Coach To Lose

You will notice this post went up after Father’s Day weekend. Actually I was really good this year. I am coming up on almost a year since I started my weight loss journey and have found these are habits that are much easier to live by. If I don’t it is much harder to work off the gain. I guess it comes from the fact that I started my journey before a massive holiday season and I promised myself to never get that big again. So I write these as much as a reminder to myself as to those who would read them.

So holidays such as 4th of July, Labor Day, or any celebration may cause your resolve to break down in your otherwise healthy eating plan. Remember that summer celebrations such as picnics can pack thousands of calories that you would not normally indulge in. So, what should you do?

1. Before going to any celebration make sure you eat normally. Eat your planned meals without trying to save up for the big one. I always recommend doing 6 smaller meals each day. Stick to your normal plan so that you aren’t hungry when you get there.

2. Take control of what you volunteer to bring. This way you can insure that you bring something healthy. This way you know there is somethere there that fits your eating habits.

3. Watch how you load up your plat and what you put on it. You can choose to NOT to have the desert!! Remember food is fuel to your body. Don’t need to put sludge in there instead.

4. See if you can get your daily workout in before going. If not, you can always try adding 10 or 15-minute brisk walks twice that day with available family members or friends.

5. If you are the one throwing the get together, have lots of vegetables available, instead of chips only. Prepare lower fat dips and offer salsa.

6. Stay away from beverages such as sodas, juices, smoothies, and special coffee drinks. This is a good time to stay up on your water.

7. If the get together is going to be longer then a couple of hours then space your eating out. Keep track of what you put into your mouth. Look for a small plate and give it some time between fillups. ALWAYS plan ahead and pay attention to what you eat.

8. At the picnic choose healthy foods and stay away from the chips and bread and corn.

9. If the get together is at your house, send as many as possible of the left-overs home with your guests, especially the desserts!!

10. Make it your goal to maintain your weight and not to gain. This will work better then just giving yourself permission to overeat. Remember it takes a lot more to take off a pound then to put it on sometimes. You may be suprised how much you will gain by breaking your routine.

11. Eat slowly, it will help you to eat less and feel full and satisfied.

12. Be confident. It is ok to say no to Aunt Susie when she offers her special desert. It is easy enough to say I am too full to eat anything else. Don’t let your weight and cravings take control of you.

13. When traveling, don’t forget to pack your convenient healthy in-between snack meals so that you don’t get hungry before you eat your regular meals!

14. Remember the reason for the get togethers. Focus on spending time with friends and family and catching up on what is important. Not on ‘The Food’!

15. Remember you make choices that are with you to form the “Habits of Health”. Choices are habit forming. Choices form habits that transform people! You get to choose how you are transformed and how you live.

Have a Happy and Healthy Summer Picnic Season!!!!