Make Healthy Diet Plans and Kick New Years Resolutions to the Curb!
Did you make healthy diet plans or a resolution to shed a few pounds in the new year?
It's estimated that one third of all Americans make a resolution to lose weight every year.
At the same time, it is also estimated that two thirds of Americans are overweight. With that many people planning to take of the excess weight that they’ve been packing on, you should carefully consider your plan of action.
Most people that start on a diet fail for one reason. They over-commit to the changes they initially make. When they can’t keep the commitments, they give up. Making small changes over time is much easier than making diet resolutions that don’t last.
Instead of making resolutions, why not consider making healthy diet plans that incorporate healthy lifestyle choices. Its time to wake up and smell the fat and realize that most resolutions don’t last. Why not throw out resolutions and try eating a wide variety of healthy foods?
Your Guide to Healthy Diet Plans
Get the rest you need. When your awake, you’re more likely to nibble and snack on food you don't actually want. People who are deprived of sleep eat more often to fend off boredom so sleep my pretty, sleep!
Realize that everyone makes mistakes and everyone falls short every now and then. Its alright to have slip ups. After all, you're only human. If for example, you gained a few pounds on your holiday or vacation, don’t beat yourself to death about it. Just get right back into your healthy diet plans and exercise to lose the extra weight.
If you reach for high-calorie foods because they're convenient, make sure you have healthy alternatives available. Go grocery shopping at least once a week to stock up on wholesome foods. Make a list so you have enough healthy foods for the entire week so can stick to your healthy diet plans.
Get more color in your diet by choosing brightly colored fruits and vegetables plus the brown color of whole grains. Your diet should look like a rainbow with a complement of brown.
Eat slowly and enjoy the food you are eating. Hardly anyone ever tastes their food anymore. Stuffing food into your face just to get a meal down is the wrong way to eat. Eat foods in an orderly and relaxed environment and you’ll automatically eat less by filling up faster. If you have to eat in a hurry, choose low fat snacks like an apple or a cereal bar.
If you're a social eater, plan non-food events with your friends instead. Take walks, go sightseeing, go to a movie, or take up new hobbies.
List the eating and exercise habits you'd like to change, and select one to work on. Don't try to change a second habit until the first one has become a habit. Making healthy diet plans one step at a time is much more simple and attainable.
Practice low-calorie evening relaxation traditions instead of an after work high calorie cocktail. Instead of having a glass of red wine, try drinking some Sparkling Grape Juice in a wine glass after a long day or unwind with a hot cup of herbal tea. This will help to melt away the stress of the day and get rid of urges to eat sweets.
Relax when you're eating. Try not to multitask while you eat. Reading, watching television, answering emails, driving and other distractions can actually make you eat more without realizing it. Remember to relax more often! You'll be more likely to stick to your healthy diet plans.
Escape food cravings by:
- Taking a brisk, 5-minute walk before or after you eat. - Waiting 20-30 minutes beyond the craving. If the craving persists, satisfy it with a small bowl of whole grain cereal or a small portion of dark chocolate that has good health benefits. - Trying on clothes that are a bit too snug for you but are clothes that you want to fit back into. - Drinking a large glass of water, sugar-free soda, or a cup of tea, before large meals are consumed. The more fluids you have in your tummy, the less food you are bound to eat. - Sucking on a sugar-free piece of hard candy instead. - Chewing mint flavored gum. - Brushing your teeth more often.
Stop eating before you're full. The time to stop eating is when you reach '5' on a hunger scale of 1 - 10, where 1 is famished and 10 is totally stuffed. Pushing your plate away at a 5 is a natural way to control portions without measuring them, and it helps you cue into your body's needs.
Baby Steps to Increase Your Weight Loss Success
Switch from higher fat to lower fat products. Instead of cream, use 2% milk in your coffee.
Try not to eat much after 8 pm, except on special occasions.
Get some kind of physical activity each day, even if it's only for 10 or 20 minutes.
Make a commitment to eat at least five servings a day of fruits and veggies.
Start each day with a healthy, low calorie breakfast.
Eat foods on a plate, not out of a bag or container.
Allow yourself occasional treats in moderation, so deprivation does not lead to binging.
Make Healthy Diet Plans Stick!
To stick to your healthy diet plans, make your own personal best list of resolutions that will help you lose weight and improve your health. Keep the list with you in your purse or wallet or post it in a room you use a lot where it's clearly visible. It will help motivate you to stay with your choices of healthful changes each day.
Reward yourself. To reinforce your success, build in a reward system. Make a commitment to the reward system you build. For example, if you commit to walking 30 minutes three times a week and you do it, you get to treat yourself. Don't overdo it of course and keep moderation in mind. Some of the best treats however, are not related to food. Celebrate your success with new shoes, a trip to see an old friend, or do whatever feels special to you.
Control your surroundings. If you're a recovering drinker, you wouldn't spend your free time at a bar. The same holds true for people who are trying to kick start weight loss. Instead, spend time with people who support and encourage you to stick to your healthy diet plans. Stock your house with nutritious foods and throw out the high calorie temptations. Avoid buffets, or 'all you can eat' restaurants. Choose only the restaurants that offer 'healthy options'.
Seek support. Finding an exercise friend or an online diet buddy, (especially one with goals similar to yours), is one of the best ways to ensure your weight loss success. It's easier to get out of bed on frigid mornings when you know someone is counting on you to exercise with them. Having a buddy is a lifesaver when you need someone to keep you on track.
Work towards goals. Buy yourself and your friend a pedometer, and work together to meet 10,000 steps a day.
Choose diet plans or programs that work best for you and that fit well into your lifestyle. Healthy diet plans are always a rock solid choice. You don't have to give up a lot to lose weight and get back to a better healthy you!
like an apple or a cereal bar
.
, try drinking some Sparkling Grape Juice in a wine glass after a long day or unwind with a hot cup of herbal tea
. This will help to melt away the stress of the day and get rid of urges to eat sweets.
, watching television, answering emails, driving and other distractions can actually make you eat more without realizing it. Remember to relax more often! You'll be more likely to stick to your healthy diet plans. 
