ive really enjoyed reading the blogs so far, so I thought I'd write my own, so in case anyone can learn from any of my tips, they can. I have been dieting (like most people I think) my whole life it seems, and I've learnt a few things that help.
1) Weigh yourself every day. I read an scientific article about this a while back. People who daily weigh weigh almost a stone less than those who don't. It stops the pounds slipping back on unnoticed. Yes, it can be upsetting as weight fluctuates, but it gives me motivation every day.
2) Eating out is a challenge. Indian food is the answer. Non-creamy vegetable curry with tandoori roti is a decent evening meal but not very calorific. Pizza express where you get a half pizza and a salad is also a lifesaver. Ethiopian food is also good, if you're lucky enough to have one. Swapping fries for salad also works well. Apart from that, it's still hard!
3) find something you like which isn't calorific and use it when you crave nice taste. I love different black teas, and the flavoured ones are nice too, like chocolate tea or vanilla tea. I have a lovely maple toffee one. Great taste for about five calories.
4) I learnt from trying the fast diet that you don't have to eat 3 meals a day. If I know I have to go out for lunch with a client, I can skip breakfast or have a very light one. So I can think about what I will be eating each day, and save calories elsehwhere by not having a meal when I would usually. In fact, on diets now I often skip breakfast. After a few days, the cravings stopped. That makes dieting far easier.
5) late night food is my enemy. So I have a jar of individually wrapped sweets. I have four and feel guilty and stop. But that's way less calories than my late night kitchen raids.
6) obviously trying to keep active is a big one. But if you don't enjoy and value something and are doing it from guilt, you'll stop. So try different things until you find exercise you enjoy. I like cycling as I can listen to music and do it to get places. I also like Jillian Michaels videos as she makes me laugh and it is fast paced. Ideally I'd do a team sport.
7) if you're struggling,measure every calorie in everything and every portion size. You'll work out where the big hits are coming and some you may not even miss if you cut them out.
8) biscuits are evil. They look so small yet are so full of calories.
9) use small tastes of something to fill the craving and eat the small portion slowly. I crave toast at nights. The other day I cut a piece of bread into four pieces, toasted one piece and ate it really slowly and savoured it. I genuinely enjoyed it more than mindlessly eating a whole slice. But it was only 1/4 of the calories.
I'm sure there are lots of things I've not thought of, but I hope you find some of these useful. Please share your own life saving tips!