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Dieting Program Tips

Jan 13, 2011 | By Casey Holley

If you are overweight or obese and need to lose weight, you have to start dieting so that you can lose weight. Dieting isn't easy, but by making small changes to your daily activities and eating habits, you can make your dieting program as easy as possible to follow while ensuring that it is as effective as possible.

Drink Water

Staying hydrated is important while you are trying to lose weight; however, drinking water can also keep you from overeating. There is a chance that sometimes when you feel hungry, you are actually thirsty. When you feel hungry and it isn't time for you to eat, try drinking a large of glass of water to see if the hunger abates. If it does, drinking water just saved you some calories.

Eat Breakfast

Skipping meals when you are trying to lose weight may be tempting, but doing so can actually make you overeat later in the day. When you eat breakfast, you are more likely to make healthy food choices later in the day, you won't be as hungry during the day, and you will likely have more energy. All this means that you probably won't eat any unnecessary calories and that you will be able to burn as many calories as possible through exercise since you will have energy.

Healthy Snacking

The snacks you grab during the day can have a huge impact on your diet. When you are trying to lose weight, you have to say "no" to high-calorie and fat-laden snacks like chips and cookies. Instead, you can snack on vegetables, fruits or low-fat snacks like air-popped popcorn. Other suitable snacks include nuts, seeds, string cheese and low-fat yogurt. If you will be away from home for an extended period of time, pack a snack to take with you so that you won't be tempted to grab something unhealthy.

Exercise

The more you move each day, the more calories you will burn. Instead of worrying about getting your full 60 to 90 minutes of exercise in one single session per day, schedule short sessions of at least 10 minutes to exercise throughout the day. You can walk on your breaks at work. Park as far as you can from a store and walk to the store as long as the area is well-lit and safe. Take the stairs instead of the elevator. Walk or jog in place while you watch your favorite television shows. Additionally, remember to count your daily activities, such as cleaning, toward your daily calorie usage.

Deviation Days

Trying to stick to your diet plan without ever having some of your favorite "off limits" foods is setting yourself up for failure. Instead, keep a goal journal. Set weekly or monthly goals. When you meet these goals, treat yourself to a single serving of an "off-limits" food. For big goals, such as meeting all your weekly goals for six months, treat yourself to a deviation day, where you can eat off-limits foods all day long. Just don't go overboard on those days.

References

Article reviewed by Helen Covington Last updated on: Jan 13, 2011

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