The problem with most diets is they make us feel deprived. We always think about what we can’t have and what we are missing out on. It doesn’t serve us to try and diet this way. We end up obsessing about food, and become tempted to cheat, which can derail our healthy eating plan and cause us to gain instead of lose extra weight. What we need is a healthy eating plan that leaves us satisfied and happy. Here are some dos and don’ts to help you live with a healthy plan.
Don’t Skip Meals
Unless you have a healthy eating plan that calls for replacing the calories of a meal with a shake or snack bar, don’t skip meals. Fasting and starving yourself is physically and mentally difficult. If anything, you will want to eat more (of the right kinds of food) not less. Eat foods that are satisfying in small amounts throughout your day, and turn that food into fuel for your daily activities. Your healthy eating plan will allow you to eat until you are full.
Do Plan Meals
Your healthy eating plan allows for a great deal of variety of tastes, flavors, and textures. Plan your meals ahead and give your healthy plan structure and consistency. We are less likely to cheat if we have structured meals and don’t need to “grab something” to eat on the go. If you are going to be away from home, take a healthy snack along to curb your appetite until you can eat your regular healthy meals.
Don’t Buy on Impulse
When you go to the supermarket, have your list in hand and stick to it. Your healthy eating plan allows you to get creative and cook fabulous meals that are healthy and good for you. Don’t blow it by grabbing anything that looks good in the store. Chances are you’ll regret it later. Don’t go to the market hungry either as this can escalate cravings and the desire to buy on impulse.
Don’t Try To Do It On Your Own
It is difficult to stick to a healthy eating plan; but if you try to do it all on your own, you can be setting yourself up for failure before you even begin. Enlist the help of a friend, spouse or partner, or co-worker. This support system will help keep you honest, and give you someone to confide in. If your person is also trying to do the healthy plan, it can be a great way to support each other. Plan menus, shop, eat and work out together. A little friendly competition can’t hurt either.
Don’t Weigh Every Day
It can be very discouraging to see that scale stay at the same number day after day. Healthy weight loss on a healthy eating plan will have you losing about 1-2 pounds weekly. So, give yourself a break and weigh in once a week or once every two weeks. Celebrate the successes of your healthy eating plan, and reward yourself by sticking to it for another week.