One of the most important ways to keep slim is to "save your calories". Being very frugal with the calories you spend allows you to save up for extra nice splurges. Over the course of a day or week, these savings can really add up. If you are in weight loss mode, this is crucial to your success. If you are in weight loss mode, you really shouldn't have too many splurges. Splurges can set you back, but be carefull not to be to strict with yourself. You run the risk of becoming frustrated or feeling deprived which can lead to a binge or worse, giving up all together. It's a thin line, walk carefully.
Some ways to save your calories:
Don't drink your calories. Wine, fruit juice, sweetened coffee, tea & soda are all ways to get extra calories throughout the day. Water should be your main beverage. After that, unsweetened (and fat free) tea/coffee is a good choice. A few times a week I enjoy a glass of wine while I cook dinner. It's ok because I have saved enough calories throughout the day to allow myself this indulgence, guilt free.
No bread or crackers. "breads for chumps" That is a little saying I tell myself when I have the urge to grab a hunk of bread. There is no benefit to eating white bread. I agree, it tastes delicious, and on occation I will indulge. However, as a rule, I do not eat bread. It takes up room in your stomach that could be filled with other, healthier, more satiating foods. If you are in weight loss mode, just stay away.
Keep your dairy No/Low fat. Animal fat is not a healthy food choice. I agree, fat tastes better, but it's not good for you and it will add pounds.
Skip the Mayo. Be mindfull of salads that contain mayonaise such as cole slaw and potato salad. It's extremely fattening and you need to keep this to a minimum or skip it all together. If you are making something at home that includes mayo in the recipe, check the web for some low fat alternatives. I sub fat free greek yogurt in lots of recipes and it works out great. On sandwiches, try a splash of olive oil based dressing or spicy mustard instead of mayo.
Keep snacks put away. It's really not that hard to open the cabinet door and grab a snack. However, if your snacks are left out on the counter in full view, you are much more likely to grab one as you walk by. I know I am. So, I put them away, and at the right time, I'll enjoy my cookie guilt free because I haven't already had 6 this morning.
Smaller dinner portions. This sounds pretty basic but I've eaten with people who "just can't lose weight" and it's no wonder. If you pile food on your plate and then go for seconds, your will not lose weight. That being said, I love seconds. So, to trick myself and give me the satisfaction of getting "more", I will have a modest plate of food and for my seconds I'll just get a few bites more. I am not in weight loss mode. If you are, skip the extra bites.
Don't finish your kid's meal. This really adds up fast. I know how hard it is to throw away good food. So, give your kids smaller portions. They can always get more if they're still hungry. If your tempted to finish up the kiddos dinner for him, just imagine all of those kid germs that are hiding in there. That will spoil your appetite.
Sit down and eat! Sit down, take a deep breath and enjoy your food. I never stood up to eat until I had kids. I know how easy it is, but trust me. You will be more satisfied and eat less if you make a plate of food and sit down to eat it instead of stuffing your face at the counter straight out of the bowl.
Drink your water. Do you have a big cup that you keep filled with water? Is it handy to grab all day long? You will be less tempted to snack if you're well hydrated.
No cream sauce. You would have to run a marathon to work off the calories in bowl of fettucini alfredo. Do you run marathons? I don't. So I save the creamy sauces for every now and then. I'm talking 3-4 times a year, tops. This is not something you can afford to indulge in and stay slim.
Eat 5 a day. If you are snacking on fruits and veggies throughout the day and including them in your meals, you will not have too much room left over for less healthy choices.
Showing posts with label spending calories. Show all posts
Showing posts with label spending calories. Show all posts
Wednesday, October 26, 2011
Tuesday, October 4, 2011
What do you mean, eat guilt free?
I enjoy eating lots of different dishes, including some that aren't exactly super foods.
Food is a necessity but it's also a source of pleasure for our life. It's our nourishment. We get to know our friends by sharing a meal. It helps us celebrate. It's how we take care of our families. Along with shelter and clothing, food is the foundation for survival. First and foremost, we need to give our food the respect it deserves. By respecting what we put into our body, we show respect to ourselves. That is the basis for eating guilt free. Your body really is your temple. Your love, peace and joy grows inside your body, so feed it well.
In order to be healthy, we need to eat- but not too much. As long as we don't overspend our calories, we can eat guilt free.
I like to compare eating to spending money. Shopping is great and spending money can be fun. Especially when you have plenty to spend. When we overspend our limits and start putting items on credit cards that we can not pay for, we feel guilty and bad about ourselves. Even if those items are essential.
It works basically the same with our food. As long as we eat within our limits, we can spend our calories guilt free. Keep in mind that a good budget has priorities and so does a balanced diet. Therefore, it is possible to savor our food without feeling guilty or bad about ourselves. We can indulge without overindulging. The hard part about this is that we need to know our limits. We need to know the "cost" of everything in order to make good decisions. Otherwise, how can we be expected to make wise food choices.
Learning the cost of the food we eat and our own spending limits takes a little time and research. We will get to all of that, in the mean time, continue with your jump start items and always be mindful of what you eat. Make a food log if you're into that sort of thing. Just write down in a notebook everything you eat and drink for a week or two. You might be surprised at all the places you could cut empty, extra calories.
Today's Tip: Get a scale and use it. A scale is a wonderful tool you can use to manage your weight. By weighing in every couple of days, you know where you stand. If you gain a couple of pounds, you can take action right away to bring your weight back to normal. It's much easier to drop 2 or 3 pounds than it is to drop 10 or 20. Be aware that it is normal for your weight to fluctuate a little throughout the month. I have a 5 pound range that is normal for me. Get to know your body and what is normal for you.
Food is a necessity but it's also a source of pleasure for our life. It's our nourishment. We get to know our friends by sharing a meal. It helps us celebrate. It's how we take care of our families. Along with shelter and clothing, food is the foundation for survival. First and foremost, we need to give our food the respect it deserves. By respecting what we put into our body, we show respect to ourselves. That is the basis for eating guilt free. Your body really is your temple. Your love, peace and joy grows inside your body, so feed it well.
In order to be healthy, we need to eat- but not too much. As long as we don't overspend our calories, we can eat guilt free.
I like to compare eating to spending money. Shopping is great and spending money can be fun. Especially when you have plenty to spend. When we overspend our limits and start putting items on credit cards that we can not pay for, we feel guilty and bad about ourselves. Even if those items are essential.
It works basically the same with our food. As long as we eat within our limits, we can spend our calories guilt free. Keep in mind that a good budget has priorities and so does a balanced diet. Therefore, it is possible to savor our food without feeling guilty or bad about ourselves. We can indulge without overindulging. The hard part about this is that we need to know our limits. We need to know the "cost" of everything in order to make good decisions. Otherwise, how can we be expected to make wise food choices.
Learning the cost of the food we eat and our own spending limits takes a little time and research. We will get to all of that, in the mean time, continue with your jump start items and always be mindful of what you eat. Make a food log if you're into that sort of thing. Just write down in a notebook everything you eat and drink for a week or two. You might be surprised at all the places you could cut empty, extra calories.
Today's Tip: Get a scale and use it. A scale is a wonderful tool you can use to manage your weight. By weighing in every couple of days, you know where you stand. If you gain a couple of pounds, you can take action right away to bring your weight back to normal. It's much easier to drop 2 or 3 pounds than it is to drop 10 or 20. Be aware that it is normal for your weight to fluctuate a little throughout the month. I have a 5 pound range that is normal for me. Get to know your body and what is normal for you.
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