- Pass up high-calorie snacks such as carb-filled chips, pretzels,and crackers and fat-filled cheese, nuts, dips and sugary sweets and choose fresh fruit, veggies, lean meats, salsa, bean dips and put limits on yourself.
- Make menu and recipe substitutions. Read and compare nutrition info when you shop, so you can make healthier choices. Sometimes we can use zero calorie cooking spray instead of butter or use sugar substitutes or use low fat and reduced calorie ingredients. Make sure veggies are on the menu and are prepared with as much care and effort as the main course.
- We all have something that is a guilty eating pleasure and tradition. O.K I get it so do I. Go ahead and with your well-being in mind take a sensible portion and enjoy it by eating it slowly and savoring each small bite, chew and taste bud sense. Give your mind and stomach time to realize you have been satisfied.
- Do not cheat. I hate the term cheat meal, it gives me the impression of no boundaries or some sort of dietary anarchy. I do believe in controlled indulgences at times. We are not in this to torture ourselves but gain better health and feel better. I don't cheat, but I do have some portion controlled treats along the way.
- Don't beat yourself up. We all are weak at times and temptation can get the worst out of us. Do not give up go for your rebound. Minimize the damage and get back on track. Figure out what to do in the future to prevent the same error, start fresh and see how much you can burn off with some activity.
- Couch potato alert. If you got free time and others around you get up out of that la-z-boy and get moving. It is more fun to play a little than to watch TV while struggling with point #1. Children from 1-92 love to play and so do pets. By the way, we can help in the kitchen at any and/or all times unless you get thrown out by the boss mama.
- Join my upcoming between the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays game called Playing for youth basketball http://dbet.me/ts5sVJ