Have you tried lots of those so-called fad diets, only to find you are the same weight or weigh more?
None of those fad diets will help you succeed and turn into a healthy new you. They simply leave you feeling more frustrated. I am proud of you for reading this article and giving yourself another try at getting healthy. That is exactly what you need to do, and CAN do! Developing healthy habits may take some work in the beginning, but, isn't the result worth it? You will have more energy to do what you want to do, weigh less, have healthier body systems and simply, just feel great! Here are some helpful tips to follow to get you started on the right path to a new, healthy you!
1. Eat fresh vegetables instead of cooked or canned vegetables. When you cook your vegetables, most of the vitamins get cooked out with them. That certainly defeats the purpose of eating them! Canned vegetables are very processed and usually contain high amounts of added sodium. Fresh vegetables will provide you with more vitamins and are always ready to eat! You can easily grab them for a snack or a side dish for your meal! You can buy them pre-cut, or wash and cut them up yourself, at your convenience. It doesn't get much easier than that!
2. Eat a variety of fresh fruits. Again, the key word here is, fresh. Canned fruits contain large amounts of added sugar in the syrup. You say that you will drain the syrup, but you will still have it on your fruit, thus adding extra un-needed calories to your new healthy way of eating. By eating the fruits that are in season, you will enjoy a constant stream of different fruits throughout the year. They can be bought at your local grocery store or at farmer's markets throughout the summer. Trust me, once you begin eating the fresh fruit, you will not want to eat the canned varieties anymore! Your body will begin to crave the "good stuff!"
3. Eat sources of lean protein at each meal. Lean protein provides many benefits to your body. It helps your muscles, bones, cartilage, skin, blood, hair and nails. You have many choices of lean protein to choose from so that you do not get bored. Lean pieces of chicken, turkey or pork are good to pick rather than a fat juicy piece of steak. "I can't do that!", you say. I say that you can do it! Lean red meat can work, too. Just be sure to check the label and make sure you see what the fat content is. Lean red meat is readily available at most grocery stores. Other choices of protein include fish, eggs, yogurt and skim milk. These can be a part of your daily meal choices and will help you slim down when eaten properly.
4. Say no to alcohol and flavored coffee drinks. Alcoholic drinks are loaded with calories. Mixed drinks are the worst! Many times when you are consuming these drinks, you get hungry and begin eating chips or other foods. You are not even paying attention to what you are eating and, therefore, end up consuming too many extra, un-needed calories. Flavored coffee drinks are also extremely high in calories! They contain sugar, sugar and more sugar in the flavorings that you choose. Add in whole milk and you are adding more calories. Stick with water, skim milk at meals, tea or crystal light. You will not even believe how many calories you will save by doing this!
5. Pay attention to your serving sizes. How many times have you simply filled the cereal bowl, rather than measuring out one cup of your favorite breakfast food? Try this. Fill your bowl as you usually do and then measure it out. You will be amazed to find that you are consuming 2, 3 or even 4 cups of cereal! That means you are eating 2, 3 or even 4 servings at one sitting! Take a few minutes and read the labels on the food that you are eating. Count out the number of chips or pretzels, close the bag and put it away. Then eat your snack. You will be less tempted to overeat if you actually close the bag and put it away.
When filling your plate for dinner, your protein should be about the size of your fist when it is closed. Add a fist-size of carbohydrates and the rest of your meal should be fresh vegetables or fruit. Finish off with an 8 ounce glass of skim milk. In addition to controlling your portion sizes, take some time each week to plan out your menu. If it is planned out, you will be less likely to grab a burger at a fast-food chain because you know what you are going to eat. Make sure that you plan time to shop for these foods so you have all of the ingredients and are ready to make them.
You can do this! It may take a short time for you to change your habits, but the result is well worth it. You will find that it feels good to plan ahead and know what you are going to eat. You will stick with it! You are well on your way to a new, healthy you!
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