Five Steps to Healthy (steps 1 & 2)

Are you interested in losing weight? Being healthier? Or just feeling better? Well here are my five favorite recommendations to achieve this. These tips are not magical nutrition drinks, or fad diets, but they are easy, and lead to long term results.

1) Use Your Head

If you follow my blog you know that I love the concept of mindful eating. The simple idea of eating when you are hungry and stopping when you're full may seem too easy... But it's not.  How many times do you go out to dinner and eat until you are so stuffed you can barely move, and you are tempted to unbutton your jeans in order to be able to breathe? Yep, we have all been there.  Assessing your hunger throughout your meal can help you avoid feeling too full, and can avoid adding pounds over time.

A few years ago I read the book, French Women Don't Get Fat. Mireille Guiliano discusses the importance of enjoying quality food- for example, savoring a good piece of bread, instead of scarfing down a whole loaf.     I definitely recommend this read because she illustrates a beautiful picture of French culture while providing advice for better eating.

For more info visit the eat, drink, and be mindful website.

2) Keep A Record

It is true, "write it down, lose more pounds." Research has shown that those who keep a food record lose more weight than their non-record keeping counterparts.

You can write it down by hand using my favorite notebooks, Maybooks (see below). Or you could use a printable food log found online.

If your iphone or android is glued to you at all times, consider using a fitness or weight loss app like My Fitness Pal. I will be downloading this app for my personal use next so keep checking the blog for reviews, tips, and advice.

So get started and check back tomorrow for the next three steps to healthy...

Stay Healthy!

Elizabeth Milne, MS, RD, LD