I ate at one of those “New American Cuisine” restaurants a while ago where the plates are large and the portions are beautiful but small. I’ve also noticed that those places also make a meal an event by drawing out the service over an hour or more. I ate well, though not much and it turned out I was full. It was the perfect demonstration of what you may have heard before. Namely, you won’t feel like you’ve had a satisfying meal until your brain tells you. It turns out that it takes 20 minutes until your stomach sends that signal. So slow down, even take a break mid meal to let the time pass. You’ll find that you will feel full on less. Maybe try eating with someone you like to talk with and share in conversation rather than calories. Your life will be fuller too.
TODAY: SPEND AT LEAST 20 MINUTES EATING YOUR MAIN MEALS.
Orson Welles, the Oscar winning actor, writer and director unfortunately also became known for his weight. But some advice from his doctor will work for you. He said: “Stop having a dinner for four unless there are three other people there with you.” Keeping your portions smaller is an easy first step to losing weight. It will also train you to think more about what you eat and make some better choices.
- Start by using a smaller plate.
- Don’t fill it to overflowing.
- Never have seconds.
- When you get full DON’T KEEP EATING.
You CAN leave food on the plate. Nobody will yell at you if you do. But if you keep eating too much, I’ll raise Kane!
TODAY: START EATING SMALLER PORTIONS OF EVERYTHING.
My brother has liked Root Beer since the days when the soda fountain at Kresge’s 5 & 10 had that big barrel dispenser sitting on the back counter. For some reason It’s not a thirst quencher. But it sure can quench cravings. Diet Root Beer is one of my favorite sweet treats with no calories. The extra sweetness seems to satisfy more than any other drink. Though Diet Dr. Pepper and cream soda also offer some variety.
TODAY: TAKE A NICE LONG WALK AT A PARK.
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.
Meals are a lot more filling if you start with a first course of a salad or soup. Lower calories than entrees they also contain more water which is filling and the satisfaction of eating is maximized. Slowing down your meal is another side effect, allowing for your brain to catch up with your stomach. Usually it takes about 20 minutes for you to get the feeling of fullness. So the first course helps that too. Just keep off the high calorie dressings and stick to clear, starch free soups.
TODAY: HOLD YOUR STOMACH IN AS FAR AS YOU CAN AT REGULAR INTERVALS DURING THE DAY. AT YOUR DESK, WHILE WATCHING TV, DRIVING, ETC. IT WILL START TO BUILD UP MUSCLE TONE. (And show you what you will look like when you lose some weight.)
You already gave up on candy, cookies and all the rest of the sweets that got you where you are. Now reduce the artificial sweeteners and products that use them. Fake sugars keep keep sweetness on your taste buds and mind, making it a temptation and a problem. You may have noticed how you can reduce salt and not miss it on food. The same can happen with sweets. Just eliminate sweets entirely for a week at first, then minimize them later. You’ll probably find that some foods are sweeter than you thought. I was amazed how sweet plain iceburg lettuce is. Okay it’s no Hershey bar, but it gives you that sweet taste of dieting success.
TODAY: WALK AFTER DINNER
If you have a stash of snacks in bags left in the house, get rid of them. You’ve got to change your habits and if you leave those temptations within reach you will no doubt give in to them in a moment of weakness or more likely laziness. It’s just handy to grab one of those bags and munch away. Lay’s even names the snack size bag the “Big Grab”. They ought to call them the “Big Flab”.
You can still snack in moderation when you’re hungry. Just make the snack protein filled. Eat hard cheese, meats, jerky, salami, sardines or the high protein nuts like macadamia and almonds. If you absolutely need a bag of stuff to munch get fried pork rinds. Drink lots of water too. It will help you feel more full while also giving you hydration and flush your system of the extra protein you’re now eating.
TODAY: CLEAN OUT THE PANTRY. GIVE UNOPENED BAGS OF SNACKS TO A SHELTER.
Daily Nag, Tips & Tricks | Diet Nag | 
July 30, 2010 6:20 am | 
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