My Top 3 Diet Tips for Valentine’s Day

Over the past year I’ve been fortunate enough to receive a large number of complements for the weight that I’ve lost and managed to keep off.

And, I have to say, I get a rush every time I hear one.  Because it just feels SO good to hear that I’ve been successful with my weight loss.

So with that in mind, I’m going to share with you my top three diet tips for Valentine’s Day - heck for 2009!  And this isn’t just a random list of “should-do’s”, I’m actually going to be following this list myself!  I’m walking the talk!  And that’s why I chose three - because three is simple, and in my life, simple is best!

Diet tip #1: Give yourself some wiggle room
I don’t know about you - but I’m not perfect.  I’m not a saint and I like ice cream.  There - I’ve said it!  I know it’s hard to believe, but true  :-)  But this is one of those things that can really make or break you in any diet plan - give yourself some wiggle room to break the rules a little.  But do it in a way that’s not going to damage the overall effects of the diet plan.  Give yourself a meal or a day of the week where you can eat all the things you want.  BUT - stick to that one meal or day.  Don’t let it creep outside of that boundary!  Anyone can do anything for a 6 days - as long as there’s some gold at the end of the rainbow… or ice cream!  Also, really effective programs will include these “rule breakers” in the program’s foundation - so look for them!  Any diet where you can’t eat ice cream isn’t worth the hassle! 

Diet tip #2: Don’t feel you have to clear your plate
Portion control is something that’s out of hand here in North America.  In the past 20 years our portion sizes have increased dramatically - and our waist-lines have followed suit.  But the trick is not to starve yourself, just eat a little less each time and your body will adjust.  If you go too far, too fast, you’ll notice changes in your blood sugar levels and probably not feel happy about it.  Think of your basic rules of healthy eating and remember that your body doesn’t like to deal with huge masses of food.  Think about it - would you rather have someone hand you a massive desk-load of work each day?  Or would you rather have it trickle in at a manageable pace?  You’d definitely be more efficient if it was more of a trickle - and your body reacts the same way to food.  So treat it nicely - and allow your metabolism to work with you as you lose weight.

Diet tip #3: Slow down
Here in North America, we have a tendency to wolf down our food.  And that’s why, after a big heavy meal, we tend to feel lethargic and over-full.  We eat so quickly that our body doesn’t have time to process the fact that we’re full - until it’s too late.  By slowing things down, we can feel our body tell us when enough is enough.  Of course, our busy lifestyles don’t help - work, kids, friends and other commitments tend to cut into our eating time.  And as a result we grab something to go.  We all do it - it’s just the way things are.  But, on the occasions when we don’t have to rush, make a point of taking your time, and listening to your stomach when it feels full.  And on those days when you can’t fit it into your schedule - remember diet tip #2 and watch your portion.  It’s better to eat a smaller amount, feel hungry and eat another smaller amount - than to over-eat quickly and feel sluggish.

So there you have my top 3 diet tips.  I told ya they were simple!  I know they’re not exhaustive, and by themselves, they’re not a total weight loss plan.  But they’re the three fundamental rules I’m going to follow for 2009.  And  if you think they’ll work for you, why not give them a shot?

Your Diet - What You Don’t Know Could Be Killing You!

We’ve all heard the expression: “you are what you eat”, right?  Diet, and what we eat, is obviously hugely important!

Well, it didn’t take a doctor to tell me that some of these diets out there are probably not doing any of us any favors!  After all, how can eating cabbage soup for two weeks be healthy?  Or any one food, for that matter?!

Then there are all the “popular” diets, Atkins diet, south beach diet, acai berry, Mediterranean diet, and all the other diet plans you hear of.  While some people have had great success with them, some of these diets have some startling medical concerns with them.

Or worse, some people consider diet pills.  And while a diet pill may seem like an effective, quick and easy way to lose weight, the potential side effects have been reported are more than enough to turn me away from them.

So how, then, do we effectively lose weight?

We’ve probably all experienced the untold joy of losing weight with a diet.  I bet you’ve tried the South Beach Diet, Weight Watchers, the zone, a detox diet or some other fad low fat diet.  Heck maybe you’ve even tried a diebetic diet!  But things always seem to be the same - you lose the weight, and gain it all back again!  And often times, a few pounds more for your efforts!!

In other words, we try to lose weight to look good, feel healthy and generally feel better - and in the end, we end up putting our health in risk by beating up our bodies and ultimately putting on more weight than we started with!

And it was because of this potentially huge risk to my health, that I went out and started to check out what various organizations like the Weight Loss Institute, and WebMD had to say.  I was determined to diet right this time!  And after countless hours of researching and surfing the WebMD message boards, I started to notice something…

There are healthy ways to lose weight that don’t require diet pills, or complicated diet techniques.  You don’t need a calculator to figure out what to eat, and you don’t need a super computer to help you understand terms like BMI.  And - while exercise is always a good thing - it’s not totally dependent on you spending an hour (or more) each day just to lose some weight!  The solution is in having an effective diet plan that outlines how to approach meal time and stay healthy.

So spend less time worrying about your diet, and potentially dealing with side effects like hypertension, heartburn, incontinence or any range of potential mental issues because of a bad diet or a diet pill side effect.  And spend more time following a healthy, effective diet plan.