Starting a healthy meal plan in an effort to shed a few pounds?
The first thing you’re likely doing is eliminating certain foods from your menu.
Pizza? Gone. Pasta? Gone. Bread? It’s gone too. ( As you can see by clicking the links above, they don't have to be gone at all! More on that in a minute) 🙂
Many foods are leaving your diet and are being replaced with 100% healthy items like:
- grilled chicken
- steamed broccoli
- salads
- apples
- quinoa
You figure you’re on top of your game and headed straight for success.
Two weeks later, you’re singing a different tune.
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Depriving yourself of foods that you enjoy while trying to achieve fat loss often backfires! It leads you to go off binging on the very foods you were trying to avoid.
The Skinny on “Dieting”
According to one study put on by the UCLA researchers, dieting can help people initially lose around 5-10% of their starting weight in the first 6 months, but up to two-thirds of the people who lose weight regain it all back, if not more within 4 or 5 years.
Basically, a restrictive diet is never going to lead you to the long term results you’re looking for.
Does this mean you should go off eating chips, ice cream, and cake?
Not exactly. While there is a time and place for indulgence, most of the time you do need to eat healthy.
Instead, it’s about finding a way to deal with your cravings without blowing your diet. Here are some ideas on how you can do that.
3 Sneaky Ways To Curb Cravings
- First, learning a few tricks to help curb your cravings when they strike is important. Often the best way to side-step eating is to simply drink a tall glass of water and then wait 10-15 minutes. For most people, the craving will pass.
- Others may need a jolt of exercise to do the trick. Head out and take a brisk walk for 15 minutes. See if you still want the food when you return.
- Still others may find that simply being at home around food strikes a case of the munchies. If that’s you, start filling your evening with activities that will keep you out of the home and away from food.
Giving In The Smart Way
If none of those work, then it’s time to consider giving in the smart way.
Don’t indulge in potato chips for instance.
Instead, try some sweet potato or zucchini chips.
Or, is it ice cream you crave?
Treat yourself to a bowl of my super easy Banana Nice Cream or this Indulgent Banana Split ‘Salad'.
If you’re a chocoholic and need a fix, don’t feel guilty, just choose smart. There are endless benefits to eating dark chocolate in moderation, so one square added to your day can boost your health, not take away from it.
EXCLUSIVE >> The TRUTH About Bread (will surprise you).
Come up with some smarter, healthier alternatives to the foods that you crave and you’ll soon find yourself losing weight without feeling like you’re on a ‘diet’.
If there’s one thing you can be sure of, it’s that restrictive dieting will not yield good long-term results.
Yours in Health,
Danette
P.S. Please share this with your friends and I always love reading your comments below.
