The biggest challenge I faced when I decided to lose weight was in changing my routines. First, I had to become very aware of how much food I was putting in my body. Then I had to consciously put less food into my body. It sounds simple, but routine is a harsh mistress.
I did not realize that I ate all evening long while watching television. I had a little table next to my favorite chair and it held a variety of treats. I knew I would not be successful if I tried to remove all the treats cold turkey. So I started by setting myself a curfew. I picked a time in the evening beyond which I would not eat. Then, after several evenings where I proved to myself that I have enough self discipline to meet my own curfew, I moved the curfew up an hour. I discovered that I don?t need to eat all evening long. It was just a habit.
The next technique I came up with was to adopt a different attitude toward eating. In the past I would eat until I felt full. Unfortunately there is a time lag that will permit you to eat too much before you realize it. My new attitude was to only eat until I was no longer hungry. I started off by eating only half of what I would normally eat at lunch time. Then I would wait five minutes and evaluate the condition of my stomach. If I was honest with myself I would have to admit that I was no longer hungry and stop eating. Now the half size portion is my new standard size lunch.
I really don?t think that crash diets are a good idea. Temporarily depriving yourself of all the foods you enjoy eating may provide short term results, but it?s not something that can be sustained. I firmly believe that I will be successful at maintaining a reasonable weight because I still eat all my favorite foods. I just don?t eat as much of them as I did before.
Just be sure to take some vitamins because you won?t be eating enough food to provide all the nutrients you need. And be prepared for slow but steady progress. Rome wasn?t built in a day, and you won?t reach your ideal weight in a day. But by changing your routines and your attitude toward eating, you will be getting more control over your life.
About the author: Robert Charlton was a lifelong thin person until he reached middle age and lost his job. He went on an eating binge and put on several pounds that he neither needed nor wanted. He has since lost 2/3 of that weight by changing his routines and focusing on the long term goal instead of immediate gratification. In the process he has acquired great sympathy and understanding for people who struggle with controlling their weight. He created the website http://free-diet-advice.com to try to encourage people to keep fighting the good fight and get control over their lives. | |
