Most people know what a healthy diet is, we've all seen the food pyramid, we know what we should be eating. Sticking to a healthy diet is another thing entirely. Change is never easy, as human beings we rebel against change with all of our strength. Luckily there are lots of things we can do to make the transition to a healthy new lifestyle easier.
1. First and foremost: Eat breakfast. I know it's been said a thousand times, but it's just so important. Breakfast should consist of wholegrains, fruit, and lean protein. Try to stay clear of commercial cereals, they're full of hidden sugar and salt. Many cereals that are commonly believed to be healthy are, in fact, saltier than seawater. The best cereal choice is wholegrain oatmeal, with skim milk and no sugar. Another great breakfast choice is baked beans with wholegrain toast plus an orange. Together, the baked beans and the wholegrain toast provide all of the essential amino acids the body needs. This means that when eaten together, they are a great source of lean protein. The orange is high in Vitamin C, which help the body to absorb the non-haem iron from the beans and the toast. Be sure to eat the orange, and not just drink orange juice. While the juice still contains the vitamins, it does not provide the fibre which helps you feel fuller for longer. Also juices tend to be full of sugar. Even the 'no sugar added' varieties contain much more sugar than you would expect. Think of it this way - in order to get one glass of pure OJ, you may need to use 5-10 oranges. That’s a lot of sugar!
2. Drink plenty of water. Most people don't drink enough water throughout the day. Use your urine colour as a guide. Urine should be a very light yellow. If it is dark, you are not drinking enough water. If it is fluorescent yellow, stop taking all those vitamins!! If you eat right you shouldn't need them. Often people mistake thirst for hunger, so if you're hungry have a drink of water and wait 5 minutes.
3. Be realistic. You are not going to lose 20 lb in a week, so just forget it. If you do lose 20lb in a week, get to your doctor quick, something is not right. Make lots of small, attainable goals, like "I want to lose 5lb in a month". If you meet or exceed your goal, you will feel much better about yourself and more motivated to continue. Also, don't expect to go from eating two chocolate bars and a whole fried chicken a day to being the perfect dieter. You will slip up. The trick is not to punish yourself for it. Accept that you are only human, and tomorrow is another day. However don't use a slip up as an excuse to continue eating like a pig for the rest of the day!
4. Snack. If you can not wait to eat between meals, then eat. I know that I can not go without snacks, my blood sugar gets too low and I feel awful. By waiting until you are starving, you are only making it harder on yourself and you are more likely to give in to poor food choices. Plan healthy snacks in to your day to keep your energy levels up and your calorie levels down. Good choices for snacks include, yoghurt, raw nuts, fruit, vegie sticks and hummus or a low sodium instant soup.
5. Write down why you want to lose weight, be detailed. Read it everyday. I want to lose weight because I want to set a good example to my daughter. I want to be able to run around with her and introduce her to sport and help her to maintain an interest in being fit and healthy. I want to be more attractive to my husband and feel like I am someone he can be proud of. I want to feel less ungainly. I want to not struggle to bend down to put my shoes on. I want to wear nicer clothes. What do you want?
Hopefully these tips will help you on your journey. Please feel free to share any tips of your own that help you keep on track.
xxPandy
"Our doubts are traitors, and make us lose the good we oft might win, by fearing to attempt." -- William Shakespeare
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