Don’t Go on a Diet

Gained a few pounds? Losing some confidence? Or maybe there’s just a few bad habits and a little extra flab you’d like to nix. I can help with that. And odds are, my approach will be easier than you think (and likely easier on your wallet.)

When it comes to diet, where do you even begin? I mean who doesn’t love talking about food? Since it’s almost impossible to get down to the very basis of our diet, we will be taking this one step at a time. Which is ok because in order for something to stick, you need to build up the right habits. You need to start small and gradually. But whatever you do,

Do not go on a diet!

Are there foods in your pantry or fridge that are holding you back from your goals? Time to learn some self control. Stop! – do not run and clear out your pantry. Do not pitch all of the junk in the trash. Not only is that wasting, but you are starting off too impulsively. Never cut anything cold turkey. That’s a crash diet approach, and you will indeed crash. Junk food is created with addictive properties in them. You must wean off. Have a candy bar addiction? Take a bite or two and put it back for next time. Chips? Eat a handful and put them back. Get your fix and get it out your sight. Now here’s the thing, once it’s gone, it’s gone. I don’t want to see it back on your grocery pickup list.

Instead, I want you to start experimenting. Try to find a healthier alternative. It may take time and several tries, but aim for that healthier option. Don’t like nuts? Me neither – until I tried roasting them. Now, I can eat them like chips. Need something sweet? Start off dipping your fruit in dark chocolate and gradually taper down till you’re just eating fruit. Honestly, I can’t even say chocolate is bad for you, but if you have issues like I do, aim for the highest percentage. Bars with 90% cocoa fix the chocolate craving, yet the bitterness keeps you from going back for too much more. Don’t like a particular vegetable? How many different ways have you tried cooking it? Experiment! You just have to learn what you like, and…

Make it convenient!

I’ve never been a big fruit eater. However, if someone pre-peeled and cut up an apple or orange, I would eat it no problem. I wonder why? Maybe because it was conveniently right there! Why do people go out to eat half the time or stop at fast food restaurants? Because it’s convenient. Why do people love processed food so much? Because all the work has already been done. You just grab and go. Be that way with your food.

Maybe you’re not a meal-prep person. I know I hate the taste of leftover chicken and cringe seeing it in a week’s supply of bento boxes. While meal-prepping is an excellent idea, you don’t have to do that. You just have to meal-plan. You have to strategize in how you can make the right foods convenient. Put the junk food on the bottom shelf, tucked in the back. Put the healthier options right at eyesight and arms length.

I remember having a pack of Ramen on the bottom shelf for months – never touched. The very day I moved it to eyesight, my husband ate it. (Hypotheses… Conclusion… Sorry, Ryan.)

Pack up your snacks ahead of time. Boil some eggs and put them in individual containers to just grab and go. Have your veggies or fruit already cut up and ready to eat. Make your own bucket of customized trail mix. Plan your meals in advance to avoid the impulse to get delivery. In this process, you are not only learning how to make food convenient, but you are learning how to…

Make your own food!

When you get rid of all of the junk, where does that leave you? You begin to learn to make your food from scratch. You become in control of what you eat. You don’t have to ask the waiter if there’s a certain ingredient in the food because you made it! You don’t have to pay $5 to add avocados to your sandwich. You can spend $5 on a bag of avocados and make several sandwiches. When you make most of what you eat from scratch, you automatically eat healthier (and save money). You are in charge of how much salt goes in. You are in charge of what type of grain you use. You are in charge of what toppings you have or what your condiments are made out of. Learn to cook and figure out how to incorporate it in your daily routine, whether that means one day of cooking a week or crock potting every day. You should never have to ask yourself, “What am I going to eat tonight?” Get your plan in place.

Are there other areas you are struggling with? Over the course of time, we will be addressing many issues in the diet world to help get you on track and stay on track. In the meantime, learn to incorporate these simple steps into your life. And remember, don’t go on a diet; make it your diet!