1 February 2012
The Ultimate Diet? Make Peace With Food
Posted by Wellness under: Weight Loss .
Many of us have a love-hate relationship with food. We want to stay healthy and keep our waistlines down, but it’s hard to resist food when it’s all around us–temptation exists in shops, streets, schools, even public restrooms. The key to a successful diet is not to make weight loss your goal, but to aim for healthier living. This trains you to make the right choices not because it’ll make you skinnier, but simply because it’s the healthier choice. Here are some tips and tricks to help you get started.
Forget the switch
The words “I’m on a diet” imply that you’re consciously choosing healthy foods for the moment–and that once you’re off the diet you’ll fall back into your pizza and hamburger regimen. That’s how most people are with their weight loss plans, which explains why so many of them gain the weight back (and then some) as soon as they stop dieting. Instead of going on diets, opt for a lifestyle change, where there’s no on-off switch for making responsible choices.
Don’t do it for the numbers
If you live on salads for a couple of weeks, you’d finally drop those last three inches. Sure, but what happens when you finally step into those skinny jeans? Weight loss isn’t so much about the numbers as it is about your overall health. Don’t measure your success by how many pounds or inches you lose–go by how good you feel about yourself. If you eat well in order to feel lighter, more energized, and generally be in better health, you’ll reach your goal much sooner–and probably stay there longer.
Turn off the TV…
…and the radio, the internet, and anywhere else you see models with 21-inch waists. Thousands of diets have been started on the notion that a stick-thin figure is the only way to be beautiful or healthy. Some flab on your arms, a layer of fat on your belly–these are all normal and shouldn’t be taken to mean you eat like a pig. Again, go by how you feel; as long as you’re feeling fine and don’t order too many Big Macs, there’s probably nothing wrong.
Have a sundae
Not every day, but not never either. A healthy diet doesn’t mean giving up the good stuff for life. In fact, knowing you can have the occasional (well-earned) treat can help you stay on track. So once in a while, remember that you can say yes to a few beers or a bag of chips on movie night.
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