Trying to lose weight is never an easy task. However, there are a few things that I have tried that definitely keeps you focused on your goal–instead of the refrigerator.
Unless you feel sick, you may not feel health is enough of a dieting motivator. In that case, your body image is often stronger. What I found helps is to look at yourself naked and keep that picture with you in your mind when you feel that urge to cheat.
Another helpful technique is cutting out magazine pictures of bodies that you want to look like and attach them to your refrigerator door for inspiration. You can always hang a photo of your clothed self next to those hard bodes as a reminder of what you are striving for. I don’t know about you, but it curbs my hunger when I see those perfect bodies smiling from my refrigerator. My hand just seems to move away from the refrigerator door automatically.
As you begin to lose weight, I found it helps to snap a new picture every week and add it to your refrigerator collage. This positive change in your ever-changing body strengthens your resolve further every time you see new improvements that take you closer to your ideal body.
This next tip that I am about to share with you may sound totally ridiculous, but I suggest you try it first before dismissing it. Before your lunch or dinner, try brushing your teeth first. You might be surprised at how that taste will affect your appetite so you eat less.
I hope you try these tips because they may help you too!
Packing on the pounds is always the easy part.
However, losing weight can be a challenge. Therefore, I found a few
strategic tricks that can work for you just as it has been doing for me.
Plan your meals ahead and make a list before grocery
shopping for only those ingredients you need to complete them.
Before you head to the store make sure you eat first and never go with an empty
stomach. Your willpower to resist picking up junk foods as you shop and
the candy bars when you prepare to check out will be stronger if you're full.
Shopping in bulk is not always friendly to your figure or
wallet. The largest sizes or a double package only will cause you to
eat more. Of course, you will justify this overindulging because the
product might spoil and with the high cost of food you couldn't possibly allow
that to happen. Save yourself the trouble of falling into this harmful trap.
Often, those bulk purchases aren't as cheap as you may
believe once you figure out the unit cost per ounce compared to smaller
sizes. Sometimes, the smaller size products can actually cost less or
differ only by a few cents, especially if you use coupons.
Another thing that helps is figuring out the times
you usually fall into your snacking rut and then try these
suggestions. First, try drinking a full glass of water and then retreat
from the kitchen. Give this about five minutes and if doesn't work to fill
you up, then I like to do something physical like grabbing the vacuum cleaner,
washing the floors, taking a walk or doing some stretches, etc. to take your
mind off of eating.
When that urge for sugar strikes, you should reach for a
sour pickle. I know this sounds crazy, but somehow this opposite taste
does seem to help curb that intense need for a piece of cake, pie, ice cream,
etc. in a strange way that I don't understand.
Herbal teas can be wonderful for your system and
mind. They will flush those impurities out just as effectively as water
only with taste and a delightful fragrance without caffeine while filling you
up. I like to keep a pitcher chilled in the refrigerator as a refreshing
alternative to coffee.
Also, I like to make a tray of ice cubes out of
herbal tea or fruit juice to suck on when you feel the snacking urge setting
in. That extreme coldness of rolling that ice cube leisurely in
your mouth dulls your taste buds.
Cabbage and potatoes are excellent when preparing your
meals. Cabbage for one hardly has calories (24 per cup) and stretches
casseroles or makes a delicious side dish or ingredient in soups without increasing your waistline. Making a main dish out of a potato with
some Greek yogurt, flaked salmon or tuna, low-fat cheese, or some of your leftover casserole can amount to fewer calories than you think with all the
necessary nutrition of B-complex vitamins, minerals, and protein from the source
you add.
Avoid walking near your office's vending machines.
If you need to pass those candies and snacks, then try not to have that needed
bill or change needed to buy that goodie handy. A credit card can be good
in this instance since it can't be stuck into a vending machine.
Start packing your lunch from home instead of dining
out. A container of leftovers reheated in the company microwave is a wiser
option than being carried away from greasy or heavy sauce laden alternatives.
Legumes are marvelous to pare down weight, improve your
overall health, and give you lots of fibers. Learn to replace red
meats especially with meals using beans. When you add rice to beans, you
create a complete protein.
Dry beans are cheaper and what I always prefer.
Canned beans, however, are just as good when you're in hurry. Besides main
dishes, you can make a delicious sandwich spread in your food processor or
blender with garbanzos, white beans, navy beans, or your favorite bean with some
low-fat cream cheese, fresh garlic, onion, milk, lemon juice, salt, cayenne
pepper for lunch instead of highly processed luncheon meat.
I hope you do try some of my suggestions because they can
help you!
