Lose Yourself

After the firecrackers have been expended and the bowl games are over, the gyms will be packed. The number one New Year’s Resolution is to lose weight, and it’s the hardest one to keep. Thus the reason it’s renewed each year. This is not going to be an article about a diet or an exercise regimen. People who have managed to lose weight and successfully keep it off, will tell you that it requires a behavior modification program. Not only modifying what you eat, but when you eat it, and how much you eat. Being only five feet tall, I have no place to go but out. Although not at my preferred weight, the following tips have enabled me to keep my weight under control, and prevented any weight gain during the holiday season.

- Write down everything you eat and how much you consumed.
- Use a smaller plate reducing the size of your portions.
- Drink plenty of water. It will not only make you feel full, but will result in many other benefits.
- Eat breakfast. Put something in your stomach early to jumpstart your metabolism.
- Restrict as much sugar and salt from your diet as you possibly can.
- Refrain from eating fried foods as much as possible.
- Learn to love green vegetables.
- Fruit, lots of fruit.
- Try not to eat after prime time.
- Eat several smaller meals or snacks, instead of three large meals. New studies support this idea.
- Try to exercise 20 minutes three times a week, at the minimum.

Notice that I didn’t use the words, quit, stop, or eliminate. Realistically, we don’t want to go through life depriving ourselves of things that we enjoy. Just learn to eat them in moderation. If this information sounds redundant, then keep doing what you’re doing and see what kind of results you get. If you always do what you’ve always done, you’ll always have just what you’ve have.