The Dream Diet

It’s the weekend. A chance to catch up on things. A chance to relax and recharge. While you’re relaxing go ahead and take a nap. After all you can’t eat when you’re asleep!

TODAY: TAKE IT EASY BUT DO A LITLE EXERCISE TOO.

Try Brushing Away Cravings

Night-time snacking can destroy the gains… rather… losses that you make duing a day of being “good”. This week I’ll share some tips to help you stay on course and skip the desert course. So here goes.

Clean your teeth. Yes good oral hygiene is essential. Bad teeth can lead to all sorts of health problems. So this tip will help you in two ways. Right after dinner brush your teeth with mint toothpaste or swish some sweet cinnamon mouthwash. It will tell your brain you are done eating for the day while satisfying a sweet craving. If you want to insure that you won’t go ahead and eat again anyway, FLOSS. You won’t be tempted to hassle with it and you’ll really impress your hygienist the next time you get your teeth cleaned. As a plus you’ll have a really nice smile when you step on the scale!

TODAY: BUY A NEW TOOTHBRUSH.

The Half Diet is Simple Math

On day six of Half Week you have probably realized by now that this has been an exercise in the easy way to reduce calories. Fix your meals the way you always have, order the meals you always have, eat what you want, just take the portions you are used to and cut them in half. Set them aside, share them, freeze them for another meal do anything you want with them, just DON’T EAT THAT OTHER HALF. In the end it will all add up to less you.

TODAY: WALK DOUBLE YOUR USUAL DISTANCE.

Trick or Trick

By now, if there’s any left, the Halloween candy at the stores is marked down to about 75% off. I know the temptation is hard to resist and the savings are fantastic, but walk on by the display and congratulate yourself for your control. Besides, all the good stuff is gone now anyway. (How much candy corn does anybody really eat?) The temptation is the real trick of the season that will not treat your waistline well.

TODAY: DON’T BUY BARGAIN CANDY… OR ANY OTHER CANDY!

A Good Snack In A Bag

This one is a bit of a trick. Yes there are snacks that are good for your diet. Those bags of little carrots are right up there with the best of them. Crunchy, satisfying, tasty, full of good fiber. Keep some on hand to grab instead of high calorie snacks. Then the next time you get a check-up and weigh in you can say “What’s up Doc?”

TODAY: GET SOME CARROTS FOR SNACKING.

Carry Your Groceries

The next time you head to the grocery, skip grabbing a cart by the door. Just pick up one of those handy baskets. If you have a lot of shopping to do take two. (one for each hand) Then as you shop you’ll be getting more exercise by carrying around some weight. In addition to that you’ll be more aware of what you’re putting in the basket and may buy less food, threby eating less, losing weight  and even saving money. Of course don’t be tempted to buy just lightweight stuff or you’ll end up with more chips and Cheetos.

TODAY: DON’T USE A SHOPPING CART AT THE GROCERY.

To Market, To Market

As we wrap up No Wheat Week head to one of the weekend farmer’s markets and stock up on some great veggies and fruit. The American Dietetic Association recommends at least 3 - 5 servings of fruit and 3 - 7 of vegetables. Since they both are really dense in nutrition and fiber you’ll satisfy your hunger and give your body the cholesterol clearing boost that’s also good for your colon. So, eat up!

TODAY: SHOP AT THE MARKET FOR FRESH FRUIT AND VEGETABLES.