Don't Deprive Yourself
If you deprive yourself of the thing you like, there will come a time that you can't control it anymore. The tendency is you'll eat all you can and this is more damaging in your diet, so enjoy an occasional treat in small proportion and savor every bite.
Don't Eat too Fast
Cut food into pieces and take a sip of water between bites. Chew your foods slowly. Choose foods that take time to eat peel and eat whole fruit or shrimps or spoon on a hot soup. Play some relaxing music to slow the pace. According to studies, it takes the stomach about 20 minutes to tell the brain it's full, regardless of what and how much you eat.
Don't Skip Breakfast
Breakfast is the most important meal because you will be needing energy for the days work and activity. Skipping breakfast will slow your metabolism and the tendency when you hunger you tend to overeat later on the day.
Don't Ignore Hidden Calories
Don't eat salads smothered in dressings, sauces or gravy and butter instead dress them with vinegar or lemon. Not just because something is labeled fat-free or low in calories it doesn't mean it has no impact on your weight.
Don't Weigh Yourself too Often
Our weight fluctuates several pounds throughout the day, so frequent weighing is confusing and discouraging. Scales does lie, that's the truth. Weigh yourself at least once a week or take a close look at your body in the mirror or simply test out a favorite pair of jeans instead.
Don't Eat too Little
Crash diets may take weight off at first but they don't work in the long run. If your body doesn't get enough food, it switches to starvation and hangs on to body fat. Here's how to find the number of calories you need for a day. Simply multiply your weight by 10, if you are 150 lbs you need 1500 calories, to reduce your weight, lower your intake by 100.
Don't Cut Out Snacks
Remember, snacking is not bad for dieters. Just keep track of what you eat. By dividing your food into frequent smaller meals is better for dieters than eating just three big meals. Eating throughout the day means you'll be less likely to overeat at your next meal.
Don't Stick to a Boring Menu
Dieters who eat identical meals everyday get bored and quickly get back to their bad eating habits. Single-food diets deprive your body of its nutritional needs. Follow a balanced diet that's low in fat and calories and allows you something from all the major food groups.
Don't Avoid Exercise
Exercise is a surefire weight-loss booster and should be a part of your diet program. The ideal frequency of exercise based on studies is three times a week for 30 minutes or longer.
