I don't feel like I have the right to enter a blog post about losing weight since, to look at me, I have not been successful. But after a productive week, I think I can definitely relate what works. Over the years of being on diets including Weight Watchers, Jenny Craig, and Retrofit, I have come away with some very helpful habits to ressurect. I'm grateful that DietBet has pushed me, in a fun rather than a deny-yourself way, to embrace these healthy eating guidelines again!

1. Eat mindfully. Know how many calories you want to eat each day to meet your weight goals. Then be aware of the calories and portion sizes that you're eating. That also means, don't eat when you're watching TV!

2. Plan ahead. In the moring, plan what you're going to eat that day.

3. Drink plenty of water. Not only does it keep you hydrated, but it gives your stomach the feeling of fullness so you're not as hungry.

4. Strive for a balanced plate. That is, let 1/2 of your plate of food consist of veggies and fruits, 1/4 of your plate be protein, and the other 1/4 be starchy foods, preferably whole grains. 

5. Don't eat anything after 8:00 pm. You don't need it and for me, that's the time of day I put on the most calories form grazing in the kitchen.

6. Keep your home a treat-free zone. No chips or cookies or ice cream at home, but you can eat a treat when you're away from home.

7. Keep your metabolism fire burning by eating 3 meals, 2 or 3 snacks each day.

8. Snacks and treats are not the same thing. A snack should be balanced, just like your meal plate is. If it doesn't meet the balanced plate criteria, then it's probably a treat. Total treats for the day shouldn't exceed 10% of your goal weight in calories. So if your goal is 130 lbs, your treat limit per day should be 130 calories.

9. Track what you eat. I like My Fitness Pal for this because it's free, it has a huge database of foods to choose from, and it syncs with all of my devices.

I don't like to be restricted to a specific diet, being rebellious at heart, but I'm finding that following these reasonable guidelines again, is taking me toward my weight-loss goals!