Slimming Down With Healthy Eating Habits 

After being what I would call "chubby", bordering "fat" in my early twenties, I decided a life of being overweight was just too unpleasant for me. I didn't like the way my body felt and movement was restricted from carrying too much weight. After trying many diets, including grapefruit and pepperoni (YUCK!) for two weeks (which left me only wanting to eat everything in sight for the next month or two), I knew something had to change. Looking back, I now know I ate for comfort and I can name all of the comfort foods that exist on this planet. Unfortunately, all of them are very fattening. After eating a large meal or snack of comfort foods, who feels like going for a walk or doing something active? Not me. I much more enjoyed lying about and waiting for my next meal. 

The first step in obtaining healthy eating habits and a better life is figuring out why you eat so much in the first place. Before you can lose weight and keep it off, you need to determine what is holding you in that unhealthy pattern. Sometimes it's a lost love, a recent death, or unresolved issues from your past. Sometimes it's just a bad habit of eating when you're not really even hungry. The best advice is to try and resolve the issues or just let them go so you can move on with your healthier life.

The next step is to find something, anything, that you enjoy doing. Something that makes you feel good. Walking is an excellent start. Just about everyone can do that. Walking makes you feel good, and when you feel good you want to do even more. (Word of advice: do not walk with small children). Find a friend to walk with, or buy a good "walkman" with your favorite CD. A few years back, I graduated from walking 3-4 miles a day to rollerblading 7 miles a day. It is an unbelievable feeling of accomplishment when you are finished. It leaves you feeling revved up and in a great mood. WARNING: It can and will become addictive, so be prepared!

Finally, we have reached the most important part, examining our eating habits. My best piece of advice is DON'T DIET. Do not eat diet foods, low fat, sugar free, low calorie, fat free. If you see fat free on the label, pass it up and find the one with fat. I have never drank a diet soda or ate a carrot stick. No thank you. Last night for dinner I had roast beef, mashed potatoes, corn on the cob and fresh asparagus. The trick is to eat smaller portions of foods that you love. It doesn't make sense to eat large portions of foods that you hate. Don't write anything down. Don't keep a food diary. Don't count calories. Let your body tell you when it is hungry and then feed it. Don't overfeed it, though, because that is what gets you into trouble. BIG TROUBLE! Eat until your hunger stops and then push your plate away. (Yes, even if there is still food left on the table).  

Learn good eating habits by starting to try different healthy recipes.

Slimming Down Recipe # 1

REMEMBER YOUR LAST MEAL. If you ate two or three big slices of pizza for lunch, then take it easy at dinner. Don't eat after dinner unless you feel really hungry. If you must eat in the late evening, do so with caution - maybe a cup of warm soup or a slice of cheese with crackers or one of those midget ice cream sandwiches that can't possibly get you into too much trouble. A piece of fruit is always a good snack, too. Remembering the last meal you ate can help you figure out what you should eat at your next meal. If you go out to breakfast Sunday morning and eat a big meal, then take it easy on the next two meals. Try not to skip meals, either- it wreaks havoc on your metabolism.

EAT FOODS THAT YOU ENJOY. Don't pass on foods because you think they are bad for you. Eat them sensibly. Nothing to me is better than a large order of cheese fries with lots of Ketchup. Do I eat them everyday? No, but I do indulge myself when I feel the need. But learn to stop there - don't follow up with a hot fudge sundae. Get it? You'll feel better - be in a better mood - and lastly, you will look younger and better! We all know that a positive self image is very important to both good mental and physical health. Start enjoying eating! Just do it intelligently.  I am in my early 40's and have no problems maintaining my weight.  IT WORKS.