I am one of the lucky ones I guess. I’ve lost over 60 pounds and have kept it off (with a little slipping up and bringing it down again) for over 4 years. Someone asked me what I did so today I’m going to tell you the stuff that what most important. Taking it off isn’t as hard as keeping it off! And because I went from a super tight size 18 to a size 10, I wanted to give the number 10 it’s due. Here’s my top 10 list of hints from a woman who admits she’s over 40, had two children back to back (okay, so they’re teenagers now) and LOVES to eat (I write cookbooks for living for heaven’s sake!).
Here you go—the Top Ten Ways This Middle Aged Woman Got Her Groove Thing Back, starting with number 10-
10. Reality Check #1. Oprah always says, “This I know for sure,” and then goes on to say something profound but simple that clicked with her. Here is my “this I know for sure”: eating in the car, eating over the sink and eating standing in front of the fridge, really does count. You can’t fool your digestive system and consequently your thighs. Everything that goes in your mouth counts!
9. Reality Check #2. Write it down. Yeah, yeah…I know what you’re thinking! “I already know what I’m eating.” You THINK you do, but when you write it down, there comes a moment (for most) when you find out some of the food you’ve been eating has been the result of an unconscious decision. You actually ate and you didn’t know it! Writing it down makes every bite accountable because it’s in black and white on paper and looking back at you! That’ll make you think twice before snarfing down a Little Debbie in the car.
8. The Potion of Portion. When you apply portion control to healthy eating, that’s when the magic begins. Regardless of how healthy something is, if you’re eating too much, you’re not going to lose the weight! You must be absolutely aware of how much you’re eating. For example, a deck of cards is the right size for a portion of protein. An ounce of cheese looks like a pair of dice, and so on. Keeping portion size in mind will keep it OFF your behind!
7. Waist Not, Want Not. When I go out to dinner, they almost always bring me way more food than I need. I ask for a doggie bag immediately when it’s served and make sure I get the food halved into the container and sometimes, I’ll put even more in my little bag. The old adage, out of sight, out of mind applies big time.
6. The No Bag Rule. I’ve made a rule for myself and that is to NEVER eat out of any bag anything was purchased in. On the off chance that I would actually have potato chips in my pantry (it happens occasionally), I will transfer some of those chips into small, zipper topped snack size bags and only two of them. That will take care of my need to eat crunchy, salty food without sending me to the confessional to own up to a chip binge.
5. Plate Proportions. I make sure my plate is 1/3 salad, 1/3 veggies (at least two different non-starchy kinds) and about 5 ounces lean protein (doesn’t quite make up a third of the plate, but you get the idea, I’m sure). This visual helps me anywhere—at home, a restaurant and at a buffet.
4. Don’t Slack on Snacks. Your mom told you not to snack between meals; I’m going to tell you to do just that. When you’re watching your portions, you are going to get hungrier, but not to worry! Food is always just a little way away. Having snacks means never having to say, “I’m hungry.” It’s a good thing, as long as they’re healthy and yes, portion controlled.
3. Thirst is First. One thing that was absolutely essential to my weight loss was the consumption of a lot of water. I constantly have a water bottle with me and I am now to the point that if I don’t drink enough water, I get really thirsty. Water helps slake not just thirst though; it helps to calm a rambunctious appetite as well.
2. Smaller Sizes. If I found a pair of pants I liked, I would buy those pants and buy them in one size smaller. I would hang that pair on the back of my bathroom door and look at them everyday. I would tell myself I would be in them in X amount of time as I laced up my running shoes. I kept those pants in my head too, as I ran. Made a huge difference in how much cardio got accomplished!
1. Use White Out. In other words, get the white out of your food. White flour, white sugar all spell disaster. There are much healthier alternatives, like whole wheat flour and xylitol (www.xylitol.org) out there!
That’s it—pretty basic, you’re probably saying. But put these principles into action and they’ll change your life. I’m living proof!
For more help putting dinner on your table, check out Leanne’s website, www.SavingDinner.com, or her Saving Dinner book series (Ballantine) and her New York Times bestselling book Body Clutter (Fireside). Copyright 2009 Leanne Ely. Used by permission in this publication.
Share
Contributors
