Do you find yourself trying every new fad diet that someone shares on social media? Do you copy your favorite celebrity’s crash diet? Do you find yourself hungry and sometimes angry after each meal? If your answer to one or more of those questions is ‘yes’, then you may be a serial dieter. Unfortunately, I am one of those people who struggle with maintaining a balanced diet. If you wear many hats like myself, you may also struggle with crafting meals that are consistent and healthy. I am a mother, student and a manager at my job so I am severely strapped for time. I sometimes resort to crash diets to lose weight which I know is doing more damage than good in the long run. I found that the crash diets led to cravings for sugar, or overall hunger which in-turn led to me eating ANYTHING in sight.
After a few failed attempts at dieting, I realized that I was going about this the wrong way. I simply needed to make a few adjustments to my lifestyle to achieve the balance I craved. These tips may work for you as well if your lifestyle is similar.
Prepare Meals Ahead of Time-Most important if time is an issue. I have a loving relationship with Ziplock bags. I prepare my servings of fruit and veggies and store in the refrigerator, I bake my fish for a few days etc.
Eat Small Meals Often-What has worked for me is eating often. I usually eat five times per day (3 regular meals and 2 healthy snacks).
Snack Responsibly– Stick to fruits, veggies and nuts.
Color is Your Friend-bright red fruits, orange fruits, dark purples and greens etc.
Drink Lots of Water-For me this is a struggle, but it is important to drink the recommended 8 glasses of water.
Exercise– It is important to commit to at least 30 minutes of exercise 3-4 times per week. This can include walking, biking, jogging etc.
Sleep-Six to Eight hours is recommended.
Hopefully the above tips can be of some help to you. It may seem simple on paper but maintaining a healthy diet and lifestyle is hard work. It is important to tailor a system that works around your schedule. And most importantly, eat to live.
Let me know in the comment section what works for you, and share any tips of your own.
xoxo,
Sam