Start now.
Don’t wait for next week, Monday, or even tomorrow. Finish this article and set out to make positive changes right away. Setting up a “start date” can backfire, since many people overeat in anticipation of cutting back for an upcoming diet. The trouble is, too many false starts and “last treats” can add up to hundreds of extra calories, not to mention lots of frustration. Remember, dieting isn’t always about ditching all of the things you enjoy to eat – it means eating less of it and replacing the balance with healthy foods.
Set some goals.
When you went on holiday, you probably looked on a map, got directions, made reservations and made sure you packed the things you will need. So don’t set out on a diet without goals; they are your roadmap to losing weight with success. Jotting down a few realistic expectations can give you something to aim at eg a party you know is coming up later in the summer? Make a diet road map (eg plan your meal options in advance) and get going!
Plan for a healthy breakfast.
Choose a “muffin” (which in essence is a little cake), and you’re more likely to continue to choose less-than-healthy picks throughout the day. Choose a healthy breakfast such as the Slender Wonder Protein Plus Shake that gives you an energy boost from healthy sources, and you’ll set in motion a day of better choices.
Stay hydrated.
Sometimes it’s easy to confuse hunger for thirst; staying properly hydrated can be a big diet help. In fact, a University of North Carolina study found that people who drank about 6½ cups of water ate nearly 800 less kilojoules throughout the day – not to mention the fact that your body requires water to work well (which includes burning calories). When your body is working the way it should, it’s easier to find the motivation for exercising, cooking, and eating right.
Use a hunger scale.
If you’re not eating mindfully, it can be tough to figure out why you are eating; are you hungry, stressed, sad, or bored? Try picturing a scale where 10 means you’re ravenously hungry and 1 means you’re not hungry at all. Before you eat, think of the scale and consider where you are on it, then match that assessment to how much you will eat. For example, if your hunger is at “1,” you really don’t need to eat – but perhaps need another diversion like taking a walk or responding to a few emails. And while you’re eating, keeping a hunger scale in mind will help you stop eating before you are over-stuffed.
Set up your kitchen for success.
If you find that, say, a package of biscuits tempts you into eating it, get rid of them! When you open the cupboard/fridge/freezer in your kitchen – whatever you see must be allowed to eat. Sometimes it’s just easier to have a single splurge, like going out to a restaurant and enjoying a small dessert afterwards, rather than buying a container of ice cream to keep (and tempt you) at home.
Try a new recipe.
Sometimes it’s easy to feel unmotivated to make a change to your diet if you are tired of eating the same old foods. So, try a new recipe using healthy ingredients. Slender Wonder has put together a recipe book with beautiful pictures to show you how you can make the foods allowed in the different stages of the program, work for you. Take a trip to the store to inspire some creations out of some of the fresh and super-nutritious produce that are ripe and delicious this time of year.
Keep a food journal.
Those bites, licks and tastes can really add up to big calories! Make this your mantra: if you bite it, write it. You may be surprised at where you are taking in extra calories that are keeping your weight loss efforts from taking off. Plus, a journal makes it easier to find times during the day that you can pinpoint stress eating or overeating; you can then use the journal as a tool to devise a solution to diet-destroying eating patterns.
In summary…
Commit to making some healthy changes now! Most importantly, find the combination of motivators that gets you started and keeps you going. Make this your summer to lose weight for good!