Reaching Your Weightloss Goals:

By: Heather Smith I’m a strong advocate of positioning yourself for success.  When it comes to weight-loss, investing time into preparation and planning will not only help you in reaching your goals, but they also will be essential in keeping the weight off. Planning and preparation are skills that require daily commitment. However, a small investment in these daily habits will yield BIG results.  If you are not prepared for obstacles in your journey, the odds will work against you. Cravings, for example, are largely preventable.  If you struggle with occasional food cravings, here are 2 solid tips that will help you overcome them! Eat 5 smaller meals a day Instead of eating our typical three large meals, you will eat five-six small meals each day.  Since you will be eating more frequently, you will need to scale down the portions. By eating more frequently you can recharge your metabolism by continually fueling your body with healthy and nutritious food.  Although it may seem counter-productive, doing so will help prevent you from becoming overly hungry. When you prevent yourself from becoming overly hungry, you’ll suddenly experience less and less cravings. Just be sure to consistently snack and ‘graze’ throughout the day within a reasonable time frame.  Remember: The key to making this work is adding an abundance of fruits and vegetables into your diet. The fiber and water content they supply will keep you feeling fuller longer.  Also, your overall diet should be structured on lean proteins, complex-carbohydrates, and balanced healthy fats.  This will give your body the proper nutrition it needs to become a weight loss machine! Pack and carry a cooler with you daily Now that we have our plan in place, it is time to talk about plan execution: How can we prepare ourselves for success? Easy, pack a cooler.  Yes, you must pack a cooler and tote it along with you daily. It is crucial that you always have pre-packed meals/snacks ready to eat.  Packing a cooler will ensure you will stay on track with your weight-loss goals. Having nutritious foods available will prevent you from mindlessly grabbing empty calories when temptation strikes. Additionally, by carrying your meals and snacks with you, it will be easier to adhere to your eating schedule. When you are eating on schedule and fueling up on clean, whole, nutrient-dense foods, cravings will take a back seat. From: http://nutritioninfullcolour.com/health_advocate.htm