By CEO Robert Forster, PT
This time of year brings temptation and a change in eating habits that may lead to weight gain. What is it worth to feel and look your best? Is it worth saying “no thank you” to something you don’t need, or even really want? I think so. Sit down and give this one some thought. If you have been sabotaging your attempts at feeling and looking good for far too long now it’s time to stop getting in your own way and do something good for yourself.
Here are some of my simple suggestions:
1) Make every bite count. When you arrive at a party take a look at all the food and decide what it is that you really want to eat. Skip past the empty calories that are starchy or high in sugar. What are the foods that will fill you up without all of the empty calories? Seek out the protein and healthy fat options as opposed to the carbs, which have less nutrients and more detriment to your health than proteins. Proteins require more calories to digest and play less havoc on your metabolism. Do not use up your food budget on things you don’t really enjoy.
2) Stay aware. It can be too easy to be in deep conversation and not really pay attention to what you’re eating, or your hunger level. So whether you’re eating a full plate or just snacking, (and research shows that using small plates lead to less overeating) stay aware and take the time to pay attention to how your body feels and stop eating when you’re full.
3) Choose quality over quantity. It’s okay to be a bit of a social-eating snob. After all, it’s your body and your health. Is the piece of cheap pie someone brought to the party really worth the bloat, indigestion and energy crash you are going to feel later? Unhealthy food makes you feel awful in some way. Keep your energy boosted by skipping the tempting treats altogether.
4) Never arrive hungry. Hunger will weaken your resolve. The best approach is to eat before you go, have a healthy snack or mini-meal that is filling about an hour before you arrive. A wise choice is a snack that has protein to satiate your appetite. This will help you have more control over your choices.
5) Watch what you drink. While one or two drinks spread out over the afternoon will not completely disrupt your healthy diet, several more will. Keep in mind that alcohol itself not only adds empty calories, but it lowers your inhibitions, making it more likely that you will reach for those diet-destroying buffet treats as the night goes on.
6) Don’t sabotage all of your hard work. If you’ve been successful this year in losing weight or gaining healthy eating patterns keeps it going. Just because you have lost some weight should not mean you get to eat whatever you want. Gaining weight is not a reward for losing weight, so do not rationalize it as such.
PHASE IV offers Science based weight management services designed specifically to your personal physiology!
Everyone’s metabolism is as unique and different as his or her fingerprint, and this requires that the approach to good nutrition and healthy body weight be unique to your needs. Through clinical testing, we unlock the secrets of your biology and find the solution for sustainable weight loss. PHASE IV programs are comprehensive and based of sensible but targeted exercise and specific dietary guidelines to create an active lifestyle and achieve the body you always wanted.
Make 2018 the year you take control of your health and fitness once and forever!
Contact PHASE IV for a complementary NUTRITION consultation with a PHASE IV’s Tina Paymaster and learn how easy it is when you use Science!
