Most of our daily activities are planned. And surely, planning can help us achieve 80% of what we want to achieve in a day. Keeping are planners and calendars nearby helps us accomplish all our plans. However, there is one thing that really cannot get. That is, if we could plan our daily lives (e.g., our wedding day, our hump day, our fishing trips, the days we go to the market, the time we pick our clothes from the laundry), then why is it so hard to plan our diets? Many of us will give the excuse “I don’t have the time.” You’ve got to be kidding! The fact that you are starring at your PC’s monitor reading this proves that you have the time. So, why not use a few moments jotting down the things that you should eat? Planning your diet is easy as long as you follow these seven simple steps:
Take mini meals – When I say mini that means small. So don’t ever mistake a chicken bucket meal as a mini meal. People with ailments are advised to take small meals a day. People on diet should also do the same. Dividing your meal into smaller quantities and taking it in more frequently will help avoid hunger pangs. If you eat in smaller quantities will reduce the temptation of taking unhealthy snacks. Have some portions of fruits and vegetables in your meals. Protein and fiber should be in proportionate amounts too. Planning the contents of the mini meal will help you get a balanced diet.
Planning the intervals is easier. You may start with an interval of four hours. However, if you are the type who gets hungry all the time, you may stick to eating mini meals after every two hours. But make sure the quantity of the mini meal is even smaller than if your interval is four hours. Just stick with the plan and you can do no wrong.
Don’t push yourself over board – Determine exactly how much food you want to take off from your daily meals. By giving a specific amount, then your goal will be much clearer. Just imagine, if you do not resolve to reduce your intake to a specific amount then you might find yourself not removing anything at all. You might be taking in the extra calories you omitted yesterday in today’s meal. Once you’ve decided to take of 15 percent of those calories then remain true to your decision. Do not let yourself be tempted by what your eyes see. A strong will to keep up with the diet plan is needed. For first time dieters, calculating for the calories may be a bit hard; but if you have gone dieting for a few times, then you must have a clearer idea about the amount of calories a certain food has. I am not saying that you bring your calculator all the time and compute for every calorie in every meal you get. A good estimation is sufficient.
Reward yourself from time to time – Those who go on diet suffer from a lot of deprivation. Of course, this is needed if you really want to lose weight. Do not punish yourself with this kind of deprivation. From time to time, you should also let yourself experience the food you love. This will prevent you from succumbing to guilty temptations of snacking on small portions every day. Include an occasional fill of your favorite food to the plan so that you can get the pangs out of your system. Thus, you will be able to follow your diet plan.
Do not drink those calories
Perhaps you are really following you diet plan. But you find yourself still not losing weight. Hey, are you really following the plan? Did you check out the calories in the sodas you were drinking? Many of us tend to focus only on the things we eat, and forgot about the things we drink. Drinking a few cups of coffee in the morning, a few cans of soda in the afternoon, several bottles of beer at night … you get what I’m saying? All these can fill you up with the unnecessary calories.
Burn those fats
You should put your body on the move to burn those calories. Exercise is a classical way of getting rid of fat. Exercise will not only keep your body fit, but it will also stimulate your mind. Some people binge when they get depressed. Then they will sulk at the corner of their room, thus making all the calories they take in accumulate in their bellies.
Chew
Nobody is running after you so take time eating your food. Follow your mother’s advice when your young – chew your food. Chewing your food slowly will actually help feel full. Swallowing without chewing, on the other hand, will not give you the same feeling plus it is also not good for the digestion.
Find out what triggers your appetite
Each of us has a certain food in mind that can make our mouth water. Surely, you know what yours is. Whether it is that pack of Oreo’s or a bag of Lay’s, avoid them whenever you pass by the supermarket. Such guilt foods can trigger hunger and may tempt you to take them even when it is not in your plan. Once you know what triggers your appetite, then it will be easier to dash away from them.
Isn’t that easy? Following these steps is a sure-fire way to get you that slim, healthy body you have always wanted. By generating your own diet plan and sticking with it, the way to dieting success is very near.
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Planning your diet
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