ThinkSlim

Lose Weight During the Commercial Breaks

Here's a weight loss tip I picked up from the Get Organized Now newsletter this week. (well it wasn't presented as a weight loss tip there but it can be!)

Instead of flicking through the channels or getting a beverage or snack while the commercial breaks interrupt your TV viewing get up and work on your home.

You can easily run the hoover over the carpet in one room, tidy up a space, unload the dishwasher or dust a few surfaces in the time it takes for a commercial break.

Not only will you avoid eating you'll also use a few calories and end up with a calmer less stressful environment ... and we all know how stress can lead to chocolate....

With commercial breaks getting longer and longer you're bound to get a lot done in an evenings viewing - and every few calories helps.

Lose Weight : Dare to Be Different

If you want to lose weight you have to be quite strong-willed when you are out and about with a crowd of friends or surrounded by family members.

Just because they are all eating dessert does not mean you have to stuff yourself with chocolate pie (especially if you have already eaten more than enough!)

Just because they are all drinking wine and beer does not mean that you have to fill yourself up with empty calories.

Just because they are not sporty does not mean you can't take up a sport and enjoy it.

Be proud of beng a little bit different, of having the courage of your convictions and show them that you have the strength of character to follow through on your decision to lose weight.

If you demonstrate by your actions that you mean business when you say you are trying to lose weight your friends and family will (eventually) be more supportive and (with a bit of luck) stop trying to force feed you calorie laden goodies.

It's when you continually say things like "oh I know I shouldn't but go on then, just a small piece" that they fail to take you seriously - after all you've shown that you are far from serious about your decision yourself.

What have you done recently to stand out from the crowd - and done what you know is good for you?

The Right Foods and Exercise to Lose Weight

I am often asked "What are the right foods and the right exercise to lose weight?"

And although there is no such thing as a universal one-size-fits-all diet and exercise program, there probably is a perfect plan for you.

That would be a diet with exactly the right quantities of foods you love and a workout plan which keeps you fit and energized while toning your muscles and maintaining your flexibility.

The thing is, if you had such a plan, would you stick with it?

If you have ever followed a diet and exercise program before why did you stray (and I KNOW you did - don't we all?

The problem is that life gets in the way. There are birthday parties and nights out with the girls (or guys). There are vacations and business trips. There are highly stressful weeks where you want to eat enough for a small country and go off exercising altogether (even though it would do you more good than ever to do it).

It's really best not to be too rigid in the plan you follow because then you are left without anything if you can't follow your plan for some reason.

I prefer to use a set of guiding principles which work whatever circumstances you find yourself in and not to have you worrying that you haven't managed to get to the store to buy whatever is on today's menu and thinking you may as well give up for the day/week.

What are the guiding principles I use for losing and maintaining weight?

Things like eating only when your hunger reaches a certain stage (but not waiting too long), eating food you love which also nourishes you too, keeping active without killing yourself at the gym (unless you love the gym), working on your motivation as well as your meals...

In fact there are quite a few which you need to gradually build into your life if you want to lose weight and stay slim forever without ever having to diet again.

If you want to know more take a look at my weight loss handbook which focuses on 24 essential principles or choose a weight loss program from the many around which advise changes to your lifestyle you can live with rather than meal plans  and 3 hour exercise sessions you almost certainly can't.

Diet Scams - Lipo-Slim and GI Capsules

I have been writing for years warning about diet scams such as Lipo-Slim and GI Capsules.

But there's no doubt about it these products still sell - the ads are still getting posted into mail boxes worldwide and hard-earned cash is still being spent on trying to lose weight the easy way. (Though the easy way in the ads turns out not to be effective)

If you don't believe me and take heed of what I say then please read these reports from the UK Government body - the Office of fair Trading and don't part with your cash.

The Office of Fair Trading can stop diet scams only within in the U.K. but believe me it is the same scam wherever you live.

Lipo-Slim Scam

GI Capsule scam

Meat Loaf becomes Meat Slice

I had BBC breakfast news on this morning while I was doing my usual putting lunch together for everyone to take to work and school and happened to catch a piece about Meat Loaf's new tour in Europe.

Apparently Meat Loaf has managed to lose 27lbs since the start of the year - no mean feat especially as he has been big since he was a young kid.

And one of the presenters quipped that he might now need to be called Meat Slice...

Great reminder for portion control too - don't eat the loaf or the cake - have just one slice....

How to Lose 37lbs

Zig Ziglar lost weight when he made a clear decision to actually do it and took full responsibility for his situation.

Though I couldn't listen to this guy's voice for long talking about goal setting (I found it very grating) he makes a lot of sense and he brings up a few great points in the first few minutes of the video where he focuses on losing weight so I thought I'd post it here ...

What did Zig do to succeed at weight loss that you are not?

Worth thinking about

Healthy Eating at Work - 7 Tips

There are pros and cons to working outside the home.

If you work at home and get a bit bored then, I can tell you from experience, the fridge is always beckoning and temptation is constantly a few steps away.

But if you're not careful, a job can be just as hazardous to your weight loss efforts.

Here's how to prevent your work getting in the way of you losing weight.

1. Take Your Lunch to Work

Take 10 minutes every day to pack your own lunch so you avoid the over-sized sandwich and fast food offerings that you might otherwise opt for.

2. A Bag of Apples

Always have apples on hand (or other healthy snacks) to avoid the temptation of the chocolate machine. Apples don't make much mess and the pectin they contain helps fill you up.

(And if you tend to get in from work ravenous, an apple on the way home can also help you from emptying the fridge before you have a chance to make dinner.  )

3. Eat Breakfast at Home

Breakfast before you go to work so you're not tempted to collect a coffee and muffin on the way. If you really don't have time or don't like eating breakfast so early - pack your breakfast as well as your lunch.

4. Walk as well as Eat

Use you lunch hour to take a walk - a bit of a breather will help reduce stress (and stress eating) in the afternoon as well as burning a few calories and keeping your metabolism stoked.

If you have a nearby gym, you could fit in a 30 minute session on the cardio machines or weights and still have time for a shower and sandwich.

5. Avoid the Treats

Just because someone has a birthday doesn't mean you have to eat cake like it was yours (and accept seconds for good measure). Just because they want to off-load their chocolate gifts on the girls at the office, doesn't mean that you have to be the one to sae their diet by breaking yours.

If you feel it would be impolite to refuse, take a piece of cake or chocolate "for later" and  "forget" to eat it.

6. Drink Water

In an over-heated workplace, it's easy to become dehydrated. Keep a glass of water on your desk so you always have something to sip. This is also useful to help you cut down on caffeine. While coffee or tea can tempt you into having a cookie or something like it at the same time, water and cookies does not  have the same attraction.

7. Workplace Meals

If your work place has a good subsidized restaurant make the most of it and eat your main meal at lunch time if this means you won't have to cook in the evening. Choose lean protein with plenty of vegetables or salad and fruit or yogurt for dessert. Then swap your evening meal for a lighter snack or sandwich.