Quick Dieting And Slimming Tips
Do you ever find yourself reading weight loss tips thinking, "Yeah, right. Like I'm going to do that."? Well, I've felt that way too. For example, I dare say the day will ever come when brushing my teeth as the impulse to indulge hits will make it any easier for me to pass on dessert!
A weight loss tip needs to be something you'll actually do for it to work, right? So, I'd like to share some of the easiest and most effective weight loss tips that have helped me to achieve and maintain weight loss over the years. I hope that you'll find them helpful.
Counting 1, 2, 3...
I have an easy way of "forcing" myself to practice portion control: buying single serving packages and using plastic baggies. I've found that buying the pre-packaged single serving of some types of foods proves too costly, so I buy the regular size packages of those items, but I never eat anything straight out of the package. One of my biggest danger zones is to sit down with a whole bag of baked chips or an entire box of low-fat cookies!
We have all heard that even if something is reduced in fat, it doesn't mean we can eat all we want. That's because calories still count. So, look at the nutrition chart and find how much of your favorite snack is in a serving. Then count those crackers or measure out that popcorn and store your snack serving in individual plastic baggies. If you do this ahead of time, not only do you already have your snacks measured and prepared, but having them on-hand keeps your hunger from leading you to the vending machine, a definite diet danger zone for anyone!
Chill Out, Man!
You'll be hard-pressed to find any weight loss advice that doesn't recommend drinking more water. I don't mind downing plenty of H20, but my pet peeve is that it has to be really cold. It's hard to get a nice glass of ice water when you're on the go, so I often put a pint sized bottle of water in the freezer. If you put a single serving water bottle in the front of the freezer for a while, you'll have super cold water to drink for a long time. Don't leave it in long enough for it to freeze solid, but just long enough for a "core" of ice to form. Then, as the ice melts, your water gets colder! Ah, just perfect for the summer season around the corner!
"When Life Gives you Lemon Juice..."
I drink so much water during the day that I like to have something different at meals, especially when dining out. I am convinced that I've tried every diet soda on the market and I've yet to find one I can tolerate. But giving in to regular soda can add hundreds -- thousands if re-fills are flowing -- of calories on to the day's quota.
I keep plenty of no-cal fruit flavored waters in the fridge at home. But those aren't always available at my local eateries. So, I like to ask for ice water with a juice glass full of extra lemon slices or a bottle of lemon juice. I add a couple packets of artificial sweetener and voila -- instant diet lemonade!
Take Time to Taste Test
Years ago, when reduced- and non-fat versions of "regular" foods began coming out, I had quite a few bad experiences. Most items didn't even resemble their higher-fat counterparts in taste, texture or smell! But, I am pleased to say that there have been vast improvements since then.
Don't be afraid to try low- and non-fat versions of your favorite foods; you just may be surprised. In fact, I know of a few reduced-fat items that I now prefer to the regular versions! You'll have to taste them to believe it!
Who Does that Cinnamon Bun Think She Is?
I have tended to use food to relax in the past, but breaking that habit has been a key behavior change that helped me lose weight. Is food the high point of your lunch or "coffee" break? Is eating how you de-stress during time away from your desk? Try making something else priority during your break, like taking a walk or listening to an audio book. That way you can relax without the tendency to over-eat or not eat mindfully.
Mini Workouts Work
It's tough for me to set 30 or 40 minutes every day for exercise, as is the case for many of us. That doesn't mean we get to cross fitness off our to do list! In recent years, exercise experts have conceded that the 30 minutes of activity a day we're all advised to get doesn't have to be in one lump of time.
Breaking the half hour into three 10 minute increments may be just as good for you. Work in a 10 minute walk before work, at lunch and when you get home. By the end of the day, you've gotten 30 minutes of exercise broken up into tiny jolts!
Go Your Own Way
Last, but not least, getting more activity each and every way you possibly can will lead to calories burned and a waist whittled. Since I've started walking wherever I need to go on my lunch break, I've seen better results than I ever expected. Plus, getting the fresh air mid-day helps me start the afternoon refreshed.
Think about how you can work more activity into your life. Why not park your car farther away from your door at work? Take the steps to your apartment instead of the elevator. Walk to someone's desk in another department to ask them a question instead of e-mailing them. I know someone who wears a pedometer and doesn't stop until she has walked 10,000 steps each day! She's lost 30 pounds in nine months. You go, girl!
Think it through.
Do you ever find yourself saying something like "Nuts are fattening. I shouldn't have those almonds." only to choose something else altogether worse? Instead of taking advantage of the nutrients and protein they could offer, this thought leads you to label the almonds as "bad" because of their fat content. These thoughts just may lead you to say, "If I'm going to do it, I'll do it right!" Then you reach for that candy bar since it has just as much fat as the almonds! See the faulty logic here? Think through your food choices completely before you act upon them.
Desserts that aren't deadly.
In many cuisine, fresh fruit or fruit sorbet are served as desserts rather than the heavier cakes or puddings many of us have grown accustomed to. Reach for a sweet banana or a crunchy apple after a meal instead. Keep the fruit basket stocked, and stocked well with fresh, appetizing-looking fruits. Try new fruits you've never had before. You just may be surprised that fruit cures your sweet tooth. Think of the fat and calories saved and the extra nutrients gained!
Dreading Treading
Diana14 wrote: "I dread getting on my treadmill, but I love what it does for me. I have created mini-goals to keep myself motivated. I keep a chart and for every 50 miles I walk, I give myself a treat like a new bestseller or a new shade of lipstick. It sounds trivial, but it actually does work for me."
No Kidding!
An anonymous visitor said she has been on a weight loss program for some time and when she is dining out she has one rule: she can only order from the kids' menu. The smaller portions have been one of the tricks she has used to shed more than 25 pounds. "Most people don't think you can get away with it," she wrote. "But every time I explain to them [the server] that I am on Weight Watchers, they don't mind letting me do it. Plus, it makes me feel a little young at heart!"
The Young and the Breathless
Dana Williams of Virginia says walking on her treadmill and cutting back on portion sizes has led her to a weight loss of 35 pounds and she's still losing. But, she says walking on her treadmill has gotten very boring. How does she keep herself motivated? "I set my VCR to tape my favorite soap operas while I'm at work. Then, when I get home, I don't allow myself to pop the tape in until I have walked. Sometimes I will watch them while I walk. Then after I have walked my three miles, I sit on my comfy chair and sip my Gatorade while watching the rest of the show."
Refrigerator Rights
Another visitor expressed her problems with her family's eating habits. This time it was her teenagers who were stocking the fridge with fattening foods and high calorie sodas. "At first I just ignored everything else and I kept things in my own special section of the big fridge. Then, I could never find anything for all the junk! Finally I bought myself one of those little refrigerators like kids have in the college dorm rooms. All my healthy stuff is in there! I don't have to be tempted by the stuff in the big fridge. Out of sight, out of mind, I guess!"
Don't Make a Sugar-Free Snafu
Despite what you may think, the special section of sugar-free treats for diabetics at your local supermarket isn't exactly a dieter's dream. These specially-made sugar-free sweets like cookies or snack bars often contain nearly as many calories as their "normal" counterparts on the regular food aisles. Same goes with reduced-fat, "diet" cookies like Snackwells... just because they have less fat than other cookies doesn't mean they don't have calories galore. Calories count, no matter how "diet-friendly" you think what you're eating is!
Be Choosey About Chicken Toppers
Your next chicken choice pitfall is what you put on top of that sandwich. Mustard is a great fat-free alternative to mayonnaise, which is very high in fat. Be sure to watch out for those mysterious "special sauces" some fast food chains automatically slather on your sandwich. For example, Kentucky Fried Chicken has a roasted chicken sandwich, but the sauce is so fat-laden it literally triples the fat content! The KFC Web site tells us that the healthy-sounding Tender Roast Sandwich with sauce is a whopping 15 grams of fat and 350 calories. Skip the sauce, but have the sandwich, and you'll only be taking in 5 grams of fat. You'll save about 80 calories, too.