Simple Steps to Weight Loss: Comfortably.

Simple Steps to Weight Loss: The New Healthy Look
By Gerald Parker

Before starting any diet, weight loss plan/program, here are some quick simple tips to try prior to diving into the low calorie conundrum.

· Eat slowly. Chew everything fully. This gives your stomach time to relay the message to the brain that you are no longer hungry.

· Avoid situations and places where you’re more likely to be tempted. For example, if you always eat while watching TV, try to get out and do something instead. Don’t go to your favorite restaurants, you’ll be more likely to cheat.

· Drink lots of water, and drink it first before anything else. It will help you fill fuller and clean out your system.

· Eat low calorie foods like vegetables first, so your body gets satisfied before you get to the high calorie foods.

· Try to eat as many things as possible raw. The calories expended in chewing and digesting these help use up some energy. If you need to snack, raw vegetables are the best followed by air popped popcorn without the extras.

· Avoid the ALL YOU CAN EAT places and if it is a large portion, save half for later.

· Fish, with the exception of catfish and shellfish, are healthy low calorie choices.

· Avoid fats, especially trans-fats, they are higher in calories and take more energy to burn up

· Exercise should be part of any diet program, if medically able. Start slow with a partner at something you enjoy and work up from there.

· Get rid of the “clean your plate” mentality. Try smaller portions.

· Don’t use depression, rejection, disappointment, failure, stress, etc. as an excuse to eat or overindulge.

· Salads are great low-calorie, healthy food when dieting if you change your intake of dressing to low calorie, vinegar, or lemon juice. A 25 calorie salad can easily jump to 150 calorie just by adding regular dressing.

· Avoid habit forming drugs, which can be dangerous and are usually short lived.

· Avoid the feeder. Many people are just trying to be nice, but others are just plain trying to sabotage your diet.

· If you mess up once, don’t let it be your excuse to give up or splurge the rest of the day or week.

· Set your goal to 1-2 ½ pounds of weight loss a week. Once you begin to surpass that you really need a doctor’s supervision

· Liquid diets or diets that drop to 1000 calories or below should only be done under a physician’s guidance. They can be extremely safe if monitored, or they can be deadly if not.

· Last of all, if you need help, find a physician that specializes in weight loss.

The right diet will be comfortable. Try it now.

About the author:Dr. Gerald M. Parker been practicing preventive medicine for the past 35 years. He is listed in Who’s Who in the World and Who’s Who in Medicine.