2.25.2010

Easy Ways to Lose Weight

4. Ban Mindless Nibbling

Calories from those little tastes you take without even thinkiing about it can add up over the course of a day. Break the habit with this technique: "plate it, sit with it, own it." Anything you are tempted to pop into your mouth, whether it's the leftover chunks of your childs PBJ sandwich, or a single kernel of popcorn--must first be put on a plate and eaten while sitting down. Try this for a day or two, and your nibbling habit will be a thing of the past.

2.24.2010

Easy Ways to Lose Weight

3Learn the Habits of Successful Losers
The National Weight Control Registry has collected data on people who've lost a significant amount of weight and kept it off. Here are some of their secrets:
  • 78% eat breakfast every day This doesn't mean grabbing a donut on the way to work. The successful dieters ate a healthy meal like an egg white omelet and whole wheat toast.
  • 62% watch less than 10 hours of TV per week
  • 90 % exercise about one hour per day
  • 75% weigh themselves at least once a week
  • If a bad weigh-in sends you to the cookie jar for comfort instead of to the gym for revenge, skip the scale and keep an eye on how your clothes fit.
Parade Magazine

2.02.2010

Easy Ways to Lose Weight

1. DON'T SIT STILL!

Take the stairs, park in the far corner of the parking lot, or clean the house. This type of energy expenditure is called by the researchers at the Mayo Clinic "Non-Excercise Activity Thermogenesis", and speculate that it's more important than formal exercise when it comes to losing weight.  The average 140-pound woman expends only 32 caloiries per half-hour of watching TV. Ironing for the same amount of time more than doubles that burn to 73 calories and vacuuming nearly quadruples it to 111 calories.


2. Make Easy Food Swaps

Try lower-cal food substitutions that mimic the original's taste. Instead of a roll with mayo, use whole-wheat bread and mustard to cut at least 130 calories. Snack on baked potato chips instead of fried and you'll shave off 45 calories per ounce. Indulge in a half cup of chocolate ice cream instead of vanilla topped with hot fudge for a 140 less calories.
--Parade Magazine