The first step to achieving your ideal weight is to STOP dieting! Yes, it's true. Dieting will keep you overweight and feeling deprived. Reaching an ideal weight can be painless and easy when we make simple diet and lifestyle improvements.
Some of the biggest culprits for weight gain include eating highly refined foods like sugar, flour products, snack foods (pretzels, chips, etc.). These foods are lacking vital nutrients, have little or no fiber, and a high glycemic index that causes blood sugar spikes and crashes, setting you up for craving more refined foods. It's a vicious cycle.
Other diet disaster foods include anything that's labeled "fat free" or "sugar free." These foods are usually pumped up with artificial sweeteners and other chemicals that the body doesn't know how to process. Chances are if it's "free" you'll wind up paying for it with a lack of good health!
Better quality foods that can help you feel great and reach your ideal weight include whole grains, beans, fish, lean animal proteins, vegetables, fruits and nuts and seeds. You can read more about what to take out, and what to put into your diet, and how to make them taste absolutely delicious my Whole Truth Eating and Recipe Guide. There are over 120 tasty recipes and information you need to know to help you look and feel your best.
It's important to remember that a "diet" is a temporary thing, but a lifestyle improvement can last forever. Some simple improvements you can make are:
1. Sit down to fully balanced meals. This reduces physical cravings because your body will be nutritionally satsified.
2. Drink Water! Water is the best liquid for your system. It hydrates all your cells and helps the body run more efficiently.
3. Be patient. Change doesn't happen overnight. It took time to put the weight on and it'll take time to take it off.
4. Relax. If you are stressed out your body releases the hormone, cortisol. When cortisol is released, digestion shuts down. The body winds up storing food instead of digesting it. To reduce stress, take 5-10 deep breaths before eating. This will help you relax and fully enjoy, and absorb, your meal.
5. Reward yourself with non-food items. Change your "reward" system. When you begin to lose weight give yourself fantastic treats other than food (massage, spa day, manicure/pedicure, facial, shopping spree). You're worth it!
Always remind yourself that you can do it; one day at a time, one meal at a time. Now get cooking! Check out some of my fun, healthy and delicious video recipes.