The American Institute for Cancer Research found that 67% of Americans eat everything on their plates, regardless of size. So you could use a smaller plate! I know you’ve heard that trick before. But the fact is that by watching portion sizes you can cut the most calories the quickest. That means you literally lose weight by doing nothing more than eating single servings of your favorite foods instead of eating as much as you can.
TODAY: ERASE THE TERM “ALL YOU CAN EAT” (AYCE) FROM YOUR VOCABULARY.
Losing weight is a state of mind. You have to make some changes to see some changes. (In your weight) Little things can add up. Like mayonnaise. Some people cringe at the thought of adding mayo to a sandwich. It will get you kicked out of some delis. But if you use it, cut it out or cut back. A serving on a sandwich can be 50 to 100 calories. Mustard, on the other hand is only 11. I know, they’re not the same, but with some adaptation, you won’t miss the mayo.
Then take it a step further and look at what other small things you can do to reduce calories. Then some small exercises too. Remember… “eat less, exercise more.”
TODAY: MAKE SOME SMALL CHANGES.
I picked up a big watermelon at the produce stand on Friday. Two dollars and fifty cents went a long way over the past three days. Loads of satisfying natural sugar, refreshing cold liquid that dripped all over the place while munching on the triangle wedges. Though it seems that it’s a splurge that would blow a diet, it turns out that the whole melon probably had less than 1000 calories. Some references even list watermelon as a negative calorie food, which is of course a mythical food. Even at a little over 300 calories a day it wasn’t bad for the diet at all. The refreshment and flavor was a perfect accent to a summer weekend. I think I’ll treat myself again next Friday.
TODAY: SET A SMALL EXERCISE GOAL FOR EACH DAY THIS WEEK THAT YOU CAN MEET.
Call them garbanzo beans, chic peas, or spanish beans but call them part of your diet. They’s really good for you in a number of ways. They are loaded with protein, fiber and polyunsaturated fatty acids. All those things are good for your diet and heart. A surprising bonus is that they actually lower your total cholesterol and (bad) LDL while raising your HDL (good) levels. Eating about 25 ounces per week for 12 weeks is all you need to make this magic happen. That’s not all though. Insulin levels also improved and participants in the study actually lost weight without diet OR exercise. (Imagine how great you’ll do!)
Toss some whole beans on your salads. Puree them with some seasoning and olive oil to make hummus. Add them to three-bean salad. I like them with shredded cheese and a sweet and sour dressing (Splenda NOT sugar) They’re tasty, inexpensive. and filling.
TODAY: ADD GARBANZOS TO YOUR MENU.
Dieting by denying yourself the things you really love to eat will get tedious and make it impossible to continue for a long period of time. Reducing portions without eliminating them will be good for the long term lifestyle change that will benefit you most. But you may still find that you are in an eating rut. Do you have a lot of the same foods day after day? Do you eat in the same restaurants over and over? Well take this weekend to make things more interesting. Eat something new or different. Have a meal that you have not had in a while. You’ll find that the enjoyment you get will satisfy you more and give you the fortitude to stick with your diet.
There was even a study that showed that food that you really enjoy is digested better. Even eating in a place with great atmosphere helps. So try something really good, in an enjoyable location. Just eat portions in moderation.
TODAY: EAT SOME NEW AND DIFFERENT FOOD.
But take it easy on the high calorie, high carb food. You can have or go to the cookout but have a nice big cool salad to start. (Easy on the dressings.) Fresh veggies are great snacks. It will keep you munching without the consequences. Try some lime with ice water and some Splenda for a great lite drink. Or any number of those Crystal Lite beverage mixes. Go ahead and have a lite beer or two too. Don’t deprive yourself, just don’t overdo it.
TODAY: START THE SUMMER COOKOUT SEASON WITHOUT A LOT OF CALORIES.
I’ve told you before that exercise counts even if it’s in small portions throughout the day. Well food does the same. Don’t fool yourself. A bite of candy here, a few chips there, it still gives you calories that you have to burn. Don’t have those things around and you won’t be tempted. You do want to eat several times a day to keep your metabolism up and burning. Just eat snacks that have high protein, low carbs, high fiber and low calories. Pay attention to what you eat don’t just open your mouth and stick in whatever is handy.
TODAY: AVOID UNNECESSARY CALORIES.
Daily Nag, Food Choices, Tips & Tricks | Diet Nag | 
October 19, 2010 6:43 am | 
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