Does dieting seem too hard for you because of the demands in your life? For many of us, we just can't find the right proportions for our food, and counting calories for every choice you make can be a bit of a hassle. If you're the type who likes a more practical and easier approach versus the strict hard rules some experts set, here are ten real life diet tips for the rest of us.
1. Eating out? Restaurant portions tend to be enormous, and if it's on the plate, we tend to eat it. If there's a kid's menu, order from it to get lesser proportions.
2. Keep healthy snacks around yourself where you can easily grab them. Some fruit slices on the kitchen table, a container of celery or carrot sticks in the refrigerator, or a couple of pop-open cans of fruit salad in your desk at work will help you grab for something healthy when those first hunger pains begin. In other words, you'll be more likely to grab something low-calorie and good for you if it's easy to eat, helping you with your weight loss.
3. Get frozen vegetables instead of canned. Canned veggies are high on sodium and preservatives and are not as healthy as frozen or fresh ones. Buy economy size bags with zip closures to make it easy to pour out a single serving for a meal.
4. Buy a vegetable steamer. Steaming is one of the healthiest ways to cook vegetables. Steaming vegetables helps in retaining much of the nutrients in the vegetables, while simmering them in water would transfer these nutrients in water. Even better, it makes your veggies taste great - which means you'll be more likely to eat them instead of filling up on fatty foods that pack on weight.
5. Never eat standing up. One of the easiest ways to sabotage your diet is to 'eat without thinking'. Treat eating with the respect that it deserves. Fix yourself a plate. Sit down and eat properly. Set the times where you will eat, and abide by these times. By having these rituals you would stop yourself from eating in every opportunity that comes by.
6. Break down the amount of food that you eat in smaller proportions and eat them in more frequencies. When you eat three meals a day, your body tends to store whatever it doesn't need right that moment. By adopting a 'grazing' habit, you'll keep your metabolism working throughout the day. Have a small breakfast, a piece of fruit with crackers or toast at mid-morning, a light lunch and an 'after school snack' mid-afternoon. Just remember that you're breaking up the same amount of food into smaller meals, not ADDING more food into your daily diet.
7. Drink fruit juices and water instead of sodas. Sodas can easily sabotage your healthy diet plan. No nutrients, lots of sugar. Instead, grab a bottle of 100% fruit juice, or water flavored with a spritz of fruit. There's an abundance of choices available nowadays, and it tastes much better.
8. Drink water a lot. Many nutritionists and food authorities recommend at least 8 full 8 ounce glasses of water a day to keep your body working right, so it should be part of your healthy diet plan. When you're dieting, you should drink even more. It's not just that full feeling - water helps your body digest foods properly and cleans out your system.
9. If you can't afford a gym membership, invite some friends to do something active together. Make a date at least three times a week to play volleyball, jog around the park or just do your favorite active sport.
10. Socialize with healthier people. Having a good support group when you're having a goal for yourself would be extremely helpful. Exchange tips and advice. If you have friends who are into junk foods, encourage them to try healthier snacks. Your environment can affect you a lot, so encouraging other people to take up a healthier lifestyle would positively impact you as well.
1. Eating out? Restaurant portions tend to be enormous, and if it's on the plate, we tend to eat it. If there's a kid's menu, order from it to get lesser proportions.
2. Keep healthy snacks around yourself where you can easily grab them. Some fruit slices on the kitchen table, a container of celery or carrot sticks in the refrigerator, or a couple of pop-open cans of fruit salad in your desk at work will help you grab for something healthy when those first hunger pains begin. In other words, you'll be more likely to grab something low-calorie and good for you if it's easy to eat, helping you with your weight loss.
3. Get frozen vegetables instead of canned. Canned veggies are high on sodium and preservatives and are not as healthy as frozen or fresh ones. Buy economy size bags with zip closures to make it easy to pour out a single serving for a meal.
4. Buy a vegetable steamer. Steaming is one of the healthiest ways to cook vegetables. Steaming vegetables helps in retaining much of the nutrients in the vegetables, while simmering them in water would transfer these nutrients in water. Even better, it makes your veggies taste great - which means you'll be more likely to eat them instead of filling up on fatty foods that pack on weight.
5. Never eat standing up. One of the easiest ways to sabotage your diet is to 'eat without thinking'. Treat eating with the respect that it deserves. Fix yourself a plate. Sit down and eat properly. Set the times where you will eat, and abide by these times. By having these rituals you would stop yourself from eating in every opportunity that comes by.
6. Break down the amount of food that you eat in smaller proportions and eat them in more frequencies. When you eat three meals a day, your body tends to store whatever it doesn't need right that moment. By adopting a 'grazing' habit, you'll keep your metabolism working throughout the day. Have a small breakfast, a piece of fruit with crackers or toast at mid-morning, a light lunch and an 'after school snack' mid-afternoon. Just remember that you're breaking up the same amount of food into smaller meals, not ADDING more food into your daily diet.
7. Drink fruit juices and water instead of sodas. Sodas can easily sabotage your healthy diet plan. No nutrients, lots of sugar. Instead, grab a bottle of 100% fruit juice, or water flavored with a spritz of fruit. There's an abundance of choices available nowadays, and it tastes much better.
8. Drink water a lot. Many nutritionists and food authorities recommend at least 8 full 8 ounce glasses of water a day to keep your body working right, so it should be part of your healthy diet plan. When you're dieting, you should drink even more. It's not just that full feeling - water helps your body digest foods properly and cleans out your system.
9. If you can't afford a gym membership, invite some friends to do something active together. Make a date at least three times a week to play volleyball, jog around the park or just do your favorite active sport.
10. Socialize with healthier people. Having a good support group when you're having a goal for yourself would be extremely helpful. Exchange tips and advice. If you have friends who are into junk foods, encourage them to try healthier snacks. Your environment can affect you a lot, so encouraging other people to take up a healthier lifestyle would positively impact you as well.
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