Saturday is here and the weather is really wicked everywhere. It’s going to be tough to resist eating too much. The key is going to be keeping the snacks satisfying yet low in calories. I mentioned the chicken broth earlier in the week. A hot cup of that is a mere 20 calories. You’ll find that beef broth gives you another option and a trip to the soup aisle will show you that there are several other options including some exotic choices including oriental and spicy. Just check the labels for total calories. A warm tasty sip will take the edge off your cravings.
TODAY: KEEP BUSY TO KEEP YOUR MIND OFF OF EATING.
A hot stick to the ribs breakfast doesn’t have to be loaded with fat, calories and sugar. Good old fashioned oatmeal is a great source of complex carbohydrates (the good kind) that will get your day of to a great start and curb potential cravings in the first part of your day. Plain instant oatmeal in a cup with some added raisins and even a few walnuts makes a great quick breakfast. Try some other dried fruits for variety. The oats also add some other healthy benefits to your diet. Don’t do it every day, but it’s a great treat on a cold morning.
TODAY: DON’T FORGET TO EXERCISE, EVEN IF IT’S JUST GOING UP AND DOWN THE STAIRS A FEW TIMES.
An idle mind is the diet’s playground. Boredom often leads you to food. Sitting, mindlessly stuffing snacks in your face doesn’t really satisfy your needs. You may even end up feeling guilty later and that will depress you and you’ll eat some more to feel better. Get busy! I’m sure you’ve had those days when you simply forget to eat, or grab something quick. Make sure when that happens that you eat high quality protein. It will recharge your brain and boost your metabolism. Evenings? Take up a hobby, clean the house, even search the internet. It will keep your hands doing something besides reaching in a bag of calories.
TODAY: KEEP BUSY MENTALLY AND PHYSICALLY.
Okay, let’s say you’re being good all day. You watch how much you eat, keep the calories and carbs low, drink lots of water and even… wait for it… EXERCISE! But then it gets to be evening time and you get hungry and blow it. Well, maybe it has to do with when you eat dinner. Those early-bird specials are great but… they’re EARLY. If you stay up till the late news you have a third of your day to go. Even if you eat right after work, there is a lot of time till bed. That’s why you get hungry. So shift your dinner a bit later and you’ll be less tempted. Of course, don’t get too hungry before dinner. Have a hand-full of almonds or macadamias and a big glass of water. It will take the edge off and keep you from wanting bigger portions later. So eat late but don’t over eat.
TODAY: EAT DINNER A LITTLE LATER.
One of the ways to avoid being hungry at night is to eat more during the day. Of course you don’t over eat. You eat a balanced number of reasonable meals throughout the day. You have probably heard that eating a small amount of high protein food every three hours is a good way to curb cravings and keep your metabolism revved up. If you haven’t… you have now. If you have… do it.
TODAY: EAT LESS… MORE OFTEN.
Dietary researchers have just made one of those findings that just make you say “duh”! They have found that it doesn’t matter if you follow a low fat, low carb, low meat, low starch, or low mein diet. All that matters is whether you eat more calories than you use up. So we’re on the right track with our eat less exercise more plan. We’ll continue to try each of the varieties of diets. It keeps things interesting while encouraging you to pay attention to what you eat.
TODAY: EAT WHAT YOU WANT… JUST EAT LESS THAN YOU DID THE LAST TIME!
You may think that exercise equipment is too expensive or takes up too much space. Well maybe you already have some and don’t know it. You likely have a stepper. It’s right there, going between the floors of your house. Honest. It will work just like the machine. Maybe even better because it will actually take you somewhere! Try bringing in packages one at a time. Taking laundry downstairs piece by piece rather than filling up a basket full before heading down. Remember, when you weight less you’ll be carrying less too.
TODAY: GO UP AND DOWN THE STAIRS A FEW TIMES.