Diet Downfalls
Tuesday, November 24th, 2009
Losing the extra few pounds can be a challenge, but you may be sabotaging your own efforts. Save yourself from having to do that extra lap or two by avoiding the following:
1. Munching all day
Enter the vending machines when the 3 pm crave starts screaming your name, or the doughnut, cake and cookie ‘snacks’ that just stare at you during those forever long office meetings, and those pesky never-ending starters at your office parties.
These extra often sugary or salty snacks can turn out to be your diet buster. Sweet tooth? Fruits contain natural sweeteners, try some slices of fresh fruit instead. Also, stash healthier snacks in your draw so that when that hunger pang does strike you have a better choice of eats to choose from, rather than the vending machine’s choices.
Real fruit juices as well as artificial juice drinks, soda and energy drinks for example, can also pack a mean calorie bomb. Satisfy your thirst with a glass of water or unsweetened tea instead, and save your calories for later, as chances are you’d still grab a snack after that drink anyways.
Skipping meals is just as bad.
Your sugar level decreases, lowering your energy and alertness levels. It also heightens the chances of you over-eating at your next meal. Womp.
2. Monotonous food
Following a restrictive diet greatly limits your body’s exposure to essential nutrients. Not to mention, variety is the spice of life! Wear, eat, see, hear the same thing every day and you are bound to get bored and cheat somewhere. Mix up your foods to reduce binge eating and fuel your body (and your skin) with the nutrients that it needs.
Eating locally helps you get a greater range of nutrients in your diet. Not only are the foods more accessible but they are usually cheaper and more flavorful too as there are greater avenues for you to get them fresher. Grab a local recipe book on simple cooking and see what you can whip up. Eating healthily doesn’t always have to mean grilling vegetables. You may be amazed by the amount of new preparations you may come across for tasty meals that incorporate your green and leafys.
3. Inhaling food
Yes, we are always running against the clock. The webpage takes 3 seconds to load instead of 1 and we are ready to fire somebody.
Not only does inhaling your lunch not allow you to savour it’s taste, but doing so does not allow your brain to accurately read how full your stomach is, and can result in you eating more food than you need. It is estimated that it takes about 20 mins for your brain to realise that your stomach is full. Take the time to enjoy what you eat.
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