DIET...WHAT? by Skinny Saturdays

Diet…what?

I am always drawn to “before & after pictures”. I have seen magazines with before and after pictures that show weight loss. Although I can’t help to think how those people in the after pictures not only look fit but they have gained a shinny tan. How do they have such success with losing weight? Are they keeping it off? What would they look like in a month, a year? When you read their success stories their success was not a certain diet but a change in their life style.
What comes to mind when you hear the word “diet”? Yep…nothing good. I hate to diet. I have learned long ago that dieting is a bad idea. Why? Dieting means going without food. Going without food starves your body & mind. Diet pills don’t work! The outside-in approach is where you try to solve a problem and treat the symptoms, not the cause. It doesn’t work. You need to start on the inside first.
· Why do I not eat healthy?
· Why do I not have enough energy?
· Why can’t I find time to exercise?
Instead of dieting why not just change your diet? Change how and what you eat. Change the way you think about health.

8 easy steps to start losing weight without dieting:
1. Eat healthy. Make sure you are getting enough whole grains, protein, fruits and vegetable in your diet.
2. Drink plenty of water. Drinking water can reduced hunger between meals, give you more energy and improve mood. Stay away from soda pop.
3. Check your portions. You don’t have to fill your plate to the rim to get the nourishment you need from food.
4. Eat slower. It takes about 20 minutes for your stomach to signal to your brain that it is full.
5. Snack if you feel a hunger pain but don’t make your snack a meal. Going hungry can put your body in a starvation mode. Your body will start to store fat thinking it needs to conserve energy.
6. Stay active. This can be anything from exercising to just playing with your children.
7. Make exercise and eating healthy a habit. If you hate what you eat you will not be a happy person.
8. Don’t always weigh yourself. Muscle does weigh more than fat. Being “skinny” and being “healthy” are two different things.

We want your input each week.. What are you doing to be healthier?