Showing posts with label Weight loss stories. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Weight loss stories. Show all posts

Lapse as well as also also Relapse Prevention Cheat Sheet: All Dieters Slip Up. Learn What to Do, Part II

Lapse as well as also also Relapse Prevention Cheat Sheet: All Dieters Slip Up. Learn What to Do, Part II

Lapse as well as also also Relapse Prevention Cheat Sheet: All Dieters Slip Up. Learn What to Do, Part II

By Charles Platkin, PhD

Lapse as well as also also Relapse Prevention #Cheat Sheet: All Dieters Slip Up. Learn What to Do, Part II

Triggers

Problem: These are direct links to your past unhealthy eating as well as also also exercise behaviors. They can be events, people, places, things as well as also also rituals, such as when you sit on the sofa in front of the TV as well as also also the item triggers a craving for a snack ­ even if the item’s right after you’ve eaten dinner.

The Fix: Check out your personal food environment. Those who make successful weight-loss resolutions review as well as also also change their surroundings by removing the cues in which cause them to overeat as well as also also not exercise. They use stimulus control ­ for instance, not getting their morning coffee at the bakery or removing “#diet buster” foods as well as also also take-out menus for unhealthy restaurants via their homes. in which doesn’t mean overhauling your entire life ­ the item just means you should remove certain people, places as well as also also things, within reason. To change eating as well as also also snack behaviors, come up with Calorie Bargains ­ healthy foods in which are lower in calories than what you typically eat, nevertheless still taste great.

as well as also also don’t just remove negative stimuli or cues ­ increase positive ones. For example, hang out with people who are supportive of your weight-loss efforts, surround yourself with healthy foods, post reminder notices in which you “can lose weight,” buy a pedometer, join a gym as well as also also make your environment weight-loss friendly.

High-Risk Situations (HRS)

Problem: There are several types of high-risk situations you need to look out for in order to cope with lapses in which can lead to relapses, including negative emotions, food pushers as well as also also Great news.

The Fix: Analyze each of your HRSs as well as also also try mapping out a solution before they occur. See the three common HRSs below, along with their fixes.

Negative Emotions

Problem: Negative emotions occur when you’re anxious, depressed, in an argument (which has a family member, boss, co-worker, friend, etc.) or simply because you think you deserve the item – you’ve had a rough time as well as also also should get something to compensate you for your troubles. When stressed, we long for comfort foods such as brownies, doughnuts, candy, ice cream, pizza, mashed potatoes as well as also also fried chicken. One reason is actually in which your parents probably gave you an ice cream or a piece of candy when you had a bad day at school or when you lost the big game, so these are what you’re used to having in times of discomfort.

The Fix: Come up with healthy comfort foods. Need suggestions? Try eatingwell.com or purchase the book Cooking Light Comfort Food by the Editors of Cooking Light Magazine.

additional tips include: Create a “stress snack eating” kit filled with portion-controlled low-calorie snacks to keep in your office or at home doing sure in which the item’s available when needed. Keep unhealthy snacks out of sight. Develop a stress-eating alternate action plan. Try to find enjoyable, non-food related activities in which will distract you: exercising, shopping, going to the movies, using relaxation techniques, working, chatting with friends, reading a humorous book.

Food Pushers

Problem: There is actually social pressure to eat in office situations, at family gatherings, on holidays as well as also also in additional situations. There are a variety of verbal as well as also also non-verbal cues in which can push as well as also also pressure you into doing unhealthy choices in which could lead to a relapse.

The Fix: Have your answer ready for those diet saboteurs. Prepare a few key phrases like, “Oh, no thanks. I couldn’t eat another thing.” Or try the truth: “I’m trying to eat healthfully, as well as also also in which piece of cake will throw me completely off track.”

Try writing down three typical scenarios when you were around family, friends or co-workers as well as also also were made to feel uncomfortable saying no to food.

The key is actually to prepare responses to these types of situations so you’re ready next time. in which way, you’ll be armed with an automatic response – one in which rolls off your tongue because you’ve thought of the item ahead of time as well as also also the item makes sense! If you are prepared, there’s a better chance in which you will be able to control the outcome.

Great News, Celebrations as well as also also Excitement

Problem: These are positive, exciting situations in which encourage you to enjoy your Great fortune with unhealthy food. The stimulus could be something as simple as repeatedly seeing unhealthy food advertisements on TV, billboards as well as also also magazines. Or the item could be a joyous occasion, such as a birthday, anniversary, party or any occasion when the item feels like “This kind of one time” is actually not so terrible, as well as also also makes you think, “why not enjoy life – I only live once.”

The Fix: One key tactic is actually using Mental Rehearsal. Almost all world-class athletes practice mental rehearsal. Haven’t you ever heard the expression “practice makes perfect”? The idea is actually to rehearse an upcoming event, nevertheless in your mind, not on the field. By doing in which you trick your brain into having an experience you didn’t actually have. You need to rehearse your eating behaviors as well as also also choices before they take place ­ before you eat at your favorite restaurant, before you go into the office knowing in which the item’s “doughnut Friday.”

Also, understand in which rationalizations justify or somehow make OK your decision. Rationalizations do not involve action. They just explain away your actions. Identify what you told yourself about your decisions in which allowed you to make them. Last, the item’s important to note in which there are many “key” as well as also also “important” moments in life . Add them up as well as also also the item could mean 40 overeating occasions per year. Come up with additional, healthier ways to celebrate.

Cravings, Urges as well as also also Nudges

Problem
: These are thoughts in which create the desire for immediate gratification. Examples might be craving something sweet or salty, or having the urge to eat a big fattening unhealthy meal. They come in many forms as well as also also are often driven by direct links to past behavior or by high-risk situations.

The Fix: Surf the Wave – the idea is actually to ride the craving wave by coming up with additional behaviors to focus on in advance doing sure in which when the craving comes you can let the item ride for 20 to 30 minutes without indulging. Come up with alternatives – like deep breathing, meditating, taking a walk, calling a friend – something you know will make you feel Great as well as also also pass the time. If you do in which, before you know the item the craving will pass.


Tags:  cheat sheet diet health laps as well as also also replase

Lapse as well as also also Relapse Prevention Cheat Sheet: All Dieters Slip Up. Learn What to Do, Part II

Getting Out of Diet Jail

Getting Out of Diet Jail

Getting Out of Diet Jail

By Charles Platkin, PhD

along with also I have to say, choice, freedom of choice of which is actually, is actually probably the concept of which helped me the most when I was losing weight, getting in shape along with also vowing to keep the idea of which way. along with also, of course, choice is actually a cousin of responsibility ­ I’ve written about responsibility along with also blame (see: http://www.dietdetective.com/columns/the-blame-game.aspx ) along with also choice before. One column I’m particularly proud of is actually about micro choices (see:http://www.dietdetective.com/column/micro-choices.aspx), the idea of which creating healthy behaviors almost always comes down to the hundreds of choices we make inside the moment every day. For instance, whether we choose to eat an apple or a slice of apple pie, or whether we bike to work or drive. the idea’s those micro choices of which make up our lives.  
 
The word responsibility sounds puzzling along with also familiar at the same time, yet the idea’s a concept of which’s frequently forgotten or abused during the course of our lives. What the heck does the idea mean? the idea’s simply This particular: Control over your life doesn’t arise through dodging along with also avoiding difficulties nevertheless through coping with the issues (minor along with also major) of which come your way or of which you create. Personal honesty, conflict along with also struggle constantly force you to make decisions concerning who you are as a person, along with also those choices are powerful tools for personal growth. The best way to prepare for them is actually to stay aware of your actions. Only then can you become more responsible ­ along with also the payoff is actually a more effective life. Responsibility is actually choice, free choice. the idea means being able to determine your destiny. 
This particular principle promises to change your notion of what the idea is actually to take responsibility for yourself. the idea will help you recognize along with also identify responsibility-avoiding behaviors along with also patterns in both your professional along with also personal life. 
 
Defining Responsibility
Responsibility has gotten a bad rap. Too many of us associate the idea with punishment along with also blame, both negatives. Or you may associate responsibility with dreary lectures detailing your duties along with also see the idea solely as a burden. There is actually a moral dimension to responsibility, nevertheless of which is actually only part of the idea. Think about the word. the idea contains the word “response” along with also the word “ability.” Responsibility is actually, therefore, the ability to respond. An event occurs, a relationship or business fails. You suffer a loss or a setback. How do you respond? Can you get over the idea? Can you get past the idea? Can you keep heart along with also soul together along with also remain compassionate? To respond ably, or to respond responsibly, you figure out what went wrong, determine how you can fix the idea, along with also even incorporate the setback into a well-thought-out plan of action.
 
How does understanding responsibility lead to free choice, along with also how does free choice help you lose weight? 
 
Well, the mere recognition of which I had control over my life, knowing of which I controlled my own destiny along with also had the freedom to make choices, released me through “#diet jail.” Yes, I was in what I call diet jail. For 30 years, I would likely go in along with also out of diet jail. I would likely get out on parole (read: lose weight), then, just like any repeat offender, I would likely commit another crime (read: gain weight) along with also end up back in diet jail. What a nightmare. I’m sure many of you know exactly what I’m talking about. Knowing of which I had choices set me free for life. Think about the following:
 
We are responsible for our lives ­ we may not be responsible for everything of which happens to us, nevertheless we are responsible for the way we respond or react to every situation of which comes our way. This particular is actually where the concept of choice comes into play. We choose our responses. For instance: 
 
Find a reason WHY you want to lose weight. the idea helps to know why you actually want to get in shape. For #health reasons? Vanity? Think you already know? Make sure. Write the idea down. along with also make sure of which the idea’s meaningful. (Read more about “Seeing the Why” http://www.dietdetective.com/column/seeing-the-why.aspx.)
 
Who’s influencing your food life? Keep track of your food influences for one week. See who or what is actually influencing you to eat the foods of which you do. is actually the idea the TV commercials you’re watching? The friends you’re eating with? Family, co-workers? For every meal, pick someone or something of which influenced your choice. Highlighting your influences will help you see of which you can take back control of your food choices. 
 
Why experts say “don’t diet; make the idea a lifestyle.” What inside the globe do they mean? They mean of which you need to change behaviors (diet along with also exercise) to lose weight, nevertheless to keep the weight off for not bad you must choose behaviors you can live with forever. You need to consistently question along with also ask yourself ­ is actually This particular “change” I just made (read: exercising at 5 a.m. every morning) something I can do forever? Can I eat celery for breakfast every day? (of which’s a joke by the way, to highlight the silly things we often do to lose weight.) You need to form patterns: Make your brand new eating behaviors automatic by doing them over along with also over again. You shouldn’t need to take breaks through your “diet.” If you have to take a break, you made too many compromises inside the first place along with also your diet will not last. brand new eating along with also activity behaviors need to be comfortable along with also not too restrictive.
 
Be Confident: Feeling confident of which you can change a behavior is actually one of the single biggest predictors of which you will be able to change. the idea’s called “self-efficacy” ­ the belief in your ability to “organize along with also execute” whatever behavior you would likely like to modify. the idea’s the confidence of which we can attain what we want ­ along with also the idea’s especially important if you want to control your weight.
 
Look Back: Taking a careful look at your past can help you determine where you want to go inside the future, along with also the idea helps to make sure of which you realize along with also recognize where you did along with also did not take responsibility. The past may be behind you, nevertheless thinking about along with also analyzing what happened is actually the key to your dieting future. Keep an open mind. Think of the strategies of which didn’t work in your previous attempts to lose weight. By looking at your failures you learn what NOT to repeat. You probably learned something through every diet you’ve been on. the idea’s up to you to find out what you gained through all of which hard work. 
 
Set Goals: Setting goals is actually critical for achievement. You might be thinking, “Well, I’ve achieved plenty inside the past without setting goals or planning, so why do I need to do the idea currently?” of which may be true. along with also you still might be able to achieve without planning; however, goal setting along with also planning increase the odds of your success. 
 
Be Prepared: the idea is actually important to recognize of which preparation will help you make better choices. Ever heard the expression, “chance favors the prepared mind?” Think about This particular scenario: You’ve been so “not bad” on your diet: You’ve lost weight, exercised every day for months ­ the idea’s all going so well. Then the idea happens. You’re completely stressed out; you just had an argument with your 14-year-old daughter; your boss is actually breathing down your neck about of which report of which’s late; your phone’s been ringing off the hook ­ you’re at the end of your rope. Then, to top the idea all off, your co-worker is actually having a birthday celebration with the works, including lasagna, cake along with also ice cream. You hold the idea all, along with also you don’t just stop there ­ you continue This particular slide, along with also you relapse. The reality is actually of which #weight loss along with also maintenance have lots of ups along with also downs, along with also plenty of curveballs. Think about the difficult choices you face most often, along with also make sure to figure out the best outcomes before you face them ­ not during. Read: Relapse Prevention ( http://www.dietdetective.com/columns/lapse-along with also-relapse%20prevention-cheat-sheet-all-dieters-slip-up-learn-what-to-do-part-i.aspx )


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Getting Out of Diet Jail

Slimming Plates

Slimming Plates

Slimming Plates

By Charles Platkin, PhD

Slimming Plates

Calorie Bargain: #Slim & Sage Plates

The Why: The plates are actually beautiful. I was impressed. I’ve seen some other portion-control plates which aren’t anywhere near as attractive. Plus, Slim & Sage plates are easy to use. The design can be accurately described by the company as having a “gentle curve along with gorgeous interlaced lines” which can be “ideal for everyday use or casual entertaining.”

The Health Insentif: According to the company, they “collaborated with leading experts at Harvard along with Stanford, read the available research on portion control along with #diet along with distilled the item down to evidence by Mayo Clinic, Harvard, NIH along with the American College of Cardiology, on which our patent pending products are based. The result? Plates which can help reduce caloric intake by up to 59%.”

How the item Works: The 9-inch porcelain plate’s geometric design can be divided as follows: one-quarter for lean protein, one-quarter for whole grains, along with one-half for vegetables.

The cost: $99 for set of four plates.

Where to Buy: www.slimandsage.com


Tags:  diet meals portions slim

Slimming Plates

The Real Skinny

The Real Skinny

The Real Skinny

By Charles Platkin, PhD

Calorie Bargain: The Real #Skinny: Appetite for #Health‘s 101 Fat Habits & Slim Solutions by Julie Upton as well as also Katherine Brooking (Tarcher, 2013)

The Why: Both these authors know what they’re talking about as well as also offer great tips for losing weight as well as also living healthier. While the tips may seem obvious, there are still several you might not have heard, as well as also This kind of’s also great to see them all in one place.

How This kind of Works: via the publisher: “Julie Upton as well as also Katherine Brooking, both registered dieticians as well as also innovators of the well-known website Appetite for Health, have spent the last few years listening to their fans complain about the same dieting woes over as well as also over. As time went on, they realized in which most people fall prey to a common set of ‘Fat Habits’ in which ultimately derail their diets as well as also deplete their willpower. Driven by the desire to help people live sustainable healthy lives, they set out with some other dieticians as well as also nutritionists to identify the 101 most common ‘Fat Habits’ as well as also crafted their ‘Slim Solutions.’”

The cost: $10.17 via Amazon.

Where to Buy: www.amazon.com or www.bn.com


Tags:  diet tips health skinny

The Real Skinny

Guide to Breaking Through Your Diet Plateau

Guide to Breaking Through Your Diet Plateau

Guide to Breaking Through Your Diet Plateau

By Charles Platkin, PhD

#Diet Detective’s #Guide to Breaking Through Your #Diet Plateau

Your Centeng includes a reduction in lean Centeng mass (muscle), which can be a consequence of #weight loss in many instances. There can be also water loss (which you count as weight loss, although can be actually just water loss), which stops after a while.  When you cut calories, your Centeng needs to get energy through somewhere, so This specific releases energy of which can be stored as glycogen inside muscles as well as the liver.  Glycogen holds onto water, so when This specific can be used to supply your Centeng with energy there can be also a loss of water in your system of which results in water-weight loss.

Additionally, your basal metabolic rate improvements — This specific goes down, as well as your overall caloric needs are lower. Basically, you start burning fewer calories than you did before, which makes sense because you’re lighter, as well as you’re moving less mass (because you lost weight), so you burn fewer calories.  However, of which’s not the full picture.  There can be a process known as “adaptive thermogenesis,” whereby your Centeng can be adapting as well as creating a brand-new calorie burn rate. Not Great! 

According to researchers at Laval University in Canada, “The link observed between the adaptive reduction in thermogenesis as well as the degree of fat loss suggests of which the greater the percentage reduction in Centeng fat, the greater the reduction in adaptive thermogenesis, as well as hence the greater the total thermogenic economy.” Meaning the more you lose, the fewer calories your Centeng burns at rest, as well as of which means This specific becomes harder to lose weight. According to research conducted by Darcy L. Johannsen as well as colleagues at the Pennington Biomedical Research Center, when you burn fewer calories while you are resting, your rate of overall weight loss also slows down.

This specific can be worse if there can be rapid weight loss, which makes sense, considering the accelerated loss of lean muscle mass, which burns more calories than fat.  According to Dr. Johannsen’s research, however, even that has a preservation of lean muscle, #exercise didn’t prevent the slowing of the resting metabolism.

The researchers looked at severely obese individuals who lost a significant amount of weight as well as found of which by the sixth week of weight loss participants’ metabolism had been reduced by approximately 244 calories  per day — of which’s one McDonald’s hamburger previously burned off of which’s no longer being burned.  At 30 weeks the number of calories participants burned at rest on a daily basis was reduced by a whopping 504 calories.  Wow, of which’s nearly a McDonald’s Big Mac no longer being burned.  

So what can you do (which can be probably ALL you actually wanted to know)?  Try the following tips to break through your plateau.

Acceptance as well as Expectation Management

Weight-loss programs typically produce a 10 percent weight loss.  The problem can be of which many people don’t find This specific acceptable.  This specific’s just not enough in most instances.  You can probably achieve the weight you do want, as well as even reset your metabolism; however of which’s going to take time. This specific won’t happen in six months; rather you should expect a two-year process. This specific can be just speculation on my part based on experience. as well as, not to make This specific sound even worse, research appearing inside journal Depression as well as Anxiety suggests of which there can be also the chance you will become depressed by the lack of weight loss at the plateau level.

Increase Protein Consumption

First of all, foods of which are high in protein slow the movement of food through the gastrointestinal tract, as well as slower stomach emptying means you feel full longer as well as get hungrier later.  The evidence also suggests high-protein meals lead to a reduced subsequent calorie intake.     

Protein can also help to keep blood sugar stable, avoiding the quick rises of which can occur when you eat carbohydrates of which are rapidly digested (e.g., white bread). 

-Poultry: The leanest choice can be white meat through the breast of chicken or turkey without skin (even if This specific’s ground). additional tips:

–        Remove the skin, either before (better) or after cooking to reduce the fat content by almost half.

–        Instead of butter or oil, try flavored vinegars, wines, herbs, spices or citrus fruit.

–        Bake, roast, broil, grill, poach or stir-fry using cooking spray.

–        Avoid duck, which can be very fatty.

-Fish: Fish can be a great source of both protein as well as heart-healthy omega-3 fatty acids.

-Meats (including beef, veal, pork as well as lamb): They should be lean, with visible fat removed. Control portion size as well as frequency,

–        The leanest beef cuts include round steaks as well as roasts (eye round, top round, bottom round, round tip), top loin, top sirloin, chuck shoulder as well as arm roasts.

–        The leanest pork choices include pork loin, tenderloin, center loin as well as ham.

–        Choose extra-lean ground beef. Look for at least 0 percent lean — 93 percent or 95 percent can be even better.

–        Avoid meat of which can be heavily marbled — of which can be, streaked with fat.

-Egg whites are virtually fat free. If you don’t like plain whites, combine one-third egg whites with two-thirds whole eggs, as well as then gradually reduce the amount of whole eggs.

– Nuts, seeds, beans as well as legumes are super-healthy, although nuts as well as seeds are very high in fat (although This specific’s Great fat), so make sure to limit portion sizes.

This specific’s NOT Just Numbers

There are additional important factors of which are important for how you feel. Don’t just focus on the numbers. Do you have a little extra zip? Are you sleeping better? Feeling healthier? More energetic? You are probably continuing to benefit through your workout as well as diet even if you are not seeing results in your weight.

Increase Your Physical Activity as well as Exercise — A Lot

You need to boost the duration or intensity of your CURRENT workout. You need to walk a little farther or a little faster.

of which doesn’t mean you have to go out as well as run for three hours each day. So what should you do? Walk — walk for at least 60 to 0 minutes per day.  Are you thinking of which’s too much, how could you possibly fit This specific into your already busy life? If so, you need to understand of which you don’t have to do the entire 60 to 0 minutes all at once — you just need to get This specific in at some point during the day. Also, you can bike, use an elliptical trainer or swim instead of walking.

What about sports like basketball, tennis, etc.?  Those are Great, too. The only problem can be of which you typically don’t do them on a daily basis, as well as you’re trying to create consistent,  automatic behaviors — which means doing the same thing every day with no breaks.  

Strength Training

Strength training or lifting weights builds muscle mass, as well as muscles are more active than fat when This specific comes to burning calories.

Change Your Exercise Routine as well as Shock Your Centeng

Keep in mind of which your Centeng adapts to repetitive training stimuli. The remedy? Challenge yourself.  Exercise scientists recommend changing your routine every two weeks.  Try some brand-new exercises, or do the same exercises, although more vigorously than before. Even tiny improvements can make a difference. Change the intensity of your workouts. Run or walk up a hill instead of on flat ground, add an incline to a treadmill workout or run faster. If you are weight training, replace some of the exercises with brand-new ones of which work the same muscle groups. Another way to change intensity can be to add more time to your workouts. 

Use a Device as well as/or Application

There are so many great fitness as well as food apps as well as devices out there today (e.g., Nike+ FuelBand, LINK by BodyMedia, Fitbit, etc.). The FitBit has been getting Great reviews lately. If you want to stay old school, just get a simple pedometer. although you need some way to track your activity, so you know what to do to boost This specific.

Social Support / Find a Buddy

Another way to keep your spirits up during a weight-loss plateau as well as throughout the weight-loss process can be to turn to a buddy. No matter how motivated you are when you start a brand-new regimen, you should have someone there to keep you through becoming discouraged in order of which you don’t return to your old eating ways as well as can make This specific through This specific plateau process.  

Write This specific Down, Take a Photo or Use an App

Most people don’t actually like keeping a journal, although This specific can be also a Great strategy. When you write everything down, This specific keeps you in touch with what you are doing. You should write down what you’re eating at every meal as well as what you did during your workout. A journal can be also a Great place to express your frustrations as well as give yourself some positive reinforcement. You can also look back as well as follow your own accomplishments as well as refer to them if another plateau comes along.

A food diary will provide a heightened self-awareness, which can be an early step toward behavior change as well as a actually effective “self-monitoring” tool. There are at This specific point many smartphone apps as well as additional tools to help you to keep track — even those for taking photos of everything you eat, such as Meal Snap.

This specific has been well documented of which many of us have difficultly understanding the caloric value of the foods we eat. In fact, we typically underestimate calories in foods by as much as 45 percent. Even registered dietitians underestimate the calories in foods by as much as 16 percent. I’m not suggesting of which you start counting the calories in everything you eat; however, This specific could be helpful to at least get an idea of the cost of what you consume.

Too Much Fruit

Fruits typically are higher in sugar than vegetables, as well as vegetables are generally lower in calories on a per-gram basis.   Don’t get me wrong: Fruits are still an important part of your diet, although you should not consider fruit a free food. Most non-starchy vegetables (e.g., broccoli, cauliflower, peppers, celery, etc.), on the additional hand, are very low in calories as well as sugar, as well as you can usually eat as much of them as you like without worrying about your weight.

Watch Your Alcohol

Many dieters forget of which drinks have calories — lots of them. Simply having one beer a night adds more than 1,000 calories per week.  A couple of glasses of wine over the course of a meal can easily add as many as 400 calories. Remember, the alcohol can be what contains most of the calories, so the lower the alcohol content, the lower the number of calories. There are seven calories per gram of alcohol, compared with four calories per gram of either carbohydrates or protein. (Fat contains nine calories per gram.)

through a physiological standpoint, alcohol can cause your blood sugar level to drop more rapidly, which can stimulate your appetite as well as disrupt your ability to tell when you’ve had enough to eat.

Here are a few tips:  Stick to beer or wine. Light beer has 100 calories a bottle, compared with 150 for a regular beer. as well as while 5 ounces of dry wine or Champagne will cost you only 100 calories, watch out for sweet dessert wines, which have 226 calories for 5 ounces. Keep track of how many glasses of wine you have as well as don’t overdo, as well as avoid high-calorie mixers. Alcohol itself can be packed with calories, although when you add mixers — soda, juice, syrup as well as additional ingredients — watch out!  Also, skip anything creamy, frozen or fruity.


Tags:  diet diet plateau Exercise Guide weight loss

Guide to Breaking Through Your Diet Plateau

“Super Bowl” Diet Cheat Sheet

“Super Bowl” Diet Cheat Sheet

“Super Bowl” Diet Cheat Sheet

By Charles Platkin, PhD

“#Super Bowl” #Diet Cheat Sheet

Need some motivation to eat a bit better on Super Bowl Sunday? Remember these equivalents:
–    Three tortilla chips topped with seven-layer dip = 15.5 minutes climbing the stadium stairs
–    A bowl of chili = running 100 football fields
–    Two pieces of fried chicken = doing “the wave” 3,220 times
–    Two handfuls of potato chips = running 45 football fields

Here are a few tips to keep you focused on choosing the healthier treats during the Big Game foodfest:

Real Meals
Don’t just snack till you’re sick. Try real meals — in addition to I’m not talking about deep-fried chicken in addition to wings. Since the Super Bowl can be played during dinnertime, eat a healthy dinner. Go to the supermarket in addition to pick up a roasted chicken. Or how about sliced white-meat turkey with low-fat cheese in addition to mustard on 100 percent whole-grain bread? If you must order pizza, at least have in which as a meal, in addition to try cheeseless thin crust with plenty of veggies — broccoli, spinach, tomatoes, zucchini, mushrooms or even artichoke hearts — on top. Avoid personal pan in addition to stuffed-crust pizza: The thick, oily crust equals added fat in addition to #calories.

Frozen Meals
Don’t feel like cooking a real meal? Try giving your guests their own portion-controlled servings of Lean Cuisine, Amy’s Kitchen, Healthy Choice, Kashi or Smart Ones by Weight Watchers — they’re all inside the frozen-#food section, in addition to there are some great choices.

Soup
Dr. Barbara Rolls of Penn State University has completed a great deal of research showing how low-calorie soups can help you fend off hunger in addition to provide nutritious, tasty meals. There are many great-tasting low-calorie soups made by Campbell’s, Healthy Choice, Amy’s Kitchen in addition to Progresso — just watch out for the sodium, in addition to keep the calories under 100 per cup.

Cereal in addition to Popcorn
There are plenty of cereals in which are 100 percent whole grain without added sugar, in addition to many with less than 0 calories per cup. Put out bowls of Kashi or Cheerios. You can also make your own popcorn in a hot-air popper. Or if, like me, you don’t love air-popped corn in addition to don’t mind the hassle (or the occasional burned kernel), pop yours on the stove top the old-fashioned way. I’m still a huge fan of pan-cooked popcorn. Put the kernels in a deep pot, coat them with Pam or cooking spray, cover in addition to pop. Open the lid slightly by time to time to Discharge the steam. Just be careful not to burn yourself. in addition to shake the pot throughout the process — the shaking spreads the heat in addition to allows the unpopped corn to pop. Then top using a margarine spray, salt in addition to pepper.

Dips in addition to Crackers
There are many kinds of salsa, in addition to most are very low in calories — about 15 for 2 tablespoons. Or try bruschetta topping, which can be primarily tomatoes in addition to olive oil, in addition to serve in which with whole-wheat crackers instead of Italian bread.  Guacamole can be another not bad choice. Made with avocados, in which’s packed with antioxidants, vitamins B6, C in addition to E, as well as folate in addition to potassium in addition to can be a great source of monounsaturated fat. Hummus, a favorite Middle Eastern spread made by chickpeas, tahini (ground sesame seeds), roasted garlic in addition to olive oil, has 25-35 calories per tablespoon (1/2 ounce) nevertheless contains a tremendous amount of fiber in addition to protein.

Hummus:

Healthy Recipe by: Charles Platkin, PhD., founder of DietDetective.com.

Yield: 10 ounces

1 (15-ounce) can garbanzo beans, drained
4 cloves garlic, sliced
1 tablespoon tahini
Juice of 1 large lemon
¼ teaspoon sea salt or kosher salt
1 tablespoon water
1 tablespoon olive oil

Combine all ingredients in a food processor until smooth.

Nutritional information: (1 tablespoon) 34.2     calories, 1.3g fat, 4.5g carbs, 1g fiber, 1.5g protein.

Guacamole:

Healthy Recipe by: Charles Platkin, PhD., founder of DietDetective.com.

Yield: 11 ounces

2 ripe avocados
2 cloves garlic, minced
¼ tablespoon salt
1 plum tomato, diced
½ tablespoon minced shallots
1 tablespoon chopped cilantro
Juice of 1 lime

Mash the avocados, add remaining ingredients in addition to mix using a fork.

Nutritional information: (1 tablespoon) 24 calories,    2g fat, 1.5g carbs, 1g fiber, 0.3g protein.

The biggest problem with all these dips can be the company they keep — namely crackers in addition to chips. Your best bet can be to pick 100 percent whole-grain crackers with very few ingredients in addition to no added sugar. We like Dr. Krackers (www.drkracker.com/) in addition to Mr. Krispers (mrkrispers.elsstore.com), nevertheless there are different 100 percent whole-grain crackers.  You can also make your own pita chips: Cut whole-grain pita bread into quarters, separate the tops by the bottoms in addition to toast.  If you definitely want potato or pita chips by the store, go with Stacy’s or another baked chip, nevertheless keep in mind in which every chip you eat has 12 to 14 calories — in addition to they add up.

Wings
You can easily make the wings yourself. Remove the skin (in which saves lots of calories), soak them in hot sauce or roll them in egg whites, dip them in bread crumbs in addition to bake them inside the oven. Skip the blue cheese dressing, which has about 305 calories in 4 tablespoons. Dip them in hot sauce instead.

Hot Boneless Buffalo Wings

Healthy Recipe by: Lisa Lillien, founder of Hungry Girl (www.Hungry-Girl.com) in addition to author of the forthcoming book Hungry Girl: Recipes in addition to Survival Strategies for Guilt-Free Eating inside the Real World (St. Martin’s Griffin, April 29, 2008)

Yield: 2 servings

1 ounce (about 14) Pringles Light Fat Free Potato Crisps, Barbecue (or another fat-free barbecue-flavored potato chip)
1/4 cup Fiber One bran cereal (original), ground to a bread-crumb-like consistency in a blender or food processor
Dash onion powder
Dash garlic powder
Dash cayenne pepper
Dash black pepper
Dash salt
8 ounces skinless in addition to boneless chicken breast, cut into 10 nugget-shaped pieces
3 tablespoons Frank’s RedHot Original Cayenne Pepper Sauce

Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
Crush potato crisps completely in addition to mix them with cereal crumbs in a smaller dish. Add a dash of each of the seasonings in addition to mix well.
In a separate bowl, toss chicken pieces with hot sauce.
Spray a baking pan with nonstick spray. Shake off excess sauce by chicken pieces, coat with crumb mixture, in addition to place inside the baking pan.
Bake in preheated oven for 10 minutes. Turn in addition to bake 10 more minutes, or until crispy in addition to cooked through.

Nutritional information: (per serving) 175 calories, 1.5g fat, 1,153mg sodium*, 14g carbs, 4g fiber, 27g protein.

*Note: Although nutritional information reflects the full amount of RedHot called for inside the ingredients list, you will not use the entire amount to coat the chicken. So the actual sodium count will likely be much lower.

If you like your Super Bowl snacks definitely hot, you could also try these jalapeno poppers:

HG’s Jalapeno Swappers

Healthy Recipe by: Lisa Lillien, founder of Hungry Girl (www.Hungry-Girl.com) in addition to author of the forthcoming book Hungry Girl: Recipes in addition to Survival Strategies for Guilt-Free Eating inside the Real World (St. Martin’s Griffin, April 29, 2008)

Yield: 2 servings

5 whole, fresh jalapenos
1/4 cup fat-free cream cheese
1/4 cup shredded fat-free cheddar cheese
Optional: salt, pepper in addition to/or garlic powder
1/2 cup Fiber One cereal, ground to a bread-crumb-like consistency in a blender or food processor
1/4 cup Egg Beaters, Original

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Halve the jalapenos lengthwise, in addition to remove the seeds, stems in addition to membranes. (Be very careful when handling jalapenos; wash hands frequently in addition to well, in addition to avoid touching your face in addition to eyes.) Wash halves in addition to dry them very well; set aside.
In a bowl, combine cream cheese in addition to cheddar cheese. If desired, season with salt, pepper in addition to/or garlic powder. Using a blender, grind Fiber One to a bread-crumb-like consistency. If you like, season crumbs with salt, pepper in addition to/or garlic powder.
Place Fiber One crumbs in one smaller dish in addition to Egg Beaters in another.
Stuff each pepper half with cheese mixture, then dip both sides in Egg Beaters in addition to coat with crumbs.
Place peppers on a baking pan sprayed with nonstick spray, in addition to bake in preheated oven for 25 minutes (for very spicy poppers) to 30 minutes (medium-hot poppers).

Nutritional information: (per serving) 124 calories, 1g fat, 500mg sodium, 23g carbs,
8g fiber, 13g protein.

Olives in addition to Hard-Boiled Eggs
They are not bad munch foods. Peeling the hard-boiled eggs keeps you occupied, in addition to one egg has only 75 calories along with 6 grams of protein. As far as the olives go, four jumbo olives have about 30 calories, in addition to they’re a not bad source of monounsaturated (“not bad”) fats in addition to vitamin E.

Nuts
I realize people frown upon nuts because they are high in calories, nevertheless if you’re able to limit yourself to a few, they are very satisfying in addition to extremely healthful by a cardiovascular perspective.

Some have high amounts of monounsaturated fat, useful for regulating blood lipids in addition to protecting against cardiovascular deterioration. Plus, they pack loads of energy in addition to protein. Put them out in half-ounce portions, not big bowls. Check out almonds, pistachios, pecans, cashews in addition to walnuts, to name just a few. nevertheless watch out, because they’re still loaded with calories.  Here’s the cost if you overindulge: almonds, 3 ounces (72 nuts), 480 calories, 45g fat, 18g carbs, 18g protein; cashews, 3 ounces (60 nuts), 510 calories, 42g fat, 24g carbs, 15g protein; walnuts, 3 ounces (42 halves), 540 calories, 51g fat, 15g, carbs, 12g protein; pistachios, shelled, 3 ounces (141 nuts), 510 calories, 45g fat, 6g carbs, 12g protein; pecans, 3 ounces (60 halves), 570 calories, 60g fat, 15g carbohydrates, 9g protein.

Beer
Planning on having a few bottles? Your best bet can be to go for tasty Beck’s Light at only 64 calories per 12-ounce bottle — in which’s a real bargain. If you’re not a Beck’s Light fan, try sampling a few very light beers before the game to see which ones you prefer.
Low-Calorie Hummus

Healthy Recipe by: Charles Stuart Platkin, M.P.H., founder of DietDetective.com in addition to author of The #Diet Detective’s Calorie Bargain Bible (Simon & Schuster/Fireside, 2007).

Yield: 10 Ounces

1 (15-ounce) can garbanzo beans, drained
4 cloves garlic, sliced
1 tablespoon tahini
Juice of 1 large lemon
¼ teaspoon sea salt or kosher salt
1 tablespoon water
1 tablespoon olive oil

Combine all ingredients in a food processor until smooth.

Nutritional information: (1 tablespoon) 34.2    calories, 1.3g fat, 4.5g carbs, 1g fiber, 1.5g protein.

Guacamole

Healthy Recipe by: Charles Stuart Platkin, M.P.H., founder of DietDetective.com in addition to author of The Diet Detective’s Calorie Bargain Bible (Simon & Schuster/Fireside, 2007).

Yield: 11 ounces

2 ripe avocados
2 cloves garlic, minced
¼ tablespoon salt
1 plum tomato, diced
½ tablespoon minced shallots
1 tablespoon chopped cilantro
Juice of 1 lime

Mash the avocados, add remaining ingredients in addition to mix using a fork.

Nutritional information: (1 tablespoon) 24 calories, 2g fat, 1.5g carbs, 1g fiber, 0.3g protein.

Hot Boneless Buffalo Wings

Healthy Recipe by: Lisa Lillien, founder of Hungry Girl (www.Hungry-Girl.com) in addition to author of the forthcoming book Hungry Girl: Recipes in addition to Survival Strategies for Guilt-Free Eating inside the Real World (St. Martin’s Griffin, April 29, 2008)

1 ounce (about 14) Pringles Light Fat Free Potato Crisps, Barbecue (or another fat-free barbecue-flavored potato chip)
1/4 cup Fiber One bran cereal (original), ground to a bread-crumb-like consistency in a blender or food processor
Dash onion powder
Dash garlic powder
Dash cayenne pepper
Dash black pepper
Dash salt
8 ounces skinless in addition to boneless chicken breast, cut into 10 nugget-shaped pieces
3 tablespoons Frank’s RedHot Original Cayenne Pepper Sauce

Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
Crush potato crisps completely in addition to, in a smaller dish, mix with cereal crumbs. Add a dash of each of the seasonings in addition to mix well.
In a separate bowl, toss chicken pieces with hot sauce.
Spray a baking pan with nonstick spray. Shake off excess sauce by chicken pieces, coat with crumb mixture, in addition to place inside the baking pan.
Bake in preheated oven for 10 minutes. Turn in addition to bake10 more minutes, or until crispy in addition to cooked through.

Nutritional information: (per serving) 175 calories, 1.5g fat, 1,153mg* sodium, 14g carbs, 4g fiber, 27g protein.

*Note: Although nutritional information reflects the full amount of RedHot called for inside the ingredients list, you will not use the entire amount to coat the chicken. So the actual sodium count will likely be much lower.

If you like your Super Bowl Snacks definitely hot, you could also try these jalapeno poppers:

HG’s Jalapeno Swappers

Healthy Recipe by: Lisa Lillien, founder of Hungry Girl (www.Hungry-Girl.com) in addition to author of the forthcoming book Hungry Girl: Recipes in addition to Survival Strategies for Guilt-Free Eating inside the Real World (St. Martin’s Griffin, April 29, 2008)

Yield: 2 servings

5 whole, fresh jalapenos
1/4 cup fat-free cream cheese
1/4 cup shredded fat-free cheddar cheese
Optional: salt, pepper in addition to/or garlic powder
1/2 cup Fiber One cereal, ground to a bread-crumb-like consistency in a blender or food processor
1/4 cup Egg Beaters, Original

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Halve the jalapenos lengthwise, in addition to remove the seeds, stems in addition to membranes. (Be VERY careful when handling jalapenos; wash hands frequently in addition to well, in addition to avoid touching your face in addition to eyes.) Wash halves in addition to dry them very well; set aside.
In a bowl, combine cream cheese in addition to cheddar cheese. If desired, season with salt, pepper in addition to/or garlic powder. Using a blender, grind Fiber One to a bread-crumb-like consistency. If you like, season crumbs with salt, pepper in addition to/or garlic powder.
Place Fiber One crumbs in one smaller dish in addition to Egg Beaters in another.
Stuff each pepper half with cheese mixture, then dip both sides in Egg Beaters in addition to coat with crumbs.
Place peppers on a baking pan sprayed with nonstick spray, in addition to bake in preheated oven for 25 minutes (for very spicy poppers) to 30 minutes (medium-hot poppers).

Nutritional information: (per serving) 124 calories, 1g fat, 500mg sodium, 23g carbs,
8g fiber, 13g protein.


Tags:  Calories diet diet cheat sheet food healthy eating super bowl

“Super Bowl” Diet Cheat Sheet

Quick-Fix Weight-Loss Programs

Quick-Fix Weight-Loss Programs

Quick-Fix Weight-Loss Programs

By Charles Platkin, PhD

Most, if not all of us, have fallen for the allure of a “quick-fix” #diet at one time or another.  How many times have you made the decision to finally lose weight along with get in shape?  You’re all excited.  You promise yourself in which is actually the idea — the last time. You pick the diet du jour, along with you do the idea. You starve, suffer along with sacrifice — you make the idea happen. You have willpower — you’re strong. The needle on the scale is actually moving down, so everything else is actually acceptable. As long as the pounds are dropping off, you can endure the suffering. The wish is actually in which in which time you’ll lose in which extra weight, along with the idea will all be over — you will never have to diet again.

Unfortunately, the quick-fix diet is actually like a dream lover — the hero or heroine who suddenly appears in our life along with promises to meet all our needs, solve all our problems. however the romance of the dream diet is actually just as elusive along with disappointing as in which imaginary dream lover. At some point, we’re bound to wake up to reality along with the fact in which we’ve fallen off our plan, our hopes have not come true, along with we’re back where we started out: overweight.

So why do we do the idea to ourselves? Because, at least for a while, these diets do actually work. Dieting along with overhauling your entire life does help you to lose weight. In fact, the National Weight Control Registry (www.nwcr.ws) — which tracks people who, on average, have successfully lost at least 66 pounds along with maintained the loss for at least 5 1/2 years — has demonstrated in which successful losers use a variety of dieting methods to shed their pounds.

however if any number of diets will help you lose weight, why not simply pick one at random along with just go for the idea?

Because the trick is actually in which most of these diets are designed to work primarily from the short term, however not necessarily forever. along with I don’t know about you, however I’d prefer not to gain weight back after I’ve lost the idea.

in which’s not to say, however, in which there’s nothing to be learned coming from all diets. along with, in fact, if you’ve made the choice to be serious about ending your “fat” pattern, the idea’s critical for you to understand why diets do along with don’t work, what the idea is actually you can learn coming from them, along with how to use “dieting” to your advantage. You need to know the idea all if you’re going to succeed.

First of all, you should know in which the idea is actually a generally accepted principle from the diet industry in which the amount of weight you lose from the first four weeks of any diet will determine whether or not you continue on the program. A significant initial #weight loss, in some other words, can be a powerful motivation for continuing. In fact, if you don’t lose enough weight in those first four weeks, you will probably move on to another diet. however ironically (along with sadly), according to research reported from the Journal of Consulting along with Clinical Psychology, one predictor of your potential to regain weight is actually how fast you lose the idea — meaning the faster you lose the weight, the more likely you will be to gain the idea back.  however the Great news, according to research reported from the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, is actually in which if you maintain your weight loss for at least two years, you reduce your risk of subsequently gaining the idea back by almost 50 percent.  Yes, I know, hearing in which you need to be on a diet for at least two years can be discouraging. however look at the idea in which way: If you pick the “right” diet, two years is actually nothing. You should be happy to be on in which “diet” for the next two years. (Hint: Pick a livable diet. See: http://www.dietdetective.com/weekly-column/diet-detectives-report-creating-livable-diet.)

Another major problem with some quick weight-loss diets is actually in which you’re not losing only fat; many times you’re losing water along with lean muscle mass. along with when people lose muscle, their metabolism slows down. Muscle mass is actually the Centeng’s most efficient furnace. The more muscle you have, the more calories your Centeng burns, whether you’re sitting reading a book or working out from the gym. So the more muscle you lose, the harder the idea will become to lose weight. however does in which mean every quick diet is actually going to cause you to lose muscle mass along with water? along with why could anyone continue on these types of diets given all the negative consequences, especially with their dismal success rates?

The answer is actually in which, from the end, diets can be both Great along with bad, along with some are healthier than others. The healthier ones typically don’t involve quick weight loss (on a healthy diet you should lose about ½ pound to 2 pounds per week), they generally help you make healthy food choices, along with they put you on a track in which helps to create permanent weight control.

So you need to understand what a quickie diet will along with will not do for you; you need to be an educated consumer. Also, never forget in which to sustain weight loss you need to #exercise. In fact, when you diet your basal metabolic rate improvements — the idea goes down, along with your overall caloric needs are lower. Basically, you start burning fewer calories than you did before, which makes sense because you’re lighter, along with you’re moving less mass (because you’ve lost weight). However, in which’s not the full picture. There is actually also a process known as “adaptive thermogenesis,” whereby your Centeng is actually adapting along with creating a fresh calorie burn rate. Not Great! (Read more about in which here:  http://goo.gl/aL0f8o.)   To overcome in which phenomenon, when you diet you also need to exercise.  Read my fitness starter plan right here:  http://bit.ly/1gmtUpE.

No matter what diet you’re on, I have created a wonderful FREE book, the Diet Detective’s Diet Starter Kit, in which’s available on Amazon.com, no strings attached. See http://amzn.to/18wvYpb .   in which is actually the book I send to friends along with family when they ask what they should do before starting a diet.  the idea works with any diet along with will help to put you from the right state of mind to lose weight forever. If you don’t feel like downloading the free book, at the very least read the article I wrote called “The Real Truth About Dieting” (see: http://goo.gl/3c5GBm).

Stay healthy,

Charles Platkin, Ph.D.
aka Diet Detective


Tags:  diet diet programs Exercise health healthy eatinge weight loss

Quick-Fix Weight-Loss Programs

The Ultimate Diet Quiz (2014)

The Ultimate Diet Quiz (2014)

The Ultimate Diet Quiz (2014)

By Charles Platkin, PhD

1. Which of the following best describes your sleeping habits?

a.      I like a nice snooze, although I only get 5 hours. (-3)
b.      I get about six hours a night. (-2)
c.      I sleep like a baby for eight to nine hours. (+4)
d.      I’m an insomniac. (-4)

Researchers at Columbia University in addition to St. Luke’s-Roosevelt Hospital in brand new York have found that will individuals who slept less than four hours a night were 73 percent more likely to be obese than those who got the recommended seven to nine hours. Those who averaged 5 hours of sleep had a 50 percent greater risk of gaining weight, in addition to those who got six hours had 23 percent more risk.  Additionally, University of Chicago researchers in a review of the research literature found that will short or poor quality sleep can be linked to increased risk of obesity by de-regulating appetite, leading to increased energy consumption.”   Finally, research reported from the journal Sleep found that will a high tendency to overeat in response to various stimuli, such as lots of tasty foods or being under emotional distress, combined with short sleep duration creates increased risk for overeating. Set up your environment for sleep success. Go to bed earlier in addition to aim for seven or eight hours of sleep. Make sure the temperature can be correct in addition to that will you develop the proper bedding. Get a Great, high-quality mattress.   Have a regular bedtime. Get rid of the TV from the bedroom, in addition to make your sleep environment quiet, both aesthetically in addition to in terms of actual noise.

2. When the item comes to physical activity / exercise, you feel:

a.      Who has time? (-5)
b.      I get enough just living. (-4)
c.      I take a long walk a couple of times a week. (+2)
d.      I walk or participate in different physical activities daily. (+4)
e.      I walk or participate in different physical activities for at least 60 minutes daily. (+7)

A study published from the Journal of the American Association of Occupational #Health Nurses concludes that will the primary reason for inactivity can be lack of time. The best way to combat This specific can be to incorporate walking or different physical activity into your everyday routine.  Try walking more, or get a dog (increases activity level). Get a fitness app so you can work out at home, or hire a personal trainer (so youre committed  in addition to will be charged if you cancel).  Walking more can be probably the simplest.  A study published from the American Journal of Public Health in addition to the American Journal of Health Promotion found that will people who live from the suburbs  in addition to therefore drive everywhere  weigh 6.3 pounds more than urbanites, who walk more in compact cities (e.g., brand new York, San Francisco). According to the National Weight Control Registry, 77 percent of successful losers use walking as their means of physical activity.  Walking works. (See:  http://www.dietdetective.com/weekly-column/walk-your-health-great-tips-i-know-youve-heard-the item-read.)   There are many great apps in addition to fitness trackers out there, in addition to research shows that will accountability helps. Turn your smartphone into a pedometer with the Every Centeng Walk app coming from the American Heart Association (http://everybodywalk.org/). the item allows you to start, end, pause in addition to resume your walk with the tap of a button; set targets such as distance, time in addition to calories burned; view your walking routes on maps; watch your progress in real time; in addition to save walks for future reference.

different great smartphone apps include Walkmeter in addition to MapMyWalk. Theyre all very user-friendly in addition to typically free or very low-cost.
Fitness trackers such as the Nike+ FuelBand, LINK by BodyMedia in addition to Fitbit, claim to keep track of steps taken, calories burned in addition to sleep patterns. They are more expensive than the phone apps mentioned above, although are also great to use for accountability in addition to can make exercise fun.   Most of these brand new devices automatically upload info to a website tracker or app. They typically cost around $100.  You might also try the 7-Minute Workout (see: http://goo.gl/xZuwlk), although remember that will you will need to do at least three or four cycles for the workout to be effective.

3. My partner or significant different can best be described as:

a.      Always doing something physical in addition to in decent shape. (+3)
b.      Usually pigging out with me from the evenings in addition to on weekends. (-3)
c.      Always bringing home fattening foods in addition to never wanting to be active. (-2)
d.      Very supportive of my eating healthfully in addition to being active. (+5)

We tend to take on the Great in addition to “bad” eating patterns of our partners. According to research coming from Cornell University, one criterion we tend to use when selecting a spouse can be how he/she eats. If you’re a vegetarian or a gourmet, you are more likely to feel comfortable with someone who shares your individual eating traits. Think about the item  you’re going to be eating with This specific person for the rest of your life. Also, eating with another person makes the item more fun to consume “sin” foods, such as cookies, ice cream in addition to chips. Use mental rehearsal (see: http://www.dietdetective.com/weekly-column/weight-loss-lessons-olympians)  to keep coming from being thrown off healthy eating patterns.

4. What best describes where you live?

a.      Plenty of parks in addition to scenic areas to walk around. (+4)
b.      Easy-to-use bike paths in addition to easily accessible stores  you dont need to use a car if you don’t want. (+2)
c.      Few parks, recreational areas in addition to/or scenic areas. (-3)
d.      A city or rural area with few walkable sidewalks; you have to drive everywhere. (-3)
e.      A major city. (+2)

The most common environmental barriers to exercise, according to Health Education & Behavior, include safety in addition to the lack of availability or cost of parks, beaches, recreation centers, pools in addition to fitness centers. The American Journal of Public Health reports that will numerous studies have shown that will people increase their physical activity (e.g., walk in addition to cycle more) when their neighborhood can be densely populated, has shops within walking distance of home in addition to connected streets (that will can be, a gridlike pattern instead of many cul-de-sacs). different community design characteristics, such as the condition of sidewalks, the presence of bike paths, street design, traffic volume in addition to speed, in addition to crime, may also be related to physical activity. Find the recreation activity centers in your community using online search engines.

5. How might you rate your stress level, both at work in addition to at home?

a.      Very stressful work environment, such as being a 911 operator. (-5)
b.      Moderate stress, such as strict deadlines. (-1)
c.      Light to no stress. (+3)
d.      High stress coming from a recent major life event (marriage, moving, job loss). (-3)

Recent studies tend to suggest that will social stress  public speaking, tests, job in addition to relationship pressures  cause overeating in addition to weight gain. Excess stress increases the Discharge of the hormone cortisol in your Centeng, which increases your appetite in addition to also causes you to store more fat. Plus, we tend to turn toward comfort foods for relief in times of stress, in addition to these foods are typically high in calories in addition to fat. Develop a StressEating Alternate Action Plan: As an alternative to eating, try to find enjoyable, nonfoodrelated activities that will can distract you, such as exercising, shopping, going to the movies, using relaxation techniques, working, chatting with friends, reading a humorous book. Have your plan in place before the stressful situation takes control. Not only will you feel better about yourself, you’ll also be working toward relieving some of that will pentup stress. in addition to since you’ll thoroughly enjoy what youre involved in, the item won’t feel like a chore! Exercise the Stress Away: Yes, go out for a walk, take a spin class, go for a run. As much as relaxation techniques (like yoga in addition to meditation) can be alternatives to stress eating, its also a Great idea to do some aerobic activity, even for 5 minutes.  See more about stress in addition to #diet here: http://www.dietdetective.com/weekly-column/social-stress-in addition to-weight-gain.

6. Do you eat while doing different activities (such as driving, working at your desk, reading or watching TV)?

a.       I eat consciously, where there can be nothing to distract me.  (+5)
b.      Yes, I typically eat while watching television or at my computer. (-3)
c.      Yes, I eat when I’m at my desk during work or watching TV or on the phone (-3)
d.      Once in a while I eat while distracted, although most of the time I eat in a quiet designated eating place. (-1)

Use mindful in addition to conscious eating behavior. No matter what else you’re doing, always stop to think about what you’re eating in addition to whether you truly want the item  or whether the item’s just a big waste. If snacking makes the experience sweeter or the studying easier, you don’t have to give the item up; just go for the option that will’s healthiest in addition to lowest in calories: baby carrots, grape tomatoes, an orange, an apple or a little bowl filled which has a measured amount of pretzels or chips. (Put the rest of the bag back from the kitchen!) If you decide ahead of time to eat only a healthy amount, you’ll be able to enjoy every bite, knowing you’re treating yourself  in addition to your Centeng  right.  A study from the scientific journal Eating Behavior reports that will watching TV induces high-calorie snacking. Results suggest that will snacking (although not necessarily eating meals) while watching TV can be associated with increased overall caloric intake, as well as increased calories coming from fat.

7. Do you believe its in your best interest to eat healthier foods in addition to exercise more?

a.      Ive heard that will its OK to have a few extra pounds, in addition to truly, you only live once. (-4)
b.      My doctor told me that will Im at high risk for diabetes in addition to heart disease in addition to I need to lose a few, although I havent done anything yet. (+2)
c.      My husband/wife bugs me all the time to lose weight. (-2)
d.      Yes, I truly want to live a healthier life, in addition to its very important to me  Im clear as to my reason why. (+6)

Part of being able to change any behavior requires you to have a very strong reason / reward for actually changing the behavior. So, whether its wanting to look your best or achieving a better quality of life, make sure you know the reason you want to lose weight  in addition to that will the reason can be important to you. In different words, what’s the REWARD you’re working toward?  You need to be able to answer that will question, because when the item’s time to battle the temptation of a fudgy, chewy brownie or some hot, salty, oh-so-Great french fries, you’d better be clear on your motivation.  I call This specific “Seeing the Why.” Why do you want to lose weight from the first place? I realize you might think the answer can be obvious, although trust me when I say that will many times the item’s not. I’ve found that will people often convince themselves they’re losing weight for one reason when clearly the item’s about something else. People don’t always understand the motives that will are driving them, in addition to their lack of understanding backfires. (See: http://www.dietdetective.com/weekly-column/seeing-why.)

8. Do you think you can actually lose weight for Great?

a.      I might like to lose weight, although just dont think I can. (-3)
b.      I have fat genes  although which has a bit of work, maybe. (+3)
c.      I know that will I can eat healthier foods, in addition to ultimately I can lose in addition to control my weight. (+7)
d.      Its possible, although so can be winning the lottery. (-4)

Feeling confident that will you can change a behavior can be the single biggest predictor of being able to change. Its called self-efficacy, or an individuals belief in his or her ability to succeed at something  in This specific case changing an ingrained negative eating pattern. If you develop the item, youre more likely to be successful at losing weight. See: http://www.dietdetective.com/weekly-column/confidence-lose

SCORING
30 or more:  You have an excellent chance of losing weight for Great.
15 to 29: Make a few minor improvements to boost your chances of losing weight.
0 to 14: You need to evaluate your current exercise in addition to nutrition plans in addition to start generating a few key improvements.
-15 to -1: Youre not hopeless, although you need more direction.
-25 to -16:  Low chance; read these free books: http://goo.gl/4BQjDc in addition to http://goo.gl/C7NDtj
-26 or less: Youre not likely to lose weight permanently; try to use an organized weight-control program.
____________________________________
CHARLES PLATKIN, Ph.D., can be a nutrition in addition to public health advocate in addition to founder of DietDetective.com. Copyright 2014 by Charles Platkin. All rights reserved. Sign up for the free Diet Detective newsletter at www.DietDetective.com


Tags:  diet diet tips health quiz

The Ultimate Diet Quiz (2014)