I hate diets.
I can't be alone, the most popular New Year's resolution every year is to lose weight.
I've tried a lot of different things, and to be honest, none of them really worked well.
Oh, I'd lose a pound or two, but nothing big.
It was just to difficult, the food tasted bad and it was expensive.
You don't necessarily have to go that route.
You can make some small changes that will have a big impact, and chances are good you already have what you need.
Here are some tips that have helped me lose 60 pounds and keep it off.
Bread: Not all calories are the same, and not all breads are the same.
I used to get the cheapest loaf I could find.
Now, I'm picky.
There are two tricks you can use that can be helpful.
First of all, there are breads that have only 45 calories a slice.
Most breads have about 110 calories a slice.
That translates to a savings of 130 calories in one sandwich.
As for bread calories, whole grain breads win hands down.
That's because of the fiber content.
If the calorie count is troublesome, and it can be, use only one slice.
The second slice is mainly there to make the sandwich more manageable, not for flavor.
Condiments: This is important mostly for calorie counts, though fat and sodium can be an issue.
I read nutrition labels of any new product I buy, and this will explain why.
A serving of real mayo uses 60 calories.
A serving of regular yellow mustard contains 10 calories.
Right in your fridge, you can have a 50 calorie savings per serving.
Now, you have another 10 calorie choice.
Smart Balance and other companies have mayo that is only 10 calories a serving, and the taste is not dissimilar.
Potatoes: I like potatoes, but I don't absolutely have to have them.
When I do now, they're baked most of the time.
Potatoes contain a lot of starch, which can translate to pounds.
Cook them in oil or douse them in butter, it's even worse.
There are good potato choices, though.
A baked potato with trans fat free margarine and fat free sour cream tastes good, it isn't expensive and if you add fresh veggies it's very healthy.
Eggs: Eggs are a very common thing, but they are high in fat and cholesterol.
While the calorie count is as "expensive" as potatoes, the fat can take its toll.
I'll be frank, I do *not* like any of the current egg substitutes.
It may be because I grew up on a farm and had fresh eggs.
Store bought eggs are pale in comparison, but the texture is the same.
Egg substitutes don't fill the bill.
However...
quail eggs do.
Before you turn your nose up at the idea, there are a couple of things to keep in mind.
First, because they are very small, an egg or two are lower in calories than a chicken egg.
Second, quail eggs have no LDL cholesterol.
They *do* have HDL cholesterol.
That makes them a good choice for me.
There are many more things I've learned about diet since I started this new lifestyle.
The changes I've made in my diet are life long, and that's important.
I don't actually mind these choices, as I can enjoy my food and still maintain the weight loss.
That is one of the most important parts of any lifestyle change.
I can't be alone, the most popular New Year's resolution every year is to lose weight.
I've tried a lot of different things, and to be honest, none of them really worked well.
Oh, I'd lose a pound or two, but nothing big.
It was just to difficult, the food tasted bad and it was expensive.
You don't necessarily have to go that route.
You can make some small changes that will have a big impact, and chances are good you already have what you need.
Here are some tips that have helped me lose 60 pounds and keep it off.
Bread: Not all calories are the same, and not all breads are the same.
I used to get the cheapest loaf I could find.
Now, I'm picky.
There are two tricks you can use that can be helpful.
First of all, there are breads that have only 45 calories a slice.
Most breads have about 110 calories a slice.
That translates to a savings of 130 calories in one sandwich.
As for bread calories, whole grain breads win hands down.
That's because of the fiber content.
If the calorie count is troublesome, and it can be, use only one slice.
The second slice is mainly there to make the sandwich more manageable, not for flavor.
Condiments: This is important mostly for calorie counts, though fat and sodium can be an issue.
I read nutrition labels of any new product I buy, and this will explain why.
A serving of real mayo uses 60 calories.
A serving of regular yellow mustard contains 10 calories.
Right in your fridge, you can have a 50 calorie savings per serving.
Now, you have another 10 calorie choice.
Smart Balance and other companies have mayo that is only 10 calories a serving, and the taste is not dissimilar.
Potatoes: I like potatoes, but I don't absolutely have to have them.
When I do now, they're baked most of the time.
Potatoes contain a lot of starch, which can translate to pounds.
Cook them in oil or douse them in butter, it's even worse.
There are good potato choices, though.
A baked potato with trans fat free margarine and fat free sour cream tastes good, it isn't expensive and if you add fresh veggies it's very healthy.
Eggs: Eggs are a very common thing, but they are high in fat and cholesterol.
While the calorie count is as "expensive" as potatoes, the fat can take its toll.
I'll be frank, I do *not* like any of the current egg substitutes.
It may be because I grew up on a farm and had fresh eggs.
Store bought eggs are pale in comparison, but the texture is the same.
Egg substitutes don't fill the bill.
However...
quail eggs do.
Before you turn your nose up at the idea, there are a couple of things to keep in mind.
First, because they are very small, an egg or two are lower in calories than a chicken egg.
Second, quail eggs have no LDL cholesterol.
They *do* have HDL cholesterol.
That makes them a good choice for me.
There are many more things I've learned about diet since I started this new lifestyle.
The changes I've made in my diet are life long, and that's important.
I don't actually mind these choices, as I can enjoy my food and still maintain the weight loss.
That is one of the most important parts of any lifestyle change.
Source...