5 EASY TIPS TO STAY MOTIVATED
ON YOUR DIET
Being committed to anything can prove to be difficult at times, especially if you have to sacrifice a way of life you once were used to in order for that commitment to remain intact. But one thing is for sure, no matter what gender you are-dieting or changing your lifestyle in regards to eating can be an arduous task at best. So here are five tips that I hope will ease the pain at the plate, and keep the waistline deflated.
1). Just stop eating...most white foods anyway. Let me explain. I challenge you to go in your pantry, go ahead, go to your pantry and look at a lot of your boxed foods, white bread, and snacks. Look at the ingredients listed. I know, it’s scary when you trek into unfamiliar territory. What’s the first ingredient on many of the products in your hand? That’s right it’s enriched bleached flour. I don’t have enough allowable space on this site to go into the reasons why, but trust me, it’s bad. I mean, shouldn’t the word bleached be of concern to you? I usually use bleach in the washing machine to strip my whites, not my grains...
2). Timing. Stop reading for a second and think of when you eat. No, not the number of times you eat, although that may very well be an issue for you. I’m not talking about that yet. I’m referring to the time of day in which you eat. More specifically for this tip, I’m concerned over the time in the evening in which you eat. Many experts recommend that you don’t eat anything after 6:30PM or 7:00PM. I won’t go that far, but I will say that you definitely need to avoid eating too close to when you settle in for the night. Some light snacks, like fruit or vegetables with natural peanut butter (lightly applied!) would be a great idea.
3). Eat breakfast. I know...that’s crazy! Who has time to eat breakfast in the morning, especially before work? I say, get up a few minutes earlier, and prepare an easy dish. I would recommend a hot cereal like oats, or cream of wheat. Make sure it’s not the kind that’s instant with the added sugars, as this would have a tendency to cause a crash in the middle of mind numbing meetings. Be sure that you balance your breakfast with a healthy amount of carbohydrates and proteins, like eggs or low fat cottage cheese, etc. I know, I know, “but cottage cheese is white.” True, but it’s not bleached, and it’s not a starch.
4). Eat in. In other words, cut back on visiting your favorite eating establishment. I’ll bet you amazed at some of the ingredients or portions of ingredients in many of the things you order off the menu. I’ll also bet that if you did see them, you might consider not eating there again. You can bet that your local eatery knows this as well. One thing I’ll tell you is that many of the foods you eat at your favorite restaurant are loaded with sodium.
5). Get a buddy. No, not to help you eat the foods you buy so it’s easier on your conscience. Get an accountability buddy. This should be someone who will actually help you with maintaining your diet. Maybe someone who would be willing to go through the experience with you, and is very committed. It should be someone who is not afraid to pry into your eating habits and straighten you out if need be. 
