You have been on a diet for a while and little by little you have stopped losing weight. This happens to many and now is the time to take a look at your journal. Hopefully, you’ve kept a journal and can now compare what you ate and did when you were losing weight to now.
Look for changes in foods and amounts, this is usually what happens. As you get a little bored or tired of the diet, you change the foods to break the boredom.
Don’t give power to food. You need to be in control. There is no food available that is imposed on you. You need to decide the foods you need to eat to be successful. Choose good, healthy foods that fill you up without having a lot of calories. High-fiber foods are best for filling you up and keeping you full. Don’t be afraid to say no to food, especially if food adds weight.
Don’t drink too many calories. Sodas and fruit drinks often have large amounts of sugar that your body doesn’t need to digest. They go into your mouth and within minutes the sugar is in your blood. The digestive system does not have to work to handle these foods. Don’t make the mistake of drinking so-called sports drinks as they are designed to give athletes a rush of energy and replenish their fluids. Drink water as it has many beneficial qualities and your body needs the water.
Doesn’t water turn you on? Try some lemon or lime in the water, and you can add a sugar-free sweetener if you have a sweet tooth. This drink is especially good for you with the added citrus, as it will help your kidneys cleanse your blood and prevent you from getting kidney stones.
Don’t get sucked into the fact that your diet will have to last forever. Yes, you will probably need to be on some type of reduced diet for the rest of your life. If you achieve your goal, you cannot go back to the way you ate before. You will quickly gain the weight back and have to start all over again. The good news is that over time your bad eating habits will fade and you will naturally reach for the fruit or vegetable tray. You’ll get used to your weight loss plan and with exercise those few times you eat the wrong foods won’t show because your body can handle the extra calories and burn them off with exercise.
Another misconception is that fats are bad for your health. Your body needs fat, but it needs the good fat. The fats found in nuts and olive oil are good for you. Even small amounts of butter are good. When frying foods if you must use canola or peanut oil. These can be a bit more expensive, but your body will appreciate the added cost. Don’t be afraid to use olive oil as it is one of the best foods you can use for your body. In the Mediterranean Diet, olive oil is used both in cooking and in dressings. The butter in this diet is not even used or wasted, especially if you like the flavor that olive oil imparts during cooking or as a topping.
Your diet depends more on smart and healthy choices than anything else. You have the power and intelligence to choose the right foods for your body. The sooner you make it a habit, the easier it will be to lose weight and keep it off.
