Approximately two-thirds of adult Americans are overweight. Most of us diet at least part of the year, trying to get back into our clothing. If it's not working for you, try the following tricks to get back on track.
- Drink as much water as you can a day. Every time you pass a water fountain or go into the kitchen, drink up. That water will let your body know it's not dehydrated and will let go of the fat. If you don't like water, add lemon or orange slices to the water to make it more palatable.
- Drink at least two cups of milk a day. Milk helps take off weight, and if you drink skim milk, it's less calories.
- Make your snacks high in protein and low in carbohydrates. I've found that proteins will stay with you longer, making it easier to get to the next meal without hunting for more food.
- Write down everything you eat. This is huge. When you realize what's going into your mouth, you're going to rethink that candy bar. This is especially true if someone's reading your list of things you've eaten.
- Don't plan big meals or practice making gourmet meals. Your portions should be small and low in calories. If you're going out to eat, cut your meal in half, then in half again, making quarters. Eat that first quarter, and stop to take a rest. If you're still hungry, eat the second quarter. The goal is to only eat half of what's served to you, but if you're still hungry, divide each of the other quarters in half and try again.
Good luck with your weight loss. It'll be nice when you have to go shopping for clothes a few sizes smaller than you're used to!
