Fire up the grill today as part of the great American tradition and celebrate the 4th with a reasonable number of calories. Grill some nice chicken but keep the barbecue sauce to a minimum. The sugar is a hidden calorie waster. Use hot sauces instead.
Grill veggies too. All that zucchini that’s now coming out of home gardens is a great side. Corn on the cob is an easy grill item. Trim off the silk and then soak it water before putting it on the grill for about 10 minutes. It gets smokey and steamed in the husk.
Skip the potato salad! Coleslaw or tomato & cucumber salad is really great with an easy low cal / low carb dressing of mayo and the juice from no sugar “bread & butter” sweet pickles.
Have fruit as dessert. Strawberries and blueberries will keep the theme. Use Splenda as a sweetener. Since that doesn’t make the usual sugar syrup you’ll need to add some liquid. Water will do, or try a little orange juice.
TODAY: Enjoy the picnic, just do it in moderation or your waistline will explode.
It’s amazing that our parents ever survived without carrying bottles of water everywhere. Actually, my father would have laughed himself silly if I had suggested to him that people would actually pay more for a bottle of water than for soft drinks or even beer! I don’t carry any. I’ve found that it’s available pretty much everywhere thanks to a plumbing system invented during the Roman Empire.
You’ve heard it many times before. Water is a dieters friend. It helps fill you up. Just don’t overdo it. There are those rare cases of water intoxication. In unusually high amounts it can dilute the electrolytes in your body and cause severe problems. Just drink a big glass a few times a day. If you’re on Atkins it’s necessary to purge your body of excess protein. It will also keep you regular. As a bonus, all that hand washing in the restroom will probably fend off a few colds too!
TODAY: TAKE THE STAIRS.
I’ve found that by planning my meals the day before gives me a chance to really enjoy them more. And research has shown that enjoying food makes it more filling and satisfying. I’ve been on the Atkins diet and I have an egg breakfast every day. By planning how to prepare those eggs, what meat to have (like leftovers from dinner) and even what condiments to use makes that breakfast an event. It’s like setting a goal and reaching it. So I start the day with a diet victory. As a bonus, I often get to try new things. Have you ever tried a barbecue omelet?
Dieting is a life extending change. So plan your diet menu for tomorrow today and you’ll have more today’s to plan too.
TODAY: PLAN YOUR MEALS FOR TOMORROW. THINK ABOUT THEM WHILE YOU’RE WALKING.
I know, you’re thinking now that you wish you had that problem. But it really isn’t the way to turn your weight around. If you try to change things too fast, odds are that you will get discouraged and give up. If you just stop eating all together your metabolism will slow down and when you eat (and you WILL eat) the weight comes right back. Let’s get real about how you got this way. You’ve been eating too much, exercising too little (or not at all) and your mind is telling you that you like the sweets, snacks and the couch. But you have to start changing that NOW.
Don’t start feeling guilty about eating. You’ll just eat to console yourself. You simply have some adjusting to do, and I don’t mean letting your belt out another notch. You need a mental adjustment. You CAN get to a healthy weight. You have to believe that you can. But understand that it won’t happen because of a fad diet. It takes a mental commitment to eat good food in smaller portions and get exercise. It’s the only way to win the battle of weight loss.
TODAY: WALK AROUND PART OF YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD. MAKE THAT ONE OF SEVERAL REGULAR WALKING ROUTES TO REPEAT.
Yesterday I cautioned you about the bites of high calorie foods. Now take a couple less bites of everything on your plate. A few less calories her and there won’t be missed. Drink a big glass of water to help fill you up and give you more water that you need with the warmer weather anyway.
TODAY: TAKE A COUPLE OF BITES LESS OF EACH FOOD ITEM TODAY
There is no sense in trying to start a diet during the holidays. Go ahead, eat and imbibe. Sit around and watch those DVDs you get. I’ll start nagging you the Monday after the new year. THIS is going to be the year to get back in better shape! So I’m going to nag you until you back to a healthy weight. To get ready maybe ease up a little on the calories now so there is less to lose. I’ve heard we average a five pound gain over the holidays! Don’t overdo it or you’ll have that much more to lose to get back to needing to lose weight.
The next time you head to the grocery, skip grabbing a cart by the door. Just pick up one of those handy baskets. If you have a lot of shopping to do take two. (one for each hand) Then as you shop you’ll be getting more exercise by carrying around some weight. In addition to that you’ll be more aware of what you’re putting in the basket and may buy less food, threby eating less, losing weight and even saving money. Of course don’t be tempted to buy just lightweight stuff or you’ll end up with more chips and Cheetos.
TODAY: DON’T USE A SHOPPING CART AT THE GROCERY.
Daily Nag, Healthy Recipes | Diet Nag | 
July 4, 2010 8:09 am | 
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