Think Slim, Issue #011 - Keep it Simple

May 31, 2005

Look great, feel great

Hi

Bikini weather is approaching here again in the Northern Hemisphere (although it hasn't quite reached Scotland yet!)

Are you ready to face the world without your camouflage layers?

If you're like most people, panic generally sets in around this time as you imagine exposing your wobbly bits to the world (or wonder whether you'll fit into any of last year's summer wardrobe).

Now's the time to start eating healthily and going for long walks while the weather is fine and you've got that extra little spark of motivation to keep you going...it's certainly got me doing my yoga a bit more regularly than usual!

Have a great month

Love

P.S. There are quite a few postings on the Think Slim blog this month. See them all at http://smallchange.typepad.com/thinkslim.

Contents

Feature article : Keep it Simple

An increasing trend over the last few years has been for diet books to make things complex. I expect it's because each one vies with the other to come out with some brand new theory or other about why we gain weight and why their diet plan is the only one to help us lose it. And the low fat, low calorie stuff has already been covered!

My problem with this new trend is that the diets all involve more counting and while basic maths was never a problem at school I don't want to use it at the dinner table to know what I can eat. And while counting calories is one thing (most of us are probably walking encyclopaedias by now with how many calories our usual choices contain) the new diets are so much more complex.

With the new diets we need to know carbohydrate counts and fat grams, GI index and all sorts. And sometimes it's not enough to have a straight count we have to work out our percentage of carbohydrates, proteins and fat (yes, follow one particular diet and you have to balance these at EVERY meal).

Somehow I think food was not meant to be eaten like this. It was meant to be enjoyed. Most of us know what is healthy and what is not. Most of us know we'd be better with an apple than a cream cake. Most of us know we need a good variety of all types of food to feel great.

The new diets will not last. More complex stuff will come along and it's sad because we could all lose weight with a few SIMPLE changes.

1. Make healthy choices for most of the food you eat
2. Vary your choices
3. Occasionally enjoy a small portion of whatever it is you love even if it's high in fat or sugar or whatever
4. Eat only when you're physically hungry
5. Stop when you're just satisfied, not stuffed
6. Fill half your plate at lunch and dinner with vegetables or salad, quarter carbs and a quarter protein.

If everyone who wanted to lose weight just followed these simple guidelines there would be many more successful dieters around and a lot less hassle in losing weight.

Why not try it and let me know how you get on?

This month's tip : 100 Calorie snacks

I read today that companies in the US have been making a fortune selling 100 calorie snack packs of cookies and the like.

You could use this idea to make up your own 100 calorie snack packs for when hunger strikes – but make sure to use healthy foods at least some of the time too.

For example you could have two apples in place of one double choc chip cookie for your 100 calories. You could have a whole large banana in place of half a plain scone. You could have a bowl of strawberries with a little whipped cream instead of just 2 ginger snaps or you could have a whole heap of carrot, celery and cucumber sticks and a small portion of dip for just a third of a croissant.

Of course when you really want the cookie nothing else will do. But if you have them in separate 100 calorie portions it might help you decide not to empty the packet...

Recommendation: Wimbledon

The Wimbledon lawn tennis championships take place at the end of June and are a great day out if you can make it. There's nothing like watching a game live on the Centre Court and feeling the whole atmosphere of the place. Maybe you'll be inspired to get out your racquet and take a few lessons too.

Failing that rent the movie of the same name and while away an afternoon in pure self indulgence. Have your bowl of strawberries and cream (traditionally served at the championships) at the ready too. Sometimes you need to remember to treat yourself to the good stuff – you deserve a break now and again. So enjoy!

Wishing you a fantastic "strawberries and cream" kind of month, looking and feeling great

Janice Elizabeth Small

P.S. I hope you enjoyed this newsletter. If you have any comments or suggestions for future issues, please let me know. I'd love to hear from you. Just reply to this ezine.

P.P.S.Know anyone else who might enjoy it? Please pass it on. If you received this from a friend you can sign up for your own copy at....

www.weight-loss-motivation-program.com

copyright © 2005, J. Small. All Rights reserved.

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