How I did it: I made a fundamental change to how I relate to food. Also, I became more active by talking long walks or shorter jogs in the park. Instead of simply thinking about weight loss, I made strides toward healthier habits.

Lessons & tips:

• Don't eat when you're not hungry.
  
• Stop eating once you're full, it's ok to leave food on the plate.
  
• If you do feel like snacking, try things like raw almonds or fruit. They're tasty!
  
• Drink plenty of water.
• Eat a good balance of veggies, fruit, whole grains and lean meat.
• Don't cut yourself off from the foods you love completely. Practice moderation and maybe a healthier version of snacks you love.
  (i.e. a piece of dark chocolate instead of a full candy bar.)
• Replace other fats with olive oil (i.e. when cooking or for salad dressing).
• Instead of processed or refined foods, try eating things made from scratch.
• Don't be shy to ask for modifications to your order when eating out.
• Practice conscious eating. (Absent-minded snacking leads to overeating. Ask yourself why you're eating and try to pick a food that will satisfy you.)
• When possible, opt to walk instead of driving.
• Keep positive, you can do it!

Resources: The Weight Watchers point system was a helpful way to being understanding how much I should be eating daily.

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Jul 16, 2009, 01:53PM PDT | 1 comment | 1 cheer