I would like to confess old eating habits that kept me in secret misery. I use to privately pig out so no one would know how much I am binging. If anyone knew the amount of take out I was devouring I would have died of embarrassment. If there were a family dinner, I would usually make a secret trip to purchase fast food before attending a family gathering. Typically, I would go to Mc Donald’s and lie about where I was going. At my job, I was pretending I was on a diet when I was not.
I was constantly thinking about un-healthy goodies and ways of consuming it. I had no idea what normal portions meant. It was a slow process for me to recognize that I was addicted to food. The realization dawned on me gradually. For instance, one of my early discoveries was that carbs and sugar made me chronically hungry. Once I truly understood that, I was able to decrease my consumption of carbs. This strategy resulted in my losing weight and I started to gain confidence. There is always hope for breaking food addiction. The first step is to understand that your eating is out of control. The next step is to take charge and get the quality support you deserve. If I can recover from a food addiction.. you can, as well!!
Snacks play a significant role in your diet because they add variety and are a reward system. They give us that boost of energy when we need it. Here are some of the goodies that I like to nibble on: Greek yogurt with or without fruit, cheese, nuts, coffee, sugar-free gum, vegetables and fruit. Notice that these foods are nutritious as well as tasty.
If there were a quick and easy way of losing weight- we would all be thin. Of course this is not the reality; weight loss is a serious challenge. Talking from my own personal experience, I started to lose weight at the rate of 1-2 pounds a week. I felt disappointed at first, because I wanted to lose about 4 pounds a week. I now know that was un-realistic. Fortunately, I did not get discouraged and continued my game plan of eating healthy, organic foods.
What does it mean to possess the right mindset to drop weight? Many of us want to lose weight, but we only want to lose weight if it requires few sacrifices. I noticed that some people (like myself) want to exercise excessively, but retain their usual poor eating habits. This generally does not help to have a steady, successful weight loss.
I am mindful that weighing in every morning helps me to stay accountable. Having an awareness of my fluctuations in weight helps me to pin point my problem areas with food. When the scale increases, I look at what I ate the day before and pay close attention to what have caused my weight to go up. For instance, cheese is a healthy food, however if you eat too much of it you could gain weight.
There are multiple reasons why I love shopping at Whole Foods. I have discovered my passion for healthy cooking and creative meal plans. I went through a process of figuring out what I should purchase. I realize that a nutritious menu requires unprocessed and unrefined food. Whole Foods Market is a higher than average priced grocery store, however my health is worth it and I really enjoy the cuisine. Also, I feel reassured that I am purchasing healthy groceries.
You probably already know that it is vital to keep hydrated, especially when you exercise. It helps if what you drink is both healthy and delicious. I prefer to drink Poland spring bottled water, but I also like variety. My favorite flavored water is Hint, because it is all natural with out preservatives and has zero calories. The Hint refers to natural flavors such as honey dew, apple, blueberry and others. The wonderful taste of Hint makes me more prone to drink often.
If you are not sure what it means to eat the right proportions, this is the plate for you! When I first started dieting, my nutritionist suggested using this colorful plastic divider plate to help guide my food portions. The different food groups are indicated on the plate such as grains, fruit, protein and vegetables. Grains and vegetables are the bigger portions, while fruit and protein are equal but, smaller portions.
An effective diet means finding strategies that work for you as an individual. For me, eating carbs (except for fruit) leaves me craving more so I avoid carbs all together. That approach works for me. For another person, using your favorite carb as a reward for progress, may be a better plan. The point is, you have to figure out what works best for you.
I am so very excited to have discovered Sweet Sweat- Waist Trimmer Belt. It is a neoprene belt that adjusts to my waist with a Velcro. This belt feels comfortable when applied to my waist. Typically, you can wear this under your work-out clothes. The main benefit that I have experienced is that it helps shed excess water. Wow- there is a lot of water release when I take the belt off.