Just a note that blogs may be hit-or-miss for a little while. I will try to post as often as possible; however, we have a big event happening in our family so I will be spending a lot of my time and energy with that for a while.
Here are some tips for getting through Thanksgiving dinner without spoiling your weight loss!
1. Remember that its just one day, so don't be too hard on yourself if you overdo it a little bit. Just remember to get back to healthier eating the next day.
2. Remember that Christmas, and many events leading up to it, will provide you with a chance to eat goodies. So, don't go overboard thinking that this is food you'll NEVER see again!
3. Consider reconstructing some of your recipes to make them a little healthier.
4. Pick a few family favorites, but don't go overboard with cooking. The more choices you have to select from, the more you'll eat!
5. Don't deprive yourself of a holiday favorite, but take a small portion and enjoy it. Consider freezing left overs and savor it throughout the season.
6. Take a morning walk if you're a morning person! Otherwise, consider taking an after-dinner walk. You won't burn all of the calories you ate, but you'll burn some! Also, if you're diabetic, it will help with your blood sugar.
7. If you're attending Thanksgiving dinner at someone else's house, let them know that you don't want to come empty handed and would like to bring a dish. Bring something that is healthy and you enjoy. This way you know you'll have at least one healthy dish.
8. Eat a healthy breakfast and lunch. Don't starve yourself until dinner because you're likely to just go overboard.
9. Drink plenty of water. Some people overeat due to thirst! It may sound funny, but its true!
10. When you finish your plate, take a break and enjoy everyone's company. Ask yourself if you're really hungry for more, or satisfied before running back for seconds.
Happy Thanksgiving!
Monday, November 8, 2010
Monday, November 1, 2010
Breakfast...It is important!
I won't say that breakfast is the most important meal of the day because it is really equally as important as all other meals. Leaving out any meal is a bad idea; it's just that we hear a lot about breakfast because so many people gloss over it. So, don't leave out any meals, but today we'll focus on breakfast.
Breakfast is very important because it "wakes-up" your metabolism, if you will. After a night's rest, when caloric needs were low, eating breakfast gets your metabolism back to work for the day. Eating breakfast also helps you to perform better at whatever your task may be. I also like to think of breakfast as a way to set the tone for my day. I always start off with a healthy breakfast because it gives me energy and just makes me feel ready to tackle a day's work. Even on a special occasion (i.e. Christmas) when I may plan to have a treat, I still make sure to eat something wholesome first.
The National Weight Loss Control Registry, a research study that examines the habits of people who have lost at least 30 pounds and kept it off for a minimum of a year, reported that 78 percent of the people in their study eat breakfast daily!
So you say you're not a "breakfast person"? Well, that is because you trained yourself to skip breakfast. Retrain yourself! Start by having a very small amount of food such as half of a banana, a piece of bread, half of a whole grain granola bar, dry Cheerios, or whatever you feel comfortable with. As you start to get used to that, increase the amount you are eating. Remember that breakfast does not have to be traditional breakfast foods! You could eat leftovers from last night's dinner if that suits you. Half of a peanut butter sandwich on whole grain bread with a banana and a glass of milk is another nice option.
If you feel that you don't have time for breakfast, consider how long it would actually take you to eat something. Do you think ten minutes is enough to eat a small breakfast? Do you think you could jump out of bed ten minutes early? Or, consider deciding what you will eat the night before and "grab and go" in the morning.
Make less excuses, make more solutions!
Breakfast is very important because it "wakes-up" your metabolism, if you will. After a night's rest, when caloric needs were low, eating breakfast gets your metabolism back to work for the day. Eating breakfast also helps you to perform better at whatever your task may be. I also like to think of breakfast as a way to set the tone for my day. I always start off with a healthy breakfast because it gives me energy and just makes me feel ready to tackle a day's work. Even on a special occasion (i.e. Christmas) when I may plan to have a treat, I still make sure to eat something wholesome first.
The National Weight Loss Control Registry, a research study that examines the habits of people who have lost at least 30 pounds and kept it off for a minimum of a year, reported that 78 percent of the people in their study eat breakfast daily!
So you say you're not a "breakfast person"? Well, that is because you trained yourself to skip breakfast. Retrain yourself! Start by having a very small amount of food such as half of a banana, a piece of bread, half of a whole grain granola bar, dry Cheerios, or whatever you feel comfortable with. As you start to get used to that, increase the amount you are eating. Remember that breakfast does not have to be traditional breakfast foods! You could eat leftovers from last night's dinner if that suits you. Half of a peanut butter sandwich on whole grain bread with a banana and a glass of milk is another nice option.
If you feel that you don't have time for breakfast, consider how long it would actually take you to eat something. Do you think ten minutes is enough to eat a small breakfast? Do you think you could jump out of bed ten minutes early? Or, consider deciding what you will eat the night before and "grab and go" in the morning.
Make less excuses, make more solutions!
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