Over in the Fitness & Exercise Blog I have been discussing the Spring Forward to Action Challenge and The Top Five Methods for A Successful Fitness Program. With that in mind, here are the top five things you need to eliminate in your diet in order to make it more successful. Check out Sherry’s Hidden Hindrances to Weight Loss as well for more great tips.
Sporadic Eating Habits inhibit your weight loss goals. When you eat erratically, you are likely to consume more calories and burn them with less efficiency. The best plan is to eat six small, regular meals every day. Try to avoid going longer than 3 to 4 hours without eating something.
Shopping without a list can lead to far too much impulse buying. You probably already know you shouldn’t shop when you’re hungry. But when you shop without a definitive list, you are more likely to buy junk food and spontaneous items that have nothing to do with your diet.
Eating lots of meat can overload you on calories. Eat shrimp instead and keep frozen shrimp in your freezer. Shrimp are great as a snack food with some cocktail sauce and taste delicious when stir-fried or added to pasta. They are a lot lower in calories and fat than chicken, pork or meat.
Potato chips are an easy snack, but vegetables are better for snacking throughout the day. Raw carrots are as easy to munch as potato chips and a lot better for you. Keep them at eye level in your fridge, so that when you open it looking for a snack, you see them right away.
Bad breath may seem like an obvious thing to eliminate. But if you brush your teeth or rinse your mouth out after every meal or snack, you are telling your body through both physical and psychological signals that eating time is over.
Bonus Tip: This is the hardest thing I’ve ever had to do, but if you can eliminate sodas from your diet – even diet soda, you will be better off. Artificial sweeteners can stimulate your appetite, despite their lack of calories – they are not healthy for you.