My Eating Habits For Weight Loss

Many people when beginning their weight loss journey believe that they have to stop eating all the foods they like and do it overnight. I too once thought this and it is probably one of the biggest setups for failure there is in dieting. I believe one key to success as far as diet goes, is everything in moderation. The times in the past when I had tried to lose weight before I found what worked for me, I would automatically cut out sweets treats and anything that I liked. It was tough going from eating Twinkies and potato chips to salads, plain tuna, and fruits and veggies only. My point is you don't have to sacrifice your favorite foods forever, and you shouldn't have to. Here are a few of my eating habit tips:

Know what you like: Knowing what you like is important because it can be a foundation for healthier alternatives or for knowing what you need to eat in moderation. If you love pizza you can make pita pizzas, tomato sauce, cheese, and whatever toppings you like on a piece of pita bread. I love burritos, they are cheap and easy to make and they are packed with protein and vitamins. I buy tortillas, canned re-fried beans, low fat cheese and salsa and I have myself a tasty burrito. Sometimes I will add onions, jalapenos, guacamole, chicken whatever I'm in the mood for but I make sure that I measure it out, which brings me to my next tip.

Keep measuring cups on hand: One of your best friends in the kitchen will be measuring cups and spoons. I make sure to measure the correct portion out so that I know how many calories I am consuming. It's easy to look at an entire bowl of ice cream and think, "yeah, that looks about like one serving." when in reality it can be two or three heapin' helpin's.

No food is off limits: If you can't have it you're going to want it even more.

Keep a food Journal: A lot of people don't realize how much food they are actually consuming. Whether through boredom, depression, or even social eating it is easy for the calories to accumulate. If you keep a food journal you can see just how much and what you are eating, and you can modify your diet and calorie intake based on what your habits are now.

Quick fix diets: I can't wait until I can eat another cheeseburger. Have you thought this before? You shouldn't have to. Many people go on quick fix diets that require eliminating certain foods. While I wouldn't eat cheeseburgers and pizza or the like all day, it is more than acceptable to give in to your craving every once in a while. Like I said earlier, no food is off limits, just limit your portions.

Be mindful: If you find yourself in the kitchen looking for food when you're not hungry, take a minute just to think. Why do you want to eat? Are you craving anything specifically? If you eat what you are craving how will it make you feel? Happy? Nourished? Guilty? It can be tough to just sit with the feeling of wanting but often times if you sit long enough and think about the reasons why you want to eat other than out of hunger the craving will pass. It will take time for you to get used to it, but try it and see how it works for you.

Food and rewards: Yay! You got a promotion! You lost five pounds! You climbed Mt. Everest! How are you going to reward yourself? It is so easy to think of food as a reward system. Lets celebrate with ice cream, or by going to that new restaurant. While there is nothing wrong with wanting to eat your favorite treats or trying that new food joint, it shouldn't necessarily be your first thought for rewarding yourself. You can buy yourself a new dress, a new watch, go to the zoo, buy a bouquet of flowers, or even reward yourself with things related to fitness, try that yoga class you've been wanting to go to, buy yourself new weights or a new workout outfit.

It can be tough but it is possible to change your relationship with food. I still struggle with cravings, and sometimes I do eat more than I should but I don't let that get me off track. Instead of feeling guilty tell yourself there is always my next meal or tomorrow to make better decisions about what and how much I eat.

I hope this has helped. If you have any questions or your own feedback feel free to comment.