Archive for the ‘Changing Eating Habits’ Category

Friday, January 15th, 2010

To lose weight by changing our eating habits we need to be aware of what we are eating and eat better foods.

  1. You like to eat:                                         You eat instead:
  2. Ice Cream                                                   Frozen Yogurt
  3. Processed Cakes & Pies                             Fruit
  4. Chips                                                          Pretzels
  5. Fried Chicken                                             Baked Chicken
  6. French Fries                                                Baked Fries
  7. Syrup                                                           Honey
  8. Processed Foods                                          Home Cooked
  9. Hamburger                                                   Turkey Burger
  10. Canned Beans                                          Fresh Beans (you cook)
  11. White Bread                                                Wheat Bread
  12. Potato Chips                                                 Nuts or Seeds
  13. Fruit Cocktail in the can                               Fresh Fruits
  14. Microwave Diet Meals                                Home Cookin
  15. Soda                                                             Unsweetened Drink
  16. Diet Soda                                                      Unsweetened Drink
  17. Doughnuts                                                     Fruit
  18. Canned Soup                                                 Home made Soup
  19. Canned Broth                                                Home made Broth
  20. White Rice                                                     Brown Rice
  21. Canned  Goods                                              Fresh Foods
  22. Boxed Goods                                                 Fresh Foods
  23. Ramon Noodles                                             Home made Soup

So you say how do you do it.  How do you pick the foods that are good for you instead of the ones that are bad?  well, processed foods are full of fillers, chemicals, additives, sodium, fats and some has msg (monosodium glutamate).  MSG is a flavor enhancer, it stimulates the taste buds and makes you think the food you are eating is way better than it really is.  Some people have side effects to MSG.  Any way, when you eat processed foods that has a lot of additives you think the food is better than it really is/ mentally and nutritionally.  Ever heard the phrase “junk food junkie”?  When you eat a lot of “junk food” your body kinda forgets that “real food” is wwwaaaayyyy better and your body craves the junk food because of the additives.  If you eat a lot of junk food then quit eating it and eat some home cooking.

Home cooked food is fresh and depending on how you cook it, can be very nutritious.  Your body will benefit from home cooked food by the nutritional value it has.  If you feed your body with nutritious foods it will be happier and then be satisfied.  If you feed your body with processed foods it will not be as happy or satisfied.   Try it, when you get hungry- instead of reaching for a processed snack or meal- eat one that was home cooked.  Do it for about 2-3 weeks and you will notice a difference.  So you don’t have time?  Well, prepare some things ahead of time.  After you eat supper at night prep for tomorrows meal.  Use a crock pot to cook just about anything.  Beans come out great in a crock pot.  Experiment and have fun you deserve it.

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Change eating habits to lose weight

Wednesday, January 6th, 2010

To lose weight change your eating habits.  Changing your eating habits may sound hard to do.  You need to recognize your eating habits.

Do you eat when your hungry only or do you eat when your depressed or worried even when you’re not hungry?  If the above is your case recognizing it is the first step and working on it is the next.

Eating habits happen slowly, not over night so changing them will take time.  When you decide to make your change start one day at a time.  On the first day you may look at what you’re eating for breakfast.  If you’re eating 3-4 eggs, a biscuit, bacon and grits I would suggest you cut that in half.  Cutting your big portions in half will help to shrink the stomach.  Cutting big portions will be a positive change it will allow you to be able to eat more often during the day.  Eating more often, small portions, will keep you feeling more satisfied with less food.  If you want to change what you eat for breakfast, if you’re eating eggs, bacon, grits and a biscuit, eat fruit instead.  Fruit for breakfast is an energy booster and a healthy alternative to “traditional” breakfast.  Light breakfasts also include yogurt, a bagel, toast with peanut butter anything lighter and less filling.

Now as far as changing an aspect of eating 3 big meals a day you could change that up and eat 5 small meals.  You would be surprised at how satisfying it is.  Eat a light breakfast, then at 10:00 eat a snack, remember eat light.  Then eat a light lunch and then at 2:00 eat another snack, this helps the afternoon hunger pains and the eating too much for supper.  Then eat supper, try to eat it before 6:00 if at all possible.

Another way to change eating habits is to change the way we buy groceries.  By habit you may purchase foods that are quick to fix.  Frozen pizza, hot pockets, chips… You could try to concentrate on fresher ingredients, ones you have to fix and put together yourself.  If you don’t have a lot of time then plan your menu accordingly.  But the fresher the better when it comes to food.  Processed food is high in sodium and low in nutrition, it leaves you hungry.  Eat salad with meals, remember salad dressing can be high in calories so change to vinegar and oil or low fat dressings.

Once you try to change your eating habits its not so hard to do and the benefits are for you.

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