HealthyWeight Loss

The Critical Weeks

The first few weeks are very critical to your diet. Old habits are hard to break. Some eating habits will need to be reprogrammed. The temptation to stray is greatest during the first week. Sticking to your meal plan becomes easier after the second week. Within a few months, you will become very conscious of the foods you eat. Remember, you didn't gain weight overnight and you certainly won't lose it overnight. Quick weight loss is usually not permanent. The objective is to lose weight and keep it off. Your motivation will get stronger as the pounds come off. You will minimize any hunger attack or desire to binge if you plan 4 to 5 meals each day while staying on your calorie budget. Drink at least 8 cups of water each day. Avoid substituting soda, tea or juice for water. Water has 0 calorie and it.s what your body really needs to function better. A well functioning body sheds fat much easier. Weigh yourself every 3 to 4 weeks. On any given day, your weight may fluctuate by a couple of pounds due to food and fluid retention. If you weigh too soon, the scale could actually show a weight gain . Don.t let this discourage you. Use your bathroom scale to show a weight trend over time, and not to see an exact weight on any particular day. Think long-term and persevere. The weight will fall off and permanent weight loss takes time. You can lose a few pounds of water on a fad diet but you will soon regain the weight plus more.

Late Night Snacking

Late night snacking can ruin your diet. When time is structure, you.re less likely to think about food. Why are so many people tempted to snack late at night? The #1 reason is boredom. When the mind is not stimulated, it tends to seek pleasure and eating is a very pleasurable experience. Here are some tips to help you stay away from those unplanned snacks that add unwanted calories. Don’t Skip Dinner - Skipping dinner will set you up for failure. The temptation to snack on junk food or whatever is available becomes overwhelming when you are very hungry. Include a Light Dessert for Dinner - Any light dessert will do if you love sweets. Desserts that are less than 150 calories can easily be added to your diet to give your sweet tooth a real treat. When you’re satisfied, you are less tempted to snack later at night. Watch Less TV . You.ll be surprise how watching television can cause you to snack. Your mind is not working and boredom unsuspectingly creeps in. Boredom causes you to want something pleasurable such as food. Also TV commercials, with their tempting images of food constantly coming at you, are notorious for triggering you to snack. Plan Fun Projects - Write down projects that you always wanted to do. Using your spare time to do worthwhile chores will keep your mind off food. Projects can include helping your kids with homework, sewing, developing a business plan, family games, 30 minutes on the treadmill or stationary bike. Plan to Snack - If you're the type of person that just can't avoid snacking late at night, then plan 1 or 2 low calorie snacks. Plan something like sugar free hot chocolate with light whip cream or 1/2 bag of light microwave popcorn at the time you’re most vulnerable to snack. This way, you consume only 70 to 100 calories, and do very little damage to your weight loss effort.
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