I don’t do diets. Diets are short-term fixes and frankly I do not have time to fail. I found that the only way to get to a healthy weight and stay there is by following these 10 simple tips. They are minor changes that will make a big difference.
1) Switch from full-fat milk to skimmed milk. You will save a minimum of 420 calories per week (based on consumption of one cup of milk daily).
2) Switch from dairy spreads (such as butter or margarine) to tomato-based spreads. There are 102 calories in 1 tablespoon of butter compared to 15 calories in 1 tablespoon of tomato paste. So if you consume an average of 1 tablespoon per day and you make the switch, you will save around 600 calories per week!
3) Cut mayonnaise out from your diet. I do not normally believe in cutting out foods totally since I do not believe in deprivation but at 90 calories per tablespoon it is just an unnecessary dollop of fat on your meal. And you can easily get used to living without it by replacing it with ketchup (at 20 calories per tablespoon) or balsamic glaze (also at 20 calories per tablespoon).
4) Limit the consumption of soft-drinks to times when you are out for a meal or for a drink. Do not buy soft drinks for home consumption. At an average of 200 calories per serving you can easily do without this sugar-laden product. Water is your best friend if you want to look and feel good.
5) Do not totally deprive yourself of your favorite treats. If you really crave it, have that glass of wine, just do not drink the whole bottle at one sitting :).
6) Switch from white bread to brown bread. Here the difference is not in the amount of calories but the fact that brown bread is lower in GI and helps you stay feeling full for longer.
7) Instead of creamy carbonara style sauces, choose tomato-based sauces for your pasta, you will save a lot in calories that will allow you to have that glass of wine and block of chocolate later.
8) Try and limit the intake of unhealthy high-fat foods such as bacon, full-fat cheeses and donuts however it is important to eat the healthy fats which are found in: Avocados, olive oil, most nuts (namely walnuts and almonds), naturally fatty fish (such as Salmon which is an important source of Omega 3), dark green veggies such as spinach and kale, eggs, beans and seeds. Cutting them out from your diet with the illusion that it will help you lose weight is wrong. It is important to incorporate these healthy fats into your diet in moderation.
9) Try and get enough sleep. If you have young kids, like me…this can feel like a slap in the face….so I will say IF you currently have control over the amount of hours you get in bed try and make sure you get a minimum of 8 hours of shut eye at night. Sleep helps make sure our metabolism is working correctly.
10) Have patience. No one lost large amounts of weight the healthy way and kept them off overnight. I promise you, if you make these lifestyle changes, you will feel and look healthier in the long term.
