Sticking to a Diet

It is easy to start a new diet with lots of enthusiasm, but it is a lot harder to stick to it over the long run. Here are some great tips for staying with your diet so that you can reach your weight-loss goals.

1. Choose a Healthy Diet

Don’t make it hard on yourself by choosing a crazy fad diet. Gimmicky diets do not work for the long term. Instead, choose a diet that will encourage a healthy lifestyle. The Mediterranean Diet is an example of a healthy diet that you can stick to for the long haul, and it is the one that Dominique Fradin Read recommends to many of her patients.

2. Drink Plenty of Water

It is easy to get thirst and hunger confused, so drinking a glass of water can help when you feel hungry. Drinking lots of water and other calorie-free beverages during the day keeps you hydrated, too, and helps your body to get rid of toxins.

3. Include Some Protein with Each Meal

Protein will help fill you up, and it encourages your body to build muscle which will increase your metabolism. Eating protein is better than eating carbs that cause your blood sugar to rise and encourage fat storage.

4. Stay Busy

Staying busy will keep your mind off food, so you will not be as likely to start craving something to eat. It is too easy to snack while you are sitting around watching TV. It is a lot harder to eat when you are involved in a hobby, such as painting or knitting.

5. Lower Your Stress Levels

A lot of eating can be mindless eating due to stress. If you can reduce your stress, you will also reduce stress-related eating. Try doing yoga, meditating, getting a massage or going out for a walk. If you are stressed at work, don’t obsess about it. When you leave your job for the day, put it out of your mind. Do some activities with friends to lower your stress even further.

6. Have Healthy Food Readily Available

Get rid of all the food in your kitchen that is not on your diet. Then, stock up on healthy choices. Make sure to have some healthy snacks ready to eat. Cheese, nuts and fruit are good snacks to grab on the go.

Following these tips will make it so much easier to stick to your diet. Remember, if you slip up, don’t give up on the diet. Just get back to it and remember your long-term health goals.