So, now that we’re through January, how’s your new diet workin’ for ya as Sarah Palin might ask, not that she looks like she needs to diet. But seriously, have you lost any weight at all yet? Or have you lost a pound or two and then regained it?
Dieting is not, has never been, and will never be easy. I’ve heard people say they’d rather have a root canal than stick to a diet. And guess what? I’ve had a root canal and I agree with that sentiment. My experience with a root canal was totally painless and it only lasted about half an hour.
Well, my dieting sisters, I have the secret that will help you lose weight and keep it off. Okay, maybe it isn’t a secret. But you’d think it was because most of us have such trouble adhering to it.
They are the four words that can change your life – Eat less and exercise more. Yes, it really is that simple. Before you ridicule this concept and bemoan that you’ve tried this before and it hasn’t worked, remember this - you don’t have to starve yourself or work out like an Olympic gymnast.
If you overeat and are sedentary, a simple reduction of say, 100 to 200 calories a day and five minutes of any kind of exercise will get you going. It will be slow going for sure but it will put you on the right path. I know you want to hurry and lose the weight but you know you didn’t put it on quickly so it won’t come off quickly.
But think about it – life goes by fast especially it seems the older we get and if you gasp at taking a year to lose weight, remember that year will be here and gone before you know it and if you’ve been diligent, paring calories and getting up and walking, eventually your efforts will be rewarded.
If you lost only one pound a month with the most minimal effort and deprivation you would be 12 pounds lighter the following year. Look at your scale; wouldn’t you be pleased to see it registering 12 pounds lighter?
We know that nothing succeeds like success and also nothing fails like failure. Once you see the scale budge in the right direction and you realize that you can do more than five minutes of mild exercise, and forego that extra helping you’ll be motivated to do more.
These are not just platitudes; I know of what I speak. In the last few years I’ve lost 45 pounds. So, what if it isn’t the 45 pounds lost in six months as we see spokespeople saying on TV but the fact remains that it is still 45 pounds lost and it was so easy, it was almost like getting a root canal!
Here are five tips that helped me and can help you, too:
Keep a food diary -write down everything you consume
Drink a large glass of water before meals - flavor it if you like with low calorie flavors but do drink the whole glass,
Stop half way through the meal, put your fork down and wait a few minutes before resuming eating...This is a good time for some meditation or conversation. This interruption allows time for the brain to send signals that you're sated.
Don't drink alcohol before meals, even wine. Alcohol increases the appetite.
Avoid added salt like the plague. The new food guidelines recommend cutting down on salt. For example, check the salt content in a can of soup and try not to keel over while reading those numbers!
About the author: Sheryl Letzgus McGinnis is the author of four books on drug and alcohol addiction. Born in Australia, she now lives in Florida.
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