Now that winter break is over, it’s time to get back to school and back to eating healthy! Unfortunately, for the majority of us this means working off all the delicious food you ate at home. Holiday foods such as Christmas cookies, fudge or leftovers from home cooked dinners are packed with tons of fat and sugar. The more you eat of this dangerous duo the more you crave foods that contain them; this means you’re probably still trying to detox from all the loaded plates of homemade food or desserts for those of you with a sweet tooth. Luckily, there are a few easy things you can do to help rid your body of all the decadent holiday food and kick start 2012 with a healthy lifestyle.
Larger Meals:
I know this sounds a bit backwards, you’re probably thinking it’s smarter to eat less in compensation for the past few weeks. However, if you focus on eating three satisfying meals a day (breakfast, lunch and dinner) your cravings for sugary snacks will decrease. By only eating a few meals a day you expose yourself to food less which will decrease your chance of overeating. Think of it like this; the more you see food the more likely you’re going to eat it. Plan on eating three healthy meals a day and your appetite will return to normal within no time!
Find and Buddy:
We all know there is strength in numbers; acquiring a friend who has the same goal as you will ensure you return to your normal, healthy self within no time! Instead of getting lunch or drinks with a friend plan a walk or activity outside. With winter finally becoming a true Maine winter take advantage of skiing, ice skating or snowshoeing, they are all great ways to exercise despite the cold temperatures! A buddy will keep you exercising all winter long and help you fight off killer cravings.
Goodbye to Sugar:
As I mentioned before the two biggest culprits of holiday foods are sugar and fat. They may taste delectable however, the effects they have last longer than you may know. Individuals who consume a diet high in sugar and fat have shown higher rates of calorie consumption and weight gain. We all most likely overdosed on both of these during the holidays; which means now is the time to limit them in your diet. Focus on eating fruits, vegetables, whole grains and lean meat to help free your body of sugar and fat.
Set a Goal:
This may be the most important tip of them all; it is hard to stay on track with healthy eating if you don’t have a goal in mind. Whether it is five, ten or thirty pounds you want to shed the most important thing is to have direction. Although the number on the scale is just a number it helps you understand how much effort you must invest in eating healthy. Set a goal weight you want to reach, and then designate a certain day of the week to be your “weigh-in day”. Maintaining a routine will keep you on track with eating and exercising and bring your closer to your goal!
Track Your Food:
Keeping a food log is another key to staying on track with any diet or healthy eating plan. We are all very busy with the start of a semester upon us, remembering what you had for dinner last night is hard enough, let alone two or three days ago! Recording what you ate every day for a few weeks will greatly help you to see how much food and what kinds of food you are commonly eating. A food log will help you to recognize any strengths or weaknesses in your eating habits and keep you on track for success!
The start of a new semester is a great opportunity to start fresh, use these tips to help kick start a healthy eating plan and 2012 could be your best year yet!
http://www.fitnessmagazine.com/weight-loss/plans/last-5-pounds/ways-to-kick-start-diets/?page=3
http://www.webmd.com/diet/guide/4-ways-to-get-that-diet-going
http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/public/heart/obesity/wecan/eat-right/limit-fat-sugar.htm