Eating Intuitively

I was happy to see the article Is Your Diet for Life? on the website Diet Blog.  Diets can help you lose weight, but if they don’t support a healthy eating lifestyle, bad habits will bring back the weight.  The article brings up many things I’ve pondered. 

My weight has gone up and down over the years, and I want this to be the last time I have to lose weight.  I want to get to a healthy weight once and for all and stay there.  We all know “yo-yo dieting” is not healthy.

I’m not so much concerned about continuing to lose weight to get to my goal as I am about how I am going to eat when I get to my goal.  I believe the NutriSystem plan has helped me developed healthy habits that will continue once I reach my goal.

EatingIntuitively.com is a paid affiliate of Nutrisystem, Inc.

Eat Six Meals A Day:  I love this new habit, because I barely have a chance to get hungry.  Two to three hours is not very long to wait between meals.  Sometimes, it feels like too much food!

Drink 64 Ounces of Water Daily:  Okay.  I don’t drink just water.  I also drink Crystal Light.  Nevertheless, I think the liquids help keep the body running well.  I think the liquid flushes out my system and helps me digest my food more easily. 

Eat More Fruits and Vegetables:  I’ve loved vegetables for a long time.  I’ve really come to love fruit over the last eight months.  They are both such great foods.  Vegetables are low in calories.  You can have a big portion without a lot of calories.  You’ll feel full.  Fruit is not that bad in calories, and there are so many to choose from, all packed with vitamins.

Eat Less Cheese and Protein:  When I think of the amount of cheese and meat I used to eat, I am amazed by how many calories I consumed.  I really shouldn’t be.  The side effects were obvious.  I’ve learned to be very aware of portion sizes for meat and cheese. I can still enjoy the protein; I just don’t need the enormous quantities I used to eat.

Incorporate Whole-Grain Foods:  This is easy.  I love whole-grain foods.  Whole-wheat and multi-grain bread.  Brown rice.  Whole-grain tortillas.  Whole-grain pitas.  Whole-grain crackers.  Whole-grain cous cous.  The list goes on.  Luckily, there are so many options.  You can get whole-grain versions of most carbohydrates.  It’s great.

These are all habits I will continue when I reach my goal.  I’m going to plan my meals carefully, and I am confident I will maintain my weight.  Of course, the exercise will help.  Well, more than exercise, I have an active lifestyle now.  I want that to continue. 

What healthy habit have you picked up along the way and carry with you today?  Have you developed a bad habit from any “fad” diets?  Please leave your habits here.  You’ll find the Comments section below.

Breakfast:  Lowfat Granola Cereal; Egg Whites; Banana; Bread, rye; Milk, nonfat or skim; Morning Coffee

Morning Snack:  Ham, low-fat; Raisins

Lunch:  Pasta Parmesan with Broccoli; Cabbage, raw; FF Dressing

Afternoon Snack:  Ice Cream Sandwich

Dinner:  Cheese and Spinach Ravioli with Meat Sauce; Bell Peppers, red or green, cooked; Mandarin Oranges; Oil, canola, olive, peanut, safflower; Couscous, cooked

Dessert:  Chocolate Crunch Bar

Drinks:  Crystal Light; water

Exercise:  30 minutes on recumbent bike at 138 bpm.  I’ve accomplished 50% of my weekly goal.

Pedometer:  ?