I am proud that this blog has been about healthy weight-loss...no crazy food phases like I have encountered in the past. (Not always to lose weight...I am just kind of a weird eater in general!) But I think it is important to stress that in order for your weight-loss goals to be realized AND maintained, you must change your habits for good. So try some of these on for size...
Set the table for each meal. Marae mentioned this in her post earlier this week- you need to train your mind to think it is mealtime when you eat. Not only is it a great time to focus bodies on what it is ingesting, but it is a good time to get acquainted with family and friends. So sit up to the table and kiss Gilmore Girls reruns goodbye!
We eat all of the time...in front of the tv, while talking to friends, when we are procrastinating something, etc. It is easy to understand that our mind may get confused and use food as a way to comfort us or give us something to do when we are bored. Instead take the time to make each time you consume food a message to your brain that says "we are eating to help our body be healthy- nothing else." Set the table, turn off the tv, eat pre-measured portions and wait to see if you are still hungry before grabbing for more.
One trick I like to do is dish up one serving of whatever I am having and put the other portion away. Then I enjoy my food and try to eat slowly (this one is super hard for me). I make sure that I drink a whole big glass of water with my meal. If I am finished with my food and am still hungry for more, I drink another glass of water and wait 15 minutes. Then if I am still hungry, I dish up no more than half of my original portion and dig in...this rarely happens.
No one can tell you how many meals you need or what time they should be at, however I will tell you that you do need to eat real meals. Not a baked potato and and an apple. Not a bowl of cold cereal. A real meal with a source of protein and a fruit and veggie and a big glass of water. So don't feel guilty to eat just because you are "on a diet"...just eat the right things in the right ways and you will be better off for a lifetime!
3 comments:
yes indeed, very good tips. i only wish i could see the cartoons.
also, you know the treats-on-a-shelf idea? well, i shoved the leftover muddy buddies from mutual up high last night, just because that's the only place there was space. and today i thought "mmm muddy buddies" about 12 times but was too lazy to reach that high and untie the bag they were in. i will continue to let my laziness work for me.
I'm a big believer in sitting down at the table with it all nicely set. And serving up portions before putting the plate on the table is a really good idea. That's a habit to keep for the rest of our lives!
This is so true. Bryan and I have been pre-serving food on our plates for dinner lately (and I always do it for breakfast and lunch) and it helps me a lot. Sadly, we didn't do it last night and I kept snitching little bits of chicken. Usually I eat what I've served myself and then if I'm still hungry I have a piece of fruit or some veggies.
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