Are you thinking you should lose a few pounds? If so, now is the time to get started. Don’t worry, it’s not necessary to go on a crash diet. The best thing you can do is make healthy food choices that will contribute to weight loss.
So rather than starving yourself on fad diets, make positive changes in your eating habits to look and feel great. It’s not about trying to look like a swimsuit model, it’s about feeling good in your own skin…I’ll start by getting a bathing suit that flatters my curves, along with a nice sarong, and I’ll also try losing a few pounds.
If you’re like me, and you want to shed a few pounds – Here are ten dieting tips that might help you…
1. Make fruits and vegetables a big part of your diet.
- Try to eat at least two servings of fruits or vegetables with each meal.
- If you’re not a big fan of vegetables, ease your way into them. Start with one serving a day, and work your way up from their. If you hate vegetables, try doctoring them up a bit with cheese, sauces, or dips.
- For a quick healthy snack – Dip raw carrots, broccoli, cauliflower, cucumbers, or other vegetables into your favorite low calorie salad dressing. It helps if you keep a stash of fresh vegetables cleaned, cut, and ready to eat in your frig at all times. In a pinch, buy bags of ready-to-eat cut vegetables (they even make carrots that are cut to the size and shape of chips).
- When possible, eat an all veggie lunch.
- Always have several bags of frozen vegetables and frozen fruit on hand.
2. Don’t deprive yourself of foods that you love.
- Instead, eat less of those foods…I know that is easier said than done.
- I find one of the easiest ways to eat less junk food is to pre-fill some zip-lock bags with small portions of your favorites, rather than sit with a box of cookies or bag or chips.
3. Cut back or eliminate soda and other sugary beverages.
- Try to get calories from foods you chew, not beverages. Have fresh fruit instead of fruit juice.
- If you have to have a glass of juice, dilute it with some water.
- Limit alcoholic beverages.
4. Keep a food journal. And if you’re on the computer a lot, you could try one of the many free online sites to keep track of food and calories. Here are a few examples of online calorie trackers…
- The Daily Plate
- FitDay.com
- My-Calorie-Counter
- My Fitness Pal
- My Health Tracker at Prevention.com
5. Keep prepared diet meals on hand for a quick and easy dinner.
- Make it healthier (and more filling) by throwing in an equal part of fresh or frozen veggies.
- Make a nice salad to enjoy with your meal.
- Check store fliers, and only buy them when they are on sale.
6. Mix some fresh or frozen fruit with low-fat vanilla yogurt for a sweet treat.
- Eating fruit can actually help curb your desire for unhealthy sweets.
- Even frozen fruit alone makes a nice sweet treat…I love frozen wild blueberries.
7. Keep as many healthy foods and snacks on hand as possible.
- The key is to avoid becoming hungry and not having a healthy option.
8. Pick a time in the evening (at least a few hours before your bedtime) that you will stop eating.
- If you get hungry after that designated time, try having a cup of decaf green tea to keep your hands and mouth occupied without adding many calories.
- It may also help if you brush your teeth once you decide you won’t be eating anymore that night.
- If you find it difficult to watch t.v. without munching on something, try turning it off and reading a book instead.
9. Drink plenty of water.
- If you are wondering how much is enough, here is a link to the About.com Hydration Calculator.
10. Recruit a friend or family member to be your healthy eating buddy.
- It’s always easier to succeed if you have a good support system.
- Encourage your whole family to eat healthy too.
- Join an online community for support. I belong to LifeKraze.
- Ask your facebook friends for their support, some may want to join you.
Don’t forget…I have a book coming out in late September (). I would be happy to let you know when it will be available at the special price of $1 for just one day. All you have to do is put your email address .