While this is true, physicians didn't explain portion control. Even though pasta may be a good food type, an extra hundred or two calories a few times a week adds up. Learn to push plate away.

Pre-Planning

This may sound like common sense, but with our busy lifestyles, pre-planning meals in advance is far from simple. However, pre-planning is essential.

For most of us all we can do to just keep up with day's activities, much less cook in advance. It really boils down to time management. If you have good choices in refrigerator, you will be more likely to eat that food. When healthy foods are unavailable, you will go out of your way to pantry, pizza parlor, or fast food restaurant for immediate gratification.

In a nut shell:

In some instances what we eat, when we eat it and how much we eat is due to a physiological reaction. However, it could be both emotional and physiological. Eating right has a lot to do with how you look at food, how much you eat and what you eat. Recognize if you have eating patterns. The patterns may be lifestyle, emotional, physically related or all above. Pre-planning meals and shopping ahead solves a lot of poor decision making. Learn to push yourself away from table. YOU WILL EAT TOMORROW! www.resolutions.bz

Here are my suggestions:

1. If you have excessive eating habits, they may be emotionally related. Figure out your bad habits and counteract them.

2. Pre-plan week, if possible. You'll make better choices if you have better choices from which to choose.

3. Food journal twice a month with times, types and amounts of food eaten.

4. Snacking throughout day helps overeating.

5. Eat until comfortable - you will eat tomorrow.

6. Eat with your opposite hand.

7. Sit while you are eating.

I wanted to lose weight naturally, enjoy meals, choose healthy options. And guess what? After 8 months, I DID it and have kept weight off for 3 years without starving but eating every 3 hours healthy foods and exercising. I am still astonished how I deprived myself with crazy diets and not losing weight permanently, but playing yo-yo diet game. Now, I eat, I enjoy food and still have a healthy figure. Whenever I grab a yogurt, almonds, or a protein bar, I enjoy each bit of it. For example, most diets forbid pasta, pizza, rice, and so on, but I eat those. Uhmmmmm The Secret? Simple, have small portions, not super size portions, and make sure to add protein too. My other secret to speed up my metabolism was discovering GREEN TEA. I prepare a pitcher for each day or have it as hot tea.

Moreover, I learned that when our blood sugar and insulin levels are high, our bodies shift into fat storing mode. All extra carbs or high carb meals influence our blood sugar and insulin levels. The option is to lower our insulin levels and pancreas releases glucagon, which is a hormone that sets our bodies into fat burning mode by helping to convert body fat into energy. Wow! This was one of best things I learned.

I also learned about nutritional supplements. For example, how delicious a protein bar is, instead of munching on many chocolate bars. I don’t need empty calories, so I rather have a chocolate protein bar with less calories and more nutritional value. Don’t get me wrong, I still eat chocolates, but in small portions. As my friend Renato says, “Chocolates are not bad, after all, they are a good source of flavonoids.” Hence, that is my excuse when craving for a chocolate cake … I just need my flavonoids portion. Ha ha.

Currently, I enjoy motivating others to lose weight for their own good, not to please people. However, it is not a matter of forcing anyone to lose weight. That is a personal decision, to make and keep commitment to lose weight and learn how to eat healthy. Thus, should someone ask you, “why do you eat healthy?” You will know what to reply. Take a look back at your old self and those gone pounds, while padding yourself on back to congratulate you for having dared to reprogram yourself to lead a healthy lifestyle and said no to junk foods.

Now, you know my story. One of my greatest satisfaction is having opportunity to motivate others on their resolution to lose weight. My best reward will be if you tell me, "Ok, Anna, if you could do it, so can I. I am ready to make and KEEP my commitment to lose weight for myself, not to please others, but for my own health. I am ready to break with yo-yo cycle, learn to choose healthy food and exercise." Remember, your commitment is also my commitment, “Official! Overweight? NO MORE!” We can do it!

======================================================================================

Before starting any nutritional program, exercise or diet program, we advise you to consult with your physician.