No-fail Weight Loss Plan
When it comes to eating, everyone has a different take. But if yours is taking you up the scale, your eating style maybe to blame. Many of us understand the what of a healthy diet but we have to work on the how. There are four eating profiles to determine how you aet and whta would help you succeed on a healthy weight loss plan.
The Hoover
Your 2 year old left half a grilled cheese sandwich on his plate, your husband didn’t finish his mashed potatoes and there are three cadies left in the bowl. If all of the above items end up in your mouth, then you are a “hoover”, finishing up leftovers all day.
To bust your habit, set guidelines around what you eat and have your family pitch in. For example, everyone should clear his plate and put all uneaten food in the garbage or in a plastic container in the fridge. Keep in mind that eating leftovers you don’t need won’t help other people. Donate money or time to a food bank or other hunger-fighting organizations and toss the pizza crusts. Foods that are good for you are fruits, vegetables and complex carbohydrates high in fiber that will fill your stomach and help you avoid feeling the need to pick off other people’s plates. Fiber helps you feel full, so you are less likely to grab extra bites here and there. If you need something to munch on, keep a bowl of raw, cut up veggies in the fridge. They will keep you busy without a lot of calories.
The Repenter
If diet soda and breath mints are your idea of making up for indulgences the day before, then you are not helping your waistline. Repenting makes for a very bad relationship with food because it implies guilt and we all tend to spend too much time feeling guilty as it is.
To bust your habit, stop late night munching by closing teh kitchen at 8pm. When you stop eating several hours before bedtime, you will not only reduce your calorie intake, you wake up hungrier and ready for breakfast. Research shows that breakfast eaters tend to have fewer weight problems. Keep in mind that waiting all day to eat is bad for your waistline and your health. Eating large meals far apart triggers the body to release high levels of insulin which can contribute to serious health problems. In addition going hours without food will make you prone to constipation and tends to lead to overeating. Balance protein, carbohydrates and fats throughout the day, eating five mini meals instead of one big one at the end of the day. Breakfast doesn’t have to be cereal and a snack doesn’t have to be chips. Try vegetable-bean soup or half a turkey sandwich. Also avoid sugary carbs late in the day to stave off late night munching.
The Emotional One
When the pumpkin pie is trotted out at Thanksgiving, we all make room in our full bellies. That may not seem like emotional eating, but anytime you eat without the physical need for food, you’re eating for emotional reasons. For example, your boss just raked you over the coals and now you are standing in front of the vending machine trying to decide between the candy bar and the cookies.
To bust your bad habit, be aware when it comes to emotional eating. Ask yourself if you are hungry or if you are eating to fill other need such as loneliness, boredom or srtess. If you fall in the later category, try to identify and deal with the emotion that’s leading you down the path to food indulgence. Keep in mind that if you realize that you’re not hungry and decide to eat anyway, sit quietly with your food and focus on its taste and textures as well as your emotions. Experts have found out that the first two bites of a food have the most flavor and are most likely to satisfy an emotional craving. If you can’t get through the moment without eating, go for something that is low- damage such as raw vegetables, fruits, yogurt or toast. People may look for certain foods when they are feeling different emotions, like crunchy snacks when they are angry or creamy foods when they are sad. Have low-calorie versions of these on hand if you know that you are susceptible to temptation.
The Trend Chaser
Your shelves are brimming with every diet book and every month, brings a new set of diet rules. But somehow, all these advice is leaving you heavier than when you started. if fad diets worked, we wouldn’t have record obesity rates.
To bust your habit, stop looking for a quick fix. sit down and make a list of all the foods you really like, including the major food categories such as fruits, vegetables, meats, dairy and small amounts of sweets and fats. a healthy diet must be based not on cutting out a whole category of food, but on making good choices within each category. Keep in mind that eating for good health should be the hallmark of all diets. Food is the fuel that runs our bodies, so if you want optimal performance, you need optimal fuel. Many fad diets are focused on weight loss at the exclusion of good health. the best way to pursue weight loss is to focus on health, because foods tahat are good for you are the ones that promote weight loss. Instead of following the latest fad, try little changes that can make a big difference. For example, replace that morning mocha with coffee and non-fat creamer. Instead of full-fat mashed potatoes, mash up some cauliflower and add just a teaspoon of butter. Ditch the mac and cheese and have pasta with a sprinkle of fresh parmesan cheese. At the end of the day, it’s all about calories in and calories burned.
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