Happy New Year! It is the season of resolutions, what are your goals for 2013? Becoming more fit, losing weight or eating better? These are among the most popular resolutions and they are often the most difficult for people to follow through.
People often have difficulty sticking to their New Year's Resolutions because they select rigid goals that are not enjoyable. This year focus on improvement and not perfection. Also, focus on what you can do (or eat) instead of what you cannot.
If you are looking to lose weight or improve your diet, start simple. Place most of your emphasis on eating well the majority of the time. This means choosing whole foods – fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean proteins and low-fat dairy products. Although, weighing and measuring foods are useful tools, many find it time-consuming and inconvenient. Instead, use your dinner plate as your guide to help monitor portions.Divide your plate in half. Fill up half of the plate with non-starchy veggies. Divide the remaining half in half or into 2- 1/4 portions. Fill up 1/4 with a lean protein and 1/4 with a whole grain/starch. Vary your food group choices and the colors of the foods to ensure you get a variety of vitamins and minerals..
More importantly, do not deprive yourself of the foods you really love. When it comes to indulging there are 3 simple things to remember:
- Love it or leave it- if you don’t absolutely love what you are ‘indulging’ in leave it alone. It’s not worth the calories.
- Single serving portions are figure friendly- they are often more expensive but worth every penny when you are watching your waistline!
- Take 3 bites and stop- three bites of an indulgent food is usually enough to satisfy a craving!
Lastly, jump start your weight loss efforts by increasing physical activity. This includes increasing activities of daily living such as walking the dog for a few extra minutes, vacuuming more frequently or line dancing. Enjoy!
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