Give Yourself A Treat

Don’t deprive yourself of your favorites just because you’re dieting. You can eat anything you want. Just do it every now and then rather than all the time. Keep the portions reasonable too. No huge bowls of ice cream with chocolate sauce every night! A scoop or so every now and then is okay. If you deny yourself all  the time you’ll end up resenting your healthier lifestyle. Just continue to eat les and exercise more and it will all work out. So go ahead, have a treat this weekend, and even during the week sometimes. Make sure you enjoy it. You may find it better than you remember when you were having it all the time.

TODAY: DO JUST A LITTLE MORE WALKING THAN YESTERDAY.

Bulk Up To Slim Down

Eating less doesn’t mean you will weigh less. Starving yourself isn’t healthy and can lead to craving and binging. (Followed by severe guilt.) A moderate, healthy diet is best. So stay satisfied by eating food that is low in calories but high in bulk anD fiber like veggies, whole grains and low fat soups. Add a reasonable amount of healthy fats like olive oil, nuts and protein with some cheese and you are on your way. By the way, that’s sometimes called a Mediterranean diet. In addition to being satisfying it’s very healthy.

TODAY: TAKE THAT WALK… EVEN IF IT’S A LAP AROUND THE MALL.

For God’s Sake, Eat A Piece Of Fruit

Remember the Tim Allen movie “The Santa Clause” when he was gaining all the weight and he went to a business meeting? His boss noticed how it appeared he was “letting himself go”. His advice was one hilarious line that has always stuck with me. “For God’s sake, eat a piece of fruit once in a while.” It’s true. When those carvings hit for something sweet, a piece of fruit instead of a donut, cookies or a candy bar is an excellent choice. Fruit can be a diet saver. It satisfies and levels out your blood sugars to knock out hunger for a longer period and also gives you valuable fiber.

So set out a fruit bowl for yourself instead of cookies and milk and stay on Santa’s “good” list for next Christmas.

TODAY: SHOP FOR SOME FRESH FRUIT

Put Oats In Your Cold Morning Feedbag

A hot stick to the ribs breakfast doesn’t have to be loaded with fat, calories and sugar. Good old fashioned oatmeal is a great source of complex carbohydrates (the good kind) that will get your day of to a great start and curb potential cravings in the first part of your day. Plain instant oatmeal in a cup with some added raisins and even a few walnuts makes a great quick breakfast. Try some other dried fruits for variety. The oats also add some other healthy benefits to your diet. Don’t do it every day, but it’s a great treat on a cold morning.

TODAY: DON’T FORGET TO EXERCISE, EVEN IF IT’S JUST GOING UP AND DOWN THE STAIRS A FEW TIMES.

Smack! You Could Have Had A V8

You really can kick up your energy without junk food by having a vegetable drink. Of course V8 comes to mind, but there are others to choose from too. Simple tomato juice is an option or really give yourself a kick with carrot juice. You’ll get a real warm effect from the niacin it that. No matter what your choice you’ll find it satisfying while adding some variety to your diet and more vegetables to meet your daily quota. Visit the juice aisle and check out the choices. Don’t forget to read the labels to avoid being tricked into a bunch of hidden calories.

TODAY: REV UP YOUR DIET WITH A V8.

Feel Better With Chicken Noodle… Hold The Noodle

Cold weather can make you feel like eating all the time. You actually are burining more calories keeping warm The problem is getting calories that won’t make you put on warming layers of fat. Soup always is a great choice. But it can be full of hidden calories and carbs. This is where chicken noodle soup without noodles comes in. A handy container of chicken broth is a fast, easy snack. Pop a cup in the microwave and enjoy a satisfying snack. By simmering some veggies you make a substantial meal. I also really like matzo ball soup. But of course the matzo is full of carbs. But I’ve found that by just cooking celery in the broth you have a really close replica.

So stock up with stock and when spring comes you’ll be less stocky.

TODAY: ADD SOME STOCK TO YOUR PANTRY.

Drink Up These Facts

Are you drinking the amount of water you should drink every day? Probably not since studies indicate that 75% of Americans are actually chronically dehydrated. That;s amazing since there seem to be water bottles everywhere. The problem with being overweight may be part of this because the thirst mechanism tricks you into thinking you’re hungry.

Here are some other facts to remember:

• Not drinking enough water slows down your metabolism.
• Almost 100% of the dieters in a University of Washington study found that a glass of water will shut down evening hunger pangs.
• Lack of water, the #1 trigger of daytime fatigue.
• Preliminary research indicates that 8-10 glasses of water a day could significantly ease back and joint pain for up to 80% of sufferers.
• A mere 2% drop in body water can trigger fuzzy short-term memory, trouble with basic math, and difficulty focusing on the computer screen or on a printed page.
• Drinking 5 glasses of water daily decreases the risk of colon cancer by 45%, plus it can slash the risk of breast cancer by 79%, and one is 50% less likely to develop bladder cancer.

Nothing special is needed to meet your daily water needs. We’re fortunate in the Unted States to have plenty of clean, clear water right from the tap. So sit a glass by the sink and take a few swigs whenever you pass by.

TODAY: MAKE A REAL EFFORT TO DRINK MORE WATER.