1.) Add foods to your diet rather than limiting yourself. This sounds counter intuitive, but adding in healthy goodies to munch on can keep your hunger pangs at bay without sabotaging your day. Try cherries, grapes or even crunchy peas. Add fruit to your cereal and load up your soups, stews and sauces with veggies rather than meat or cheese. If you add things to your diet rather than taking things away, you won't feel the sense of deprivation that leads many people to quit on their diets.
2.) Stop putting so much emphasis on exercising. Exercising is a dirty little word that nobody likes to say because there are so many negative emotions associated with the word, it's best to avoid it all together. There are plenty of ways you can get more active without actually exercising. Park farther away from your building at work, start a garden, take a stroll on the beach, play with your kids or enjoy some adult time with your significant other. There are plenty of ways you can burn calories without ever stepping foot in a gym.
3.) Walk more. Walking more will do 3 things for you. First, it will get you more active without really being exercise. Second, it will get you outdoors where you can commune with nature and enjoy the fresh air. That will give your mental health a good boost. Third, it will take your mind off of food, unless of course your walk takes you past your favorite restaurant. Better plan your route accordingly.
If you don't have time to walk or don't have any sidewalks in your neighborhood, you can always mow the lawn, walk during your lunch break, rake leaves by hand instead of with a leaf-blower, get off the bus a stop earlier, go window-shopping at the mall, choose the stairs over the elevator or dance around while you push the vacuum cleaner.
4.) Give your favorite foods a makeover. If there's something you really enjoy eating that isn't so healthy for you, try giving it a makeover so you can still have it in your life. For example, if you enjoy eating a bowl of ice cream while you watch trash TV, choose low-fat ice cream and garnish it with some great toppings like chocolate sprinkles or fresh fruits. You won't even notice that it's low-cal.
5.) Drink more water. You know you need to drink more water and you always say you're going to, but it just never happens. If you skip water you're probably filling your stomach with food when in fact what your body is really asking for is a refreshing drink. Try drinking a glass of water before meals. You'll see that it helps you manage your portions easier since you won't be as hungry when you start eating.
6.) Share with friends or family. If you're going to a restaurant, consider going Dutch and sharing the meal with a friend or family member. If you can't bring yourself to hand over 1/2 of your at least share the desert which can be laden with calories. Sharing your meal will not only save you calories, it will also save you money.
7.) Exercise while you watch TV. If you have a favorite show that you love watching, try tuning up while you watch. Get up and dance during a musical number, park your elliptical in front of the TV to exercise while you watch or do sit-ups whenever a commercial comes on.
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