Sensible
eating is the key to managing weight!
By
Sherali
S. Bharwani
You simply cannot deceive
your body! Everything that you eat or drink has an effect on
your body. Have a piece of gum and all the calories found in
that will be used by your body. Drink a glass of soda and
your body will make use of everything that is contained in
the glass.
Also keep in mind that you
are your body. Well.. at least physically, there is nothing
more to you than your body. So if your body is in pain, you
will be too. If your body is in discomfort or unhealthy, you
are the one who feels that all.
So in order to
first lose weight and then control and manage it, sensible
eating is perhaps the most important factor that you must
take care of.
Start your
diet with a food diary, record everything you eat, what you
were doing at the time, and how you felt. That tells you
about yourself, your temptation, the emotional states that
encourage you to snack and may help you lose once you see
how much you eat.
Instead of eating the forbidden piece of candy, brush your
teeth. If you're about to cheat, allow yourself a treat,
then eat only half a bite and throw the other half away.
When hunger hits, wait 10 minutes before eating and see if
it passes.
Set attainable goals. Don't say, "I want to
lose 50 pounds in total." Say, "I want to lose 10 pounds a
month." Get enough sleep but not too much. Try to avoid
sugar. Highly sweetened foods tend to make you crave more.
Drink six to eight glasses of water a day. Water itself
helps cut down on water retention because it acts as a
diuretic. Taken before meals, it dulls the appetite by
giving you that 'full feeling.'
Diet with a buddy.
Support groups are important, and caring people can help one
another succeed. Start your own, even with just one other
person.
Substitute activity for eating. When the cravings hit, go to
the "Y" or health club if possible; or dust, or
walk around the block. This is especially helpful if you eat
out of anger.
If the pie on the counter is just too great a temptation and
you don't want to throw it away, freeze it. If you're a
late-night eater, have a carbohydrate, such as a slice of
bread of a cracker, before bedtime to cut down on cravings.
Keep an orange slice or a glass of water by your bed to
quiet the hunger pangs that wake you up.
If you use food as a reward, establish a new reward system.
Buy yourself a non-edible reward. Write down everything you
eat including what you taste when you cook.
If you monitor what you eat, you can't go off your diet.
Weigh yourself once a week at the same time. Your weight
fluctuates constantly and you can weigh more at night than
you did in the morning, a downer if you stuck to your diet
all day.
Make dining an event.
Eat from your own special
plate, on your own special placemat, and borrow the Japanese
art of food arranging to make your meal, no matter how
meager, look lovely. This is a trick that helps chronic
over-eaters and bingers pay attention to their food instead
of consuming it unconsciously.
Don't shop when you're hungry. You'll only buy more
fattening food. Avoid finger foods that are easy to eat in
large amounts. Avoid consuming large quantities of fattening
liquids, which are so easy to overdo. And this includes
alcoholic beverages.
Keep plenty of crunchy foods like raw
vegetables and air-popped fat-free popcorn on hand. They're
high in fiber, satisfying and filling. Leave something on
your plate, even if you are a charter member of the Clean
The Plate Club. It's a good sign that you can stop eating
when you want to, not just when your plate is empty.
Lose weight for yourself, not to please your husband, your
parents or your friends. Make the kitchen off-limits at any
time other than mealtime.
Always eat at the table, never in
front of the TV set or with the radio on. Concentrate on
eating every mouthful slowly and savoring each morsel. Chew
everything from 10 to 20 times and count! Never skip meals.
MagicallySLIM
provides you with the right information, tools and resources
to lose and control your weight while eating what you want
to eat, when you want and as much as you want and most
importantly, automating your weight management task at a
subconscious level so you don't have to consciously worry
about it.
Click
Here to learn more about MagicallySLIM.
