| The first hurdle to losing weight is finding easy ways | | | | Keeping variety in your diet will prevent boredom |
| to begin. The following are ways to make small | | | | which leads to quitting your diet. Eating healthy will |
| changes that you can easily incorporate into you daily | | | | also provide the vitamins and minerals your body |
| activities. | | | | needs for good health. Always prepare a variety of |
| 1. Strip Your Cabinets of Unhealthy Foods | | | | healthy foods in advance. When it comes to meal |
| Read the nutrition labels on all your food and throw | | | | time you are much more likely to eat healthy meals. |
| out anything with excessive amounts of sugar and | | | | Plan your meals and prepare them by adding colorful |
| fat which translate to excessive calories. Get rid of | | | | foods such as red tomatoes, green leafy vegetables, |
| any foods with artificial flavors, coloring or additives. | | | | yellow and green peppers to your menu. Also include |
| Also eliminate foods that have the word trans fat or | | | | foods full of fiber such as beans that will keep you |
| saturated fat. This includes cookies, chips, and cakes. | | | | full longer. |
| One you begin to read food labels, you will be | | | | 4. Avoid Eating While performing Other Activities |
| shocked at the number of foods in your home that | | | | Never eat while watching television, movies, playing |
| include the above ingredients. Replace those foods | | | | video games or even surfing the web. Eating while |
| with healthy snacks like whole wheat crackers or | | | | distracted can easily cause you to lose track of how |
| pretzels, protein bars and a variety of fruits and nuts. | | | | much you are eating. Once you become more |
| 2. Exercise | | | | conscious of the amount of food you are eating, you |
| Adding any activities to your daily schedule can make | | | | will probably find that you are satisfied with less than |
| a big difference in weight loss success. Any additional | | | | you realize. You are usually satisfied after twenty |
| calories you burn make a difference. If you take the | | | | minutes of moderate eating. Allow your brain and |
| bus, get off a stop or two before you reach your | | | | stomach to work together to signal when you are |
| destination. A half hour of walking can easily burn 100 | | | | satisfied, not full. |
| calories. Take a walk at lunchtime. Another idea is | | | | 5. Take Photos of Yourself |
| walking the dog or cleaning your house. This can | | | | When you decide to start your diet, take a front and |
| easily burn 200 calories for each 30 minutes of | | | | side view photos of yourself. While they may not be |
| activity. Walk up the stairs instead of taking the | | | | pleasant to look at now, they will function as |
| elevator. These activities can help you burn many | | | | motivation for you to continue on your weight loss |
| calories if done on a daily basis. | | | | program. As you begin to lose weight, you can take |
| 3. Eat a Variety of Healthy Foods | | | | photos at intervals to monitor your progress. |