How to Manage Your Food and Maintain a Healthy Weight
- Are you tired of torturing yourself with restrictive diets?
- Does “healthy eating” make you think about foods you can’t have?
The first step in beginning a healthy approach with your food choices, your weight-loss journey, or your general eating habits, is to decide what makes sense for you. As a matter of fact, you probably already know that losing weight and/or maintaining a healthy weight takes time and effort. The bottom line is you have to make some changes (If it were easy, everyone would be would be thinner!).
It’s been shown that counting calories is an important tool in your weight loss toolkit. In the long run, people do better when they count calories versus when they don’t. However, that doesn’t mean it works for everyone at all times. With this in mind, take time to find what works for you, and stick with it. Especially if you enjoy what you find out.
Start: Set Goals
Your first step is to assess your current eating habits, then make a game plan. Equally important, include long-term, as well as immediate goals. After all, if you want a healthy, food practice that you can stick with, eventually, you have to make a commitment.
And: Track Yourself
Generally speaking, self-awareness begets self-motivation. Not only do you become more accountable when you track your behavior, additionally, you motivate yourself to change
Then: Eat Mindfully and Make it Visible
Significantly, healthy eating includes not making any food forbidden, as well as not going overboard. Start to eat mindfully by discovering which foods make your life easier. Then learn key healthy-eating principles.
Additionally, Slow Down. Surprisingly, one of the best ways to a healthy relationship with food is taking your time to eating it.
With these ideas in mind, track yourself with a food diary. In fact, one of your most powerful tools is a food diary. In the long run, using one makes it easier to manage your weight, eating habits, and relationship to food
As a result of using a food diary, the challenges you experience in eating become visible. At the same time, you see when you reach each goal.
Also: Get Support
Meanwhile, developing a habit of healthy eating is challenging, so don’t expect to do it alone. In fact, find a cheerleader, or a couple of people you can call on for encouragement when you’re frustrated. Additionally, look for companions to celebrating your successes.
Finally: Change Your Perspective
Finally, when you start to make changes, your results won’t happen all at once. With this in mind, don’t give up if you experience a setback. To put it another way, don’t beat yourself up about it.
For the most part, it’s not enough to eat healthy foods and exercise for a few weeks or even months. Ultimately, you have to change your lifestyle if you want to manage your weight successfully, healthily and for the long-term.
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As soon as you start to work with me, you work towards a healthier, more active lifestyle. With this in mind, I support your weight loss efforts as an advocate, rather than with nuts and bolts guidance. With this in mind, if you want hands on help with nutrition and food plans, I can refer you to a registered dietician.
It’s important to remember that fitness isn’t about being better than someone else… Rather, it’s about being better than you used to be. Contact me through Audacious-Aging.NYC®, to get started with my in-home, private gym, or aquatic, personal training programs; (as well as health & wellness coaching).
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Great article! In all aspects of my life, accountability with someone else has been very helpful. A good friend, coach, partner can make all the difference.
I’ve also learned that accountability is so important. 😉 Thank you!
Solid information. Food diaries are eye opening.
It’s true. As much for what you learn as for staying on your course. 😉
Great tips! Snacking is my downfall – I need to get better about it!
Thanks for the feedback! 😉
I like the point of getting support. I have my father in law and we try to lose weight together.
Having a partner is really helpful. 😉 Thanks for your comment.
I do best counting calories. I also do good using a small plate. I have to allow myself the “bad” to avoid burn out but I try to eat in moderation. Good tips you have.
I do have to say, there are no “bad” foods; there are only “bad” quantities. 😉 Thanks for your comment.
Wow, so true! This is a very well balanced advice on healthy eating. Totally agree. Love your point on mindful eating!
I’m glad you found it helpful. I aim to make mindfulness appealing for people. 😉 Thank you for commenting.
Some basic, yet powerful thoughts. I remember my mom obsessively counting calories, to the point where she could quote what went into MY mouth… (not a positive memory).
I like the idea of a journal – not only to track what I eat, but also to see where my relationship with food is taking me. Thanks so much.
Although I believe in counting calories, we can definitely get carried away. It’s important to keep some perspective – that’s where a journal can be helpful. Thank you so much for your comment. 😉
I think this was written just to give me a kickstart to get back to basics.
Glad to oblige. 😉 Thanks for commenting.