Ten Sensible Ways to Reduce Your Waistline.
Dropping a few unwanted pounds is really a matter of common sense. For example, you can't eat 1/2 of a grapefruit and a bowl of oatmeal for breakfast, then reward yourself with a greasy, fast-food burger for lunch. Sorry, but the breakfast doesn't cancel out the burger. Healthier living is a mindset. So if losing a little flab is high on the list, consider these 10 common-sense approaches:
1. Scale WAY back on the cake, soda, ice cream, etc. No, a piece of cake for Grandma's birthday isn't going to do significant damage. But if you're trying to drop some pounds, why would you risk it? These processed foods often contain extra fat and sugar that you may not even be aware of -- even if you read the labels.
2. Get off the sofa. The more idle you are, the more apt you are to convert those empty calories to fat. Even if your health prohibits anything too strenuous, a leisurely walk around the block will help. I'd ask my doctor first, though; especially if you have any concerns.
3. Be conscious of your fat and carb intake. Obviously, if both of these are high, you're going to gain weight. You want to find the right balance based on your daily calorie intake. Cut back slightly on one until you see the results you want. You can't cut both out completely. That's not healthy either. You need to maintain certain fats in your diet to help break down others.
4. Cut out the fat. Read the labels. If you're a meat-eater, choose low-fat varieties of fish, skinless chicken, reduced-fat ground turkey, etc. When I cook chicken, I use my kitchen shears and cut off all visible fat. A pain in the neck? Yes. But my health is worth the effort.
5. Be wary of sugar. A little certainly won't be a big deal, but if you absolutely feel you need to use it in your cooking, be smart about how much you're using.
6. Don't overdo the booze. If you drink too much, it changes to fat. Bottom line.
7. Don't starve yourself during the day. Don't think that not eating will give you free reign at dinner. Not a good idea. If you do this, you'll tend to eat more. Keep yourself satisfied during the day by eating several small meals, but make sure they contain lots of fruits and vegetables.
8. Get a hobby. Anything that will divert your interest in eating is beneficial. People tend to eat when they're bored. If you're doing something else, you don't have time to eat.
9. Eat healthier foods. That might seem overly obvious, but fruits and vegetables will provide fat-burning properties that you just won't find in processed foods.
10. Reduce your portion sizes. You'll find that a lower-fat diet will leave you feeling less satisfied. This is because you're not taking in the foods that filled you up before. You may find the need to snack more. If that's the case, just pick things that are satisfying but healthy. A Twinkie is not a good substitute for celery.
It may be difficult to make the adjustment at first. But if you stick with it, you'll see results. Just don't do anything drastic at first. Slowly begin to tweak your diet and see what works best for you. - 17268
1. Scale WAY back on the cake, soda, ice cream, etc. No, a piece of cake for Grandma's birthday isn't going to do significant damage. But if you're trying to drop some pounds, why would you risk it? These processed foods often contain extra fat and sugar that you may not even be aware of -- even if you read the labels.
2. Get off the sofa. The more idle you are, the more apt you are to convert those empty calories to fat. Even if your health prohibits anything too strenuous, a leisurely walk around the block will help. I'd ask my doctor first, though; especially if you have any concerns.
3. Be conscious of your fat and carb intake. Obviously, if both of these are high, you're going to gain weight. You want to find the right balance based on your daily calorie intake. Cut back slightly on one until you see the results you want. You can't cut both out completely. That's not healthy either. You need to maintain certain fats in your diet to help break down others.
4. Cut out the fat. Read the labels. If you're a meat-eater, choose low-fat varieties of fish, skinless chicken, reduced-fat ground turkey, etc. When I cook chicken, I use my kitchen shears and cut off all visible fat. A pain in the neck? Yes. But my health is worth the effort.
5. Be wary of sugar. A little certainly won't be a big deal, but if you absolutely feel you need to use it in your cooking, be smart about how much you're using.
6. Don't overdo the booze. If you drink too much, it changes to fat. Bottom line.
7. Don't starve yourself during the day. Don't think that not eating will give you free reign at dinner. Not a good idea. If you do this, you'll tend to eat more. Keep yourself satisfied during the day by eating several small meals, but make sure they contain lots of fruits and vegetables.
8. Get a hobby. Anything that will divert your interest in eating is beneficial. People tend to eat when they're bored. If you're doing something else, you don't have time to eat.
9. Eat healthier foods. That might seem overly obvious, but fruits and vegetables will provide fat-burning properties that you just won't find in processed foods.
10. Reduce your portion sizes. You'll find that a lower-fat diet will leave you feeling less satisfied. This is because you're not taking in the foods that filled you up before. You may find the need to snack more. If that's the case, just pick things that are satisfying but healthy. A Twinkie is not a good substitute for celery.
It may be difficult to make the adjustment at first. But if you stick with it, you'll see results. Just don't do anything drastic at first. Slowly begin to tweak your diet and see what works best for you. - 17268
About the Author:
Drew Wellingham owns and operates his own low fat recipe site. Visit today and start enjoying the numerous low fat and fat-free recipes available at absolutely no charge. You can even submit your own favorite recipe. While there, take a look at the numerous health and wellness articleson file.
posted by X - Men at
4:47 AM
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