- Eat lots of fiber.
- Use smaller plates. (It makes you feel like you're eating bigger portions. You are so easy to trick!)
- Exercise.
- Eat more slowly. (Give your body time to register what you're eating.)
- Increase your veggie intake.
- Keep track of what you're eating in a food journal. (You may be surprised!)
- Drink 64-80 ounces of water a day.
- Get as much sleep as you need (7-10 hours) to function. (When you're sleep deprived, you're less likely to make the best dietary decisions.)
- Take your vitamins. (Sometimes, cravings are your body's way of telling you that you need a certain vitamin or mineral.)
- Eat spicy foods and watermelon to boost your metabolism.
BUST EMOTIONAL EATING:
- De-stress
- Bubble Baths really work for me. Exercise is a popular way to relieve stress. Blow bubbles, pet a puppy, do something nice. Meditate.
- Take a moment before you eat to decide how you feel. Is there anything besides food that would ease your discomfort?
- Fight boredom. Make a list of things to do when there's nothing to do. Get creative!
- Keep comfort foods to a minimum. Everyone has days when a big cheesy bowl of pasta sounds good. If you don't keep those foods on hand, you are more likely to settle for, say, an apple. :)
- Don't restrict too much throughout the day if you have a tendency to binge when the sun goes down. We all have limits, especially when we first start. I'd much prefer to start my day with egg whites, eat a tiny lunch, and a tiny snack at dinnertime than skip breakfast and lunch and eat a whole pizza late at night.
- Keep healthy snacks on hand that satisfy your cravings. Love sweets? Fill your cabinets with fruit cups, low fat yogurt, ice pops. Love salty? Stock up on veggies, hummus, low fat pretzels. And when you do need your fix (PMS, anyone?), take the time to measure your portions into separate containers, then put the original package away!
QUICK WAYS TO MAXIMIZE YOUR WEIGHT LOSS:
- Brush your teeth as soon as you're done eating. That minty feeling will be a big help when you want to avoid snacking in a few minutes.
- Slice your food.
- Hang out with fellow dainty eaters.
- Suck in your stomach and watch your posture. It really makes a difference in how you look and how tight your abs get over time!
- Turn the heat down just a tad.
- Move while you're on the phone. I got a bluetooth just for when my mom or friends call so that I can walk around, scrub something, do squats.
- If you are eating something like pizza or french fries, blot the grease off. Pick it apart. Eat only the best bits.
