time and stored in the refrigerator.
Only allow yourself one sweet on Saturday and one sweet on Sunday, unless it´s a special occasion, such as your birthday. Chew sugarless gum if you just need a flavor in your mouth.
Drink mostly water and plenty of it. Save sweet drinks for special occasions. Limit soda-even diet. Skim milk is excellent!
Be more active. Ride a bike, take a walk, put on some good tunes and dance, jump rope, or do some jumping jacks. Try to do something that leaves you huffing and puffing for a period of time each day.
By consistently embracing these simple lifestyle changes, you will wake up one day and notice that your weight is dropping; you have more energy; you look and feel younger and more refreshed, and life seems fun again.