The Dreaded D- Word! –Dieting! Which equals Double D!

Dieting + Deprivation!!

The long haul of losing weight can seem impossible. You try hard, but see no difference. A simpler way is to make changes, nothing drastic otherwise you will set yourself up for failure. If you have tried and tried again, you know that it’s not going to happen overnight. Accept that it is going to take time. Make a few simple lifestyle changes that will add up over time and will make a difference.

When you try too hard, you feel restricted and the deprivation leads to eating everything in sight. Take it easy - All you need to do is to make a few slight changes here and there in the way you do things to lose weight naturally and gradually.

No strict diets and No Gruelling Exercise!  Are you ready?  

Here are the best tips that will truly help you shed kilos and get the body you dream of.

Lighten Up Favorite Foods 

If you love chocolate cake, pizza with extra cheese and a large drink of coke. You best not tell yourself you are never going to eat cake, pizza and coke ever again. You brain will switch into overdrive and start dreaming of the most delicious cake and you will envision the best pizza etc. The trick is to firstly limit the cake and pizza. Have fewer slices or smaller portions. Secondly replace your favourites with lighter, healthier options. A bran muffin with fruit may be a better option to a chunk of chocolate cake with icing. Take note of the calories, fat and carbohydrate content of the food and drinks. You will be surprised, for example flavoured water contains more calories than diet coke. Switch to low calorie version of the food you enjoy. For example Choose grilled chicken instead of deep-fried chicken, top pizza's with low fat cheese, go for low-fat ice cream, diet soda, whole-grain bread, low-fat mayonnaise etc. Choosing healthier options and versions of all your favourite foods is easy to do and doesn't leave you feeling deprived. 

New and Exotic Foods 

Instead of contemplating all the foods you need to cut down on, think about foods that you can add to your diet. I'm sure there are lots of exciting unfamiliar foods out there that you would enjoy trying out. Increase the amount of fruit, salad and vegetables you eat.  There are plenty of exotic fruit you can try for variation too such as jackfruit, kiwi, passion fruit, star fruits, lychees, mangosteens, durian etc. Think about this as an exciting time where you get to sample and try out new fruits and vegetables to add to your list of favorite foods. As you experiment and try new foods, you may find yourself naturally cutting down on junk food and eating these new delicious foods more often. 

Eat your Favourites First!

I always ate the less appealing food on my plate first, and saved the best for last.  The problem with this is that, by the time you have worked through the less desirable food, you are already full, but you’re not going to say no to the yummy treats now are you. So I’ve decide to eat in reverse. Eat the best food first and if I’m not full, I can fill up on the other food. And if there is dessert, remember to eat less. Think of it as saving space for the dessert. Otherwise again, you will be full and yet still eat dessert. 

Incorporate Daily Exercise into your Day 

Exercise helps you to stay mentally and emotionally balanced and fresh. It helps to speed up your metabolism and it increases your endorphins, the feel good hormones.  

Ideas to get Moving:

• Getting around (e.g. walking, bike riding and skateboarding)
• Dancing
• Take your Dog for a Walk
• Skipping
• Sport
• Take the Stairs

Make sure you add regular exercise into your weight loss plan.  It will it help you feel better, add muscle mass, and lose weight faster by keeping your metabolism high.

Walking is one of the best exercises you can do.  It is very easy to start, and you do not need any equipment.  Gradually increase the amount of time you walk each day.  Do not strain yourself!  If you try to do too much too soon, you will sabotage your efforts. Walking with a friend makes exercise easier and more pleasant.  Walking and socializing at the same time is a lot more fun than simply walking by yourself.  It also makes you less likely to skip exercising. 

Emergency Food – When you have No Time to Cook

The best way to lose weight is to be organised. Have your pantry, fridge and freezer stocked with good food choices. When we are rushed we are often tempted to grab take-aways which are laden with fat and calories. Ensure you always have a few emergency meals in the freezer or ingredients readily available to throw a quick, easy, nutritious meal together. When you have menu plans and shopping lists in place, it takes the stress out of planning meals.

It's easy to be successful in the right environment. You can set yourself up for success by having healthy snacks and meals on hand. You can easily put together a nutritious meal in ten minutes or less with the right ingredients

It's easy to give in to temptation if it is lying around! Make it a point to remove all the undesirable foods from your kitchen. Get rid of all 'empty calorie' foods such as chips, cookies, crackers, colas, pies, cakes etc. Remember to replace every unhealthy snack with a healthier version. For instance if you have a habit of munching on cookies, or something sweet at five in the evening then you can either replace them with healthier versions or have pieces of melon or strawberries instead.

Belinda Meyer publishes information for the salon and spa industry. She offers information relating to health, beauty therapy, spa treatments, skin care, hair and more. 

© Belinda Meyer http://www.salonprofit.net

Do you have any other weight loss tips to add to this list? Add your comments below.