Practical Dieting Hints

Surely the biggest stumbling block to us all becoming slimmer, fitter and healthier is actually getting started! Taking that first step can be immensely daunting and difficult and the whole first few days can be a minefield where we will use any excuse to allow ourselves to fail. Here is the good news, what you will learn here will help you overcome the “getting started blues”, you will learn that getting slimmer, fitter and healthier does not need to be so so difficult, it can be easy and fun, follow some simple tips and strategies outlined here and that getting started journey will seem so much easier. Some scientist once said (I think he was famous but physics is not my thing) “objects in motion tend to stay in motion, objects at rest tend to stay at rest”! Now i’m sure he was talking about something important like gravity or the universe or something but you can see how this would apply to weight loss and dieting, I prefer the saying “If you always do what you have always done, you will always get what what you have always had”. Either way the thing is all about momentum, once you get started and eating healthier you automatically start making healthier decisions.

Getting Started

When to start? good question, or should we change the question to; When NOT to start?

The answer is of course tomorrow! Do not fall into the trap of starting tomorrow, ok that does not mean you need to start today, you need to be practical, allow yourself some time to prepare and get in the foods you need to start your healthier living. Set a date, really an actual calender date when you are going to start, its setting your first goal, by saying “I will start tomorrow” you are setting a vague goal, by saying “This date is the start of my diet” you have clearly defined your first goal and all the important resources you need can be in place to ensure you succeed in meeting that first goal.

On setting Goals

When you are setting diet, weight loss or fitness goals please keep them attainable. make them realistic and you will stand a chance of reaching them “losing 50 pounds this week” is not a sensible goal “removing full fat mayo from my diet” is achievable, longer term goals such as losing 12 pounds in a month can be useful but think hard about what you can achieve before setting them.

Announce your goals

Let anyone you like know what your goals are, this will help motivate you. Top Tip: Let that one person in your life that will really give you grief if you fail to meet a target know, someone who will rub it in can be a great motivator. You open yourself to a personally embarrassing situation and that can really keep you focused.

First Steps

Shopping, for the purpose of this article i will assume you have shopped before the diet start date and have a fridge and cupboards full of nice healthy foods.

Get on the scales

Find out what you weigh now and set your ultimate goal weight, write these down, look at them often and remind yourself where you are heading, you could also write down your “why” Why you are losing the weight, just as a reminder to yourself so you can imagine it when you need to, its quite powerful writing your goals down, it makes them seem more real. At the same time take some measurements and note them down, monthly measuring can be a great boost particularly if your actual weight loss has slowed a little.

More About Targets

The goals we set on the journey from start to finish are also important, most people tend to set weight loss based goals and targets on a weekly basis i.e. “lose 4lbs this week” while this is not inherently bad it can be quite depressing when you fall a little short, even though you know 2lbs per week is a healthy rate to lose weight, if you only lose 1lb it can spell disaster. You should set not weight loss related goals, If you have trouble with snacking for instance why not set a goal for this week to cut out the snack, chocolate bar, chips at mid morning, lunch, evening or whatever your particular vice is. Statements like “have no cheese sandwiches this week”, “switch to low calorie drinks this week” or “take soda out of my diet this week and drink water instead” all take the pressure off and stop you focussing too much on the weight loss and can help you keep your sanity.

Start Making Healthy Choices

you know what they are and i am here to tell you that they really do work, they really are important, every single one is small in nature but delivers huge benefits and you should read this list and apply every tip to every area of your life whenever you can;

Sleep - make sure you get good quality sleep, staying up late on computer or watching tv makes us hungry and you will eat more

Drink - Water, the stuff of life, drink plenty of it rather than soda’s or coffee and tea (except green tea) whenever you can, before meals drink a large glass, whenever you feel hungry, drink a large glass, your brain reads thirst as hunger

Chew Make sure you chew every mouthful, its important and often overlooked

Walk its the best exercise bar none, choose to do it whenever you can, its easy and its superb for fitness and toning.

Follow these tips when you start and before you know it you will be well on the way to a healthier, Fitter, Slimmer and more active you, your lifestyle choices will become healthier and everyone will benefit including your family and those that love you, actually even your dog will benefit from increased walking.

I wish you the very best of luck and you can always contact me for advice - see the author bio box for website details.

To your success

Cindi

About the Author

Cindi Randoe is part of a dedicated team at The Weight Loss Files Online committed to helping others reach their weight loss, helath and fitness goals quickly and healthily.

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