Beginning a Diet – Things to Consider
It can be overwhelming beginning a diet and in some cases it is the hardest part of the process. You are going to have to change the way you eat and the way you feel about food – something you deal with at least 3 times a day!
Once you start you’ll gain momentum though, and it will become easier.
Here’s a few things to consider before beginning a diet:
Wean yourself off your junk foods before you start. Think of the high fat, high calorie foods you eat and cut back on them as much as possible. Not only is this necessary to follow your diet plan, you’ll also be helping yourself reduce the side-effects at the start of your diet as it won’t be such a shock to the system switching to super-healthy foods.
Reduce sugary drinks and alcohol. It’s incredible how much sugar is hidden in soft drinks, vitamin water and alcohol. Your drink of choice needs to be water, h2O, perhaps with a little lemon squeezed in it and cooled down is always nice! Apart from teas, coffee and water most other drinks are fairly calorie-laden.
Make some swaps. In the weeks leading up make some simple swaps to reduce your sugar/calorie load. No sugar in your coffee. A piece of fruit after lunch instead of a chocolate, or some fruit and yoghurt for dessert instead of icecream. You get it the idea.
Familiarise yourself with what you can and cannot eat during your program. Make it clear in your mind what you can and cannot eat to help with swift decision making at mealtimes. When you’re out and about you’ll know what you can grab on the go without having to agonise over choices.
Remove all the temptations Clear your pantry and fridge of tempting foods and replace them with better options. Stock your cupboards and refrigerator with a wide range of your ‘allowed foods’. If you share food storage and there are foods around that are off-limits, hide them so you are not tempted every time you open the fridge or cupboard.
Resist snacking urges unless you’re truly hungry. Write a list of things to do to help you fight the urge to snack when bored. Overcome mindless eating and think of other activities you can do instead of eating. For instance – make a cup of tea, a lemon water, clean the bathroom, go for a walk around the block, play with a pet, phone a friend, look up something on the computer, write a letter.
Prepare to eat slower Make meals more of an event than a mindless activity. If you’re at work, reading a book while eating lunch can be relaxing. If you’re at home, set the table, turn off the television and allow yourself to focus on your food as you eat.
Pre-cook some meals Have prepared meals on-hand when you’re in a hurry or time poor. Freeze meals in individual containers for quick defrosting when you don’t have the energy to cook at night.
So there’s our top tips of what to consider when starting a diet. We recommend you also check out our tips to mentally prepare for weight loss as this is such an important factor in whether or not a weight loss program is successful. Preparation is absolutely key to success and small steps in the lead up to your diet will certainly help the process.
