Cutting back not cutting out

MotivateMe!
Providing Strategies to Overcome the Procrastination Habit with a Daily Dose of Motivational Medicine
---------------------------
In This Issue:
---------------------------
* Today's daily dose: 15th October 2008
* Share this e-zine
---------------------------
Today's daily dose: Cutting back not cutting out    
---------------------------
As you get older your body's needs change. Unfortunately for most people, weight creep starts when they don't modify their intake for their less than energetic output. More nights spent in front of the television rather than playing with the kids or going to the gym. We don't realise that's what happening until it's too late and all of a sudden our clothes are feeling a little bit tight.

So what happens then is even more typical. People start cutting out all the bad things. The biscuits, the cake, the fizzy drinks, the alcohol, the high carbohydrate whatever - but instead of replacing these things with items that will fill AND satisfy the cravings, they tend to go "cold turkey" and what happens, our bodies - but more importantly our minds start screaming "give me food, and give me lots of it".
 
Now there are some sensible things you can do to stop the weight creep. Find foods that are filling but not fattening. A hand full of almonds can give your body so many essential nutrients and good fats - and the best thing about these little gems - they take so long to chew you aren't hungry afterwards. The longer you chew your foods, the easier it is for your body to know when it is actually full.

But if you have trouble giving up all the goods things in life (and lets face it - why should you), then try these suggestions.

Don't buy "milk" chocolate. It's mainly fat and sugar wrapped up to taste good. So if you need a chocolate hit go for the 75-85% cocoa version. Stick a tiny piece in the roof of your mouth and let it dissolve. Instant high with few calories.

Don't drink and work. This one is alcohol related. If you need a glass or two of wine to relax after work, but still need to work when you get home. Save the alcohol for when you have finished. Turn off the computer and enjoy it. Again it's a taste thing. Let your taste buds acknowledge the different flavours you are rolling over your tongue into your body. You will find you need far less of whatever it is you "need" if you actually take the time to taste it.

So - my advice, this is one thing I feel you do not multi - task. If you need to eat then eat. But don't eat on the run or eat when you are doing something else. Be mindful of what goes into your mouth. Don't make eating (or drinking) a habit. Your body will then tell you when it has eaten enough (yes it does if you give it chance to tell you) then stop and go back to whatever it was you were doing.

And then when your body signals to you it needs more fuel - you can decide whether or not it's genuine hunger or just your mind playing tricks on you. I try and drown mine first - water, wait 10 minutes - ok now you can have food.

This one really is food for thought.

Elle

To add your comments -

---------------------------
Share this e-zine:
---------------------------
We would like to thank you in advance for forwarding this issue onto family,friends and any other interested readers.  If you find that this message is going into the canned meat product folder can you please add my e-mail address to your safe senders list. Thank you.

All contents Copyright (c) 2005/2008 Motivateme.info except where indicated otherwise.

All rights reserved worldwide. No Spamming or List Sharing - We do not share, nor give out, our subscription list to third parties.

To unsubscribe just hit the reply button and add unsubscribe to the beginning of the subject line. However, you do need to unsubscribe using the same e-mail address you subscribed with for this to take effect.

Thank you for taking the time to read these daily musings, we hope to see you again in the not too distant future.