Let’s face it– our lives are busy. Often times, we find ourselves leaving the dinner table overly full or snacking at night when we might just need to work on forming new habits.
Here are five tips you can begin practicing today to help you along your weight loss journey.*
1. Start your day off right!
Begin each morning with a balanced breakfast to help set the tone for the day. Opt for protein, complex carbs and maybe a little fruit, which will help keep you fuller longer, rather than a muffin or pastry from the coffee shop. An example would be two hard-boiled eggs and a cup of cooked oatmeal with blueberries.
2. Eat at consistent times throughout the day
Eating at the same time each day helps your body to establish healthy eating patterns. Breakfast, lunch and dinner times are pretty standard, but if you work late, you may find that you are overly hungry and would eat more than you normally would had you stuck to your original meal time. Tip: carry a snack in your purse or bag to have mid-afternoon if you know you will be working late.
3. Practice portion control
I’m sure this sounds obvious, but you are much more likely to eat more if you put more on your plate. Measure out your serving of protein, carbs and fats before you sit down to the table. You can always go back for seconds. Protein should be about the size of a deck of cards, starches like rice or pasta should be 1 cup maximum, and then load up on the veggies!
4. Increase your vegetable intake
Veggies are packed with vitamins and minerals, not to mention lots of fiber! Fiber helps to fill you up, promote healthy digestion and remove waste from the body. Many North Americans fall short on their daily fiber intake, but you can help improve this by including a variety of fruits and vegetables on your plate.
5. Keep your water intake up
Often times we may not be drinking enough water, which can lead our body into thinking it’s hungry. To help assist with your water intake, try to keep a large water bottle at your desk and take 10 sips each time you find yourself reaching for the bottle.
Starting a weight loss journey can be incredibly rewarding, but it takes planning and preparation in order to successfully reach your goals.
*Individual results will vary