Sticking to Your Weight Loss Plan

 Losing weight takes time. And, one of the biggest reasons diets fail is because it becomes difficult to stick to a weight loss plan for long enough to see it succeed.

Write Down What You Eat

Studies have shown that people who record what they eat tend to eat fewer calories in a day, regardless of the weight loss plan they choose. The act of writing down what you eat makes sure that you’re really aware of what you’re putting in your mouth. You’ll learn to avoid eating things because you have to admit you ate it - at least to your weight loss journal.

Sticking to Your Weight Loss Plan

5 Weight Loss Plans

 When you’re trying to lose weight, choosing one of the all encompassing weight loss plans can take the guesswork out of dieting.

Too often, trying to come up with your own plan can leave you frustrated and prevent you from losing the weight you want. Take a look at five popular weight loss plans that do the work for you, and that have proven successful for many people.

Weight Loss Plans

Sneaky Health Foods :)

Sometimes you may not want to feel like the health nut in the room....(or what some people who don't understand may call you)...the anorexic....Here are a list of sneaky healthy foods you can eat on the go and around others, and ideal places to eat them at. You'll still be keeping calories down, and heads turned, yet no one will know!

At the Movie Theatre

TRY THIS- Organic Popcorn & Dark Chocolate

*Put some popcorn in a plastic bag, and only leave a few pieces of dark chocolate with you to the theatres. Everyone will just think your cheap and re-popped and packaged your popcorn, and they'll think your eating a snickers.

At Work

TRY THIS- Turkey Wrap on Wheat Bread, Homemade Pasta in Gladware

*At work on lunch break you are subject to scrutiny and criticism about what you are eating because people take the time to sit down and look around the room. If you bring foods to work that everyone would eat whether committed to healthy eating lifestyle or not, they are less likely to ask. Also packaging pasta in a gladware container, there are no words such as LOW-FAT or 0 SUGAR! or 20% Less Sodium words to read which make people ask..."Uhm are you on a diet??" and we HATE that phrase!

At the Beauty Shop-

TRY THIS- Wheat Thin Crakers & Peanut Butter, Grapes

*If it takes you anywhere from 3-5 hrs or more to get your hair done you will want to bring a snack! This is a snack anyone would enjoy, so people are less likely to scrutinize. Just remember to pre-package crackers in ziplock and not bring the whole box that says, "WHEAT THINS, 140 Calories!! 0 FAT!!" If you do bring the box like that, expect at least one person to say something.

MORE TO COME LATER...

How to Treat Yourself Each Week

A very important part of staying on task with your healthy eating is to reserve 1 day out of the week, and have one meal, or part of a meal that is the small section at the top of the food pyramid (sweets & fats). Here are good ways to treat yourself wisely without going over board.

1. Make A Mental Note of Weekend Events

Before the its Monday morning, we probably take a look at our calendar or recall so and so's bday dinner party that coming Saturday, the Sunday barbeque or Girls night out planned for Friday. Its good to make a mental note in advance of when this event or events will happen and figure out what your day of eating will be like.

2. Balancing Act

Say for example the coming weekend- Friday is Girls' Night out whereas you will be doing a lot of drinking and possibly eating afterward with the girls, and Saturday movie date night. Well what you could do is don't eat sugar all day friday. (I'm taking this technique from the Atkins' Diet) the diet is something like no sugar for a week or something like that. Well, if you know your going out with the girls friday, do a mini Atkins diet just for a day to counteract the food and drinks you'll have that night. But wait, then you have a movie date night Saturday. Try buying some organic popcorn and a piece of dark chocolate. (He'll think your eating regular movie theatre popcorn packed with loads of calories, and a snickers). You'll blend right in and he'll never know the difference. No questions asked!

3. Only 1 time a week. (2 x's only for emergency)

Only reserve 1 day a week. Some people think that oh well in that case I'll have one small cheescake a day and still eat the food groups (vegetables, fruit, beans/nut, whole grain ect.) BUT this will only increase your cravings for unhealthy foods and makes it harder to sustain throughout the week. Instead buy 1 bar of dark chocolate (should at least be 60-70% cocoa) and take 3 days a week to have a serving size piece. These small pieces of dark chocolate will revive you and curb your sweet tooth for any kind of food!

4. Eat at Free Food Events

If you know this weekend is the art gallery with free refreshments, save that one day to eat from the sweets and fats category of the food pyramid. Lets say the next day your going out to eat with the family. Well because you can CONTROL what you order, eat healthy this day. Many resturants have a salad, or fish you can order. (Just remember to order the most basic sounding foods). Watch the dressing, or cheese, order veggies if you can. And maybe bring a handfull of blueberries or grapes to chew on while waiting for the food. (Everyone will think its candy and you'll blend right in)!

5. Enjoy it!

Yes, it does make a difference I feel if you enjoy your treat or if you feel guilty. When you feel guilty its like you didn't have it. So if you have planned ahead to roll up the sleeves and eat a nice amount at the family barbeque. DO IT! But just make sure those other days are foods from the food pyramid, 3-5days 1hr of exercise!