Now that we've been eating smaller portions for 8 weeks and have been sustaining this second new amount for 4 weeks, it's time to move on. It's getting easier now because we've just about taught our body how to need less food. We've been drinking water and eating fruit just before our big meals so that our stomachs start full and aren't looking forward to total devouring devastation.
We have a better thought pattern about food, we don't think crazy thoughts like we used to. After all we're not on a diet, there is no need to crave after anything we've denied ourselves.
Our physical activities are way more than they used to be. We make a point to park far from entrances so that we can walk more often. We get off the lift two or three floors before the one we want so that we could walk the rest of the way. We feel a lot better since we're shopping right.
Whenever the urge to snack hits us, we give in to it, but instead of reaching for the biscuit can, we have chopped fruit or nuts. We chew and chew, and watching television is no longer a guilt trip for us, since we sit down with our bowls of healthy satisfying bulk of chopped apples/grapes, nuts, dry breakfast cereal etc.
It is at this point, eight weeks down, when we've started to see results, that we are tempted to rush on and take big steps. Don't! Slow, steady steps are the key to the h.i.t we will achieve in the end. Do not lose sight of this! Before we take further steps at this point there are a few factors which we have to consider.
Am I Thirsty or Hungry?
As I mentioned before, it is important that we read our body's messages correctly. Sometimes we feel "hungry" because we're a little dehydrated. What the body is actually "hungry" for is water, but somehow we read the signal incorrectly and dump food down our throats. Try drinking water first when you feel hungry, especially if it's not meal-time. It is vital that we choose water over fizzy drinks and squashes etc, to quench our thirst. Water is pure, natural and calorie free, never go without it. Remember not to substitute water for a meal, (we're not on a diet), but if you've just had a balanced meal, water, as opposed to a dessert, will wash it down nicely. Water, water, water.-
Am I Hungry or Just Bored?
Again, if we're in between meals and hunger strikes, it may be that we're just bored. The brain desires to be stimulated at this point, but is the stimulant food? Hardly ever! Try getting involved in hobbies, do something for someone else, volunteer, read a book, have a glass of water. If we are bored, eating is definitely not the way to go for the h.i.t to be achieved.
We have to learn that food is merely one of the many desires we have as humans, consequently, all human needs cannot be met by eating. We need to find out what it is that is so lacking in our lives and work towards achieving that. Many times we turn to food to fill us up, but the hunger we're desperately trying to satisfy does not emanate from our stomachs. This is the reason why the craving isn't satiated no matter how much we eat. It would never be filled if our drive for eating is psychological.
Only physical hunger can be satisfied by putting food in our stomachs, the stomach is a small organ so where is all the hunger coming from?
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Is My Stomach Full or Do I Feel That I Need To Finish The Food Because It's On My Plate?
Now that we're adults, there's no one around to say, “Empty your plate.” So why do we still feel we have to? Learn to read when the stomach is saying it's full. When it is, it's perfectly fine to stop eating. Going any further than that is behaving like an animal. We're not animals!
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It's Fine To Eat Out
Since we're not on a diet, it's fine to still eat out. This is an enjoyable affair, why should we punish ourselves by not doing so. It is perfectly acceptable to ask for a reduced portion if you have prior knowledge that the servings are big. If you don't, either ask for a doggy bag or leave the rest on your plate. Our smaller stomachs now require less food, we're not about to spoil that by one night out. Keep in mind that fish and seafood dishes are smaller and healthier than the chicken and steak varieties.
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The Foods We Need Vs. The Ones We Want
. I am not about to list the foods which our bodies need to stay healthy, we all know them. If we have a bit of carbohydrates, some vegetables and meat/pulses on our plates, we're heading in the right direction.
Don't stop eating meat, but instead of making chicken stew with just chicken, cut down on the amount of chicken you use in one meal, by adding tinned, ready-cooked peas and pulses as well as tinned chopped tomatoes. It'll taste better and we would have a balanced pot of warm stew with pulses (a needed food group we neglect) cooked in such a way, that we can't even taste it). It is a good idea to mix in tinned pulses and tomatoes to almost anything we cook.
Using the tinned variety means that we don't have to take extra time to cook them, they increase the amount of brew significantly, and cooked in this way, we (and our children) don't even have to taste them. The important thing is that we include them in our diet.
