Healthy Diet - 10 Steps To A Successful Diet

It is not always easy to stick to a healthy diet. 
If you are happy within yourself great, but if you feel that there are “areas for improvement” then there is always something you can do. 
Always consult your doctor before changing your diet.

Title: 10 Steps To A Successful Diet

By: Isabel Robson

10 Steps To A Successful Diet

1. Accept that miracles do not happen overnight. 

• No matter how expensive it is or how many sexy models advertise it, there is no magic pill.
• The more effort you put it, the more likely you are to succeed.  
• Focus on the goal ahead, every day you are a step closer in becoming what you wish to be.  This is an ongoing relationship with yourself. 
• Loosing weight quickly is more likely to go back on. Starving will send messages to the body to store fat next time you eat.  However in loosing weight gradually there are more chances to stay off, especially if you keep working at it.
• If your reason for not trying a healthy diet is because you feel that “I have so much to loose, it will take forever”.  Think again, did you not feel the same way a year ago? The difference now is that if you start now, you may feel different next year.
  

2. Eat more fruit and vegetables. 

• Yes not everyone likes them but the reason why they are on the healthy diet list it is because it works!
• Most fruit and vegetables are rich in fibre, minerals and vitamins, will help you feel full and are low in calories.  If you snack at night like I used to, have plenty of small bits of fruit instead of crisps, chocolates and biscuits.
  

3. Exercise

• If the gym is not for you, try a brisk walk for at least 30 minutes per day.  Exercise does not necessarily mean running marathons but keeping as active as you can.  One of the common reasons given is that “I do not have the time”.  It is like saying to yourself “I am not worth my own time”.
• Make the time and think of ways how you can be more active with the most important person in your life, YOU.  
• If you do not look after yourself first, you are not running at 100% to look after others.    
• The aim of a healthy diet is not to sabotage your goals but instead to get creative using the time available to you. Keeping your mind busy will leave less obsession time for thinking about food.
• Simple exercises throughout the day will help.  For example, if you use the computer/cashier/telephone a lot, practice step exercises with your feet.
  

4. Drink a lot of water. 

• Water helps filter out food consumed and it can help you feel more awake.  Drinking up to 2 Litres of water per day can help you feel full.  When your body feels hungry, it is more likely that you body is thirsty rather than hungry.
• Drink 2 Litres to start with, may be difficult but increase volume slowly and spread water consumption during the day.   It is easier than you think.
  

5. Persuasion is the Key.

• So you had your favourite naughty meal today and add an extra cookie as well.  No problem.  Don’t give up. Failure only sticks if you stop trying.  Tomorrow is another day.

6. Replace fried food with fresh salads. 

• If you find it hard to give up your comfort food, then don’t.  You will be making a significant difference even if you reduce the portion size.  Portion control is the way forward for a healthy diet.
• Select a day during the week where you have a “cheat day”.  Stick to the same day, otherwise you could be renaming each day a cheat day.  
• On a cheat day, allow yourself to have 1 favourite meal/treat that you love.  The reason why some many people do not stick to their diet is because they feel deprived from their comfort food.
  

7. Replace sugar in foods/drinks. 

• Have natural fruit juice/water instead of milk shakes or fizzy drinks.
• Cut out sugar in coffee/tea.  If you find it hard to cut out sugar altogether, try having fewer coffees per day, you need to make room for the drinking water remember?
  

8. Cut out alcohol from your life.

• Reduce it as much as you can.  Alcohol is high in calories and sugar.  Great improvement potential here if you decide to take it. 
  
• A healthy diet can include alcohol but in moderation, although ideally is best avoided.

9. Variety

• Add some spice to your life and get creative.  Eating salads does not mean that you always have lettuce every day.  Eating the same thing is boring, so change the ingredients.  It is more motivating to enjoy a new experience every day.
  
• Try ingredients you have not tried before.  Give it a go, you may be surprised.
  A healthy diet does not have to be boring!

10. Stay Positive.

• Every time you look into the mirror, do not judge yourself or criticize areas you may not like.  Easier said than done, I know but this time try a different tactic, clearly the old way did not work!
• You are already changing, if you read up until topic 10, you made the effort in investing some time for yourself.  This is the first step. Well Done!
• Try not to weigh yourself to often and when looking on the mirror, praise yourself. Concentrate on the areas you most like (physical and emotional) and say it to yourself out loud. 
  
• When you go to sleep, relax with the thought that we all lose weight whilst we sleep.
  

When I was at college, the Head Mistress told me off for eating a sandwich and reading a magazine at the same time.  At the time, I did not understand why but now I believe I know the reason.

When we take each bite of our food, we get a sense of pleasure.  If our brain is distracted with another activity, it does not register a true memory of eating a full meal.

Have you ever started to eat a snack at your desk, a few minutes later turn around to find the snack is gone?  You could swear that there was more left!
This is the same reason that people that eat whilst watching TV often eat more than people that eat at a table.
Good food should be respected and savoured for each bite. By taking your time chewing and enjoy every bite, you will feel satisfied with a smaller portion also.  Thus loosing weight by eating less without feeling deprived.