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I guess over twenty percent of people, especially the female population, have made resolutions to live a healthier life and “dieting” is probably the first step in that lifestyle change. Although I personally prefer to exercise and eat moderately, there are tons of other people who prefer to eat low calorie foods.
Of course, self-control is never easy, and it’s important to do it in a healthy way. While it’s easy to create food schedules that will regulate the amount of food you eat per day, it’s hard to stay disciplined, and quitting smoking is always an option on your mind. Nevertheless, there are some life-saving tips I’m going to share with you today. So, without further ado, here are ways to help you stick to your diet.
1. Drink plenty of water
This may not surprise you, as that’s what most people suggest, but with good reason. Drinking water will increase your metabolism, reduce your appetite, and most importantly, trick your brain into thinking you’re consuming food, reducing the chances of overeating.
Research shows that most of the time when people think they are hungry, they are actually “thirsty” and that is why it is recommended to drink a glass of water when we are hungry and wait for a time. If you are still hungry, you can eat, but most of the time the feeling of hunger disappears.
2. Do productive work.
“An idle mind is the devil’s workshop” and the devil of food shows no mercy. Boredom leads to binge eating, which is something you don’t want to indulge in when trying to live “healthy”.
While it’s super easy to be inactive, especially since we’re in quarantine, there are fun and clever ways to commit to not thinking about eating a chocolate chip cookie all day.
Some of them include: taking a course on Coursera, starting a new hobby, writing, playing sports, or reading novels/textbooks.
3. Replace snacks
Instead of depriving yourself of your mini-snacks throughout the day, try replacing all that junk with something healthier like fruit or a healthy homemade snack.
For example, instead of eating an entire bag of crisps, eat an apple or a bag of small carrots instead. If you’re about to swallow a bucket of ice cream whole, try a smoothie.
Sometimes restrictions can backfire in ways you could never imagine. The key is not to restrict yourself, but to find a balance.
4. Strengthen your will
Why are you doing this again? What are your goals? What will you gain by sacrificing all your favorite things? These are questions you should constantly ask yourself frequently. It’s to remind you why you’re even dieting in the first place. The better the reasons, the greater the discipline.
5. Have a cheat meal
Not everyone has the discipline and self-control to stick to a diet entirely. If you’re one of those people, chances are you’re on your way to quitting smoking. In this case, you should consider self-treatment. It doesn’t mean you failed. Even Chloe Ting says it’s good to have a cheat meal or two a week; just make sure you don’t overdo it and you’ll still be fine.
Having a “carefree” meal will not only relieve you of the weight, but also increase your chances of sticking to the rest of your plan since you took a break.
6. Exercise
Do a quick workout to calm yourself down and get all those sugar cravings out of your head. When you exercise;
- You may feel very thirsty and drink water, which will likely decrease your appetite and quell some cravings.
- Exercise releases endorphins which offset the dopamine that junk food will provide.
7. Eat a big breakfast
Breakfast is the most important meal of the day and probably the heaviest. When you eat a good amount of calories in the morning, you are less likely to crave snacks between meals.
Excellent breakfast menu choices are fiber-rich and dairy-rich whole grains. Dairy products are high in protein which makes you feel fuller and also takes time to digest so you won’t think about having another meal for a while.
8. Empty your fridge or pantry
What better way to avoid temptation than to put away all that bric-a-brac? Clean them all up and give them away (please don’t throw food away, a lot of people are starving).
9. Find a partner
Sticking to something is easier when there are two or more of you doing it. You can choose to do it with a family member or even a friend, even if you are miles away. Discuss and share healthy meal prep ideas and get motivated over FaceTime and video chats.
10. Start a food diary
Last but not least is to start a food diary. I’ve seen people do this and it worked for them, so I totally recommend it. Write down everything you eat throughout the day and analyze it. You’re less likely to overeat if you remember to write it down and add up the calories later. Also jot down recipes and healthy meal prep ideas. Writing them down will help you look forward to them and keep you from wanting anything else.
I hope you found these tips helpful. Let me know if you did or have anything contradictory to say in the comments. Stay safe and stay happy.