When the holidays arrive, it can be hard to stick to a healthy eating plan. While you may be tempted to eat everything in sight, there are quite a few tips to help you with these cravings and other things you shouldn’t get into if you’re trying to lose weight. The following article offers tips you can try to avoid the unavoidable around the holidays.
Drink coffee if you desire to maintain energy during your diet. Plain coffee can give your metabolism a boost and get you moving through the day. It can provide you with the much-needed energy to get up and start getting fit.
Everyone loves french fries! They cause many dieters to break their resolve not to eat fatty foods. But if you want french fries that will help your scale go down instead of up, try baking them. Create 1/2″ wedges or fries and toss them with a tablespoon of oil, a bit of salt and pepper, and your favorite herbs. Spread them out on a baking sheet, and pop in a 400 degree oven for a half hour. Use a spatula to loosen them, turn them over and let them bake for approximately 10 minutes. They taste great dipped in ketchup and have far fewer calories than the deep fried variety. This great idea for “French Bakes” came from Laurel’s Kitchen cookbook.
Eat more meals in smaller portions during the day. Doing this will prevent you from feeling hungry. As a result, you are much more likely to avoid consuming significantly large portions. You won’t consumer as many calories and fitness goals will be easier to reach.
Eating whole grains will help you lose weight. You can determine which are the best whole grain choices by consulting a dietician or do some research to answer your own questions. Words like refined and enriched should set off a red flag. Many companies advertise their use of whole grains but once you know how to recognize them, shopping for whole grain products is simple.
Eat nice meals at restaurants when trying to be healthy. It is best to remember that these portions can be larger. Ask the waiter for a take-out container before you start eating, and put some food aside for later. In doing this, you eat less calories, and then you have a great lunch the next day.
Document your calorie intake. Simply purchase a cheap notebook. This can be made into a personal food journal. Do not forget to include the number of servings and amount of calories from the food that you eat during the day. This helps you keep track of your eating habits so your overall progress can be monitored.
To chart your progress, take before and after pictures during the course of your diet. This gives you a visual indication of how much weight you’ve lost, which can sometimes be more motivating than just a number. It could also be an easy way that you show your friends of how much you’ve progressed.
To lose excess weight, get walking into your daily routine. Losing weight is great for your cardiovascular system and it will help to build muscle strength. You can burn approximately 500 calories when you walk for one hour, which takes care of a small meal consumption.
If you want to lose weight but love your coffee, switch to decaf. Decaf coffee is something that a lot of people enjoy when on a weight loss plan because it has lowered calories. It is also full of antioxidants.
Having a friend who also wants to lose weight is a great motivator. You can motivate each other not to slack off or engage in bad habits. You can motivate each other and you can have someone to talk to about what may or may not be working out for you in your fitness efforts.
Planning your meals once a week will help you stick to a healthy diet. If you plan meals in advance, you’ll be less tempted to make impulsive food choices. Always follow the meal plans that you make. You can exchange meals from one day to another if you want to, but do not substitute fast food if you want a convenient meal. Cooking food can help burn calories.
Keep a log of your calories. This will ensure that you know exactly what you are eating. It will allow you to figure out whether you can increase your food consumption or if you’ve exceeded it. Use a journal or the computer to keep track of your calories.
Most restaurants have no lack of salty, fatty foods, but if you ask you may be able to get a healthier alternative. Don’t hesitate to inquire if your fries or baked potato can be replaced with a side salad or steamed vegetables.
Learn to be healthy even when you eat out. For example, consider that most restaurants put so much dressing on salads that salads might actually be unhealthy to eat. You can lose weight a lot easier if you are able to dine out by knowing what the best menu options are.
There are many tips to achieving and maintaining your desired weight. Stick to this advice whenever you are faced with temptation.