Waste Not, Waist Not

At this point in the week we are dropping six or seven bites from each meal. So skip leaving them behind on your plate and simply reduce your portion size. It should be easy to judge that. It’s probably almost half of the portions you have been eating. Share it or save it but know that it won’t end up wasted or on your waist.

TODAY: TRY HALF PORTIONS.

Are You REALLY Hungry?

There is a difference between being hungry and having a craving.  There is actually a book by Michelle May, MD, titled Am I Hungry? She says “Hunger is your body’s way of telling you that you need fuel, so when a craving doesn’t come from hunger, eating will never satisfy it” . When you’re done eating, you should feel better — not stuffed, bloated, or tired. Though you may not think it is this size, “Your stomach is only the size of your fist, so it takes just a handful of food to fill it comfortably,” says May.

That’s an easy way to measure portion sizes and punch up your diet success.

Remember, you might sometimes confuse thirst with hunger. You can end up eating when a glass of water is really what you need.

TODAY: DO SIT-UPS AND PUSH-UPS IN ADDITION TO WALKING

Many Meals Make Less You

Eating several small meals a day is a great way to keep your metabolism up and your hunger down. Of course the more times a day you sit down to eat, the more times you might overeat. If you can’t eat a small amount at a meal or snack then eating five or six times a day isn’t the best way to go. The trick is eating when you are actually hungry but not so hungry that you might eat too much. According to the ADA, eating every time you feel “slightly” hungry can result in overeating. So set small portions of high quality food, high in protein and fiber. (meats, veggies, hard cheese) and low in carbs.

TODAY: MAKE LITTLE MEALS LOW IN QUANTITY AND HIGH IN QUALITY.

Carry Your Groceries

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.