The Word on Weightloss

If you tend to have trouble feeling sated when you eat or you’re the type of person who could always eat more, it's a good time to erase your current conception of food and start the New Year with a clean slate. Let’s take a step back and rethink your approach to food. Nobody really knows which came first in the US, the huge portions or the huge appetites. But it seems they are here to stay, so you should know what you are up against when trying to lose weight. Portion control is something you have control over and will help you lose weight. This year, redefining your approach to food and portion control is your powerful weight loss weapon.

Think “French Bistro” when you pack your plate. 

You know the tiny portions we Americans laugh about when we think of going to a French restaurant, paying an arm and a leg for a few bites of food, and leaving hungry? Well, how many fat French people do you know? They must be doing something right with their rich, deliciously flavored food and slim figures. The simple "secret" is portion control. They tend to eat small portions of whatever they want and voila! They are in control of their weight.  For more on this philosophy, check out the book French Women Don’t Get Fat by Mireille Guiliano.

"Low-fat" and "fat-free" do not mean a free pass.

How much soda would you drink a day if you were drinking the kind with corn syrup in it? One or two? Then drinking 5 diet sodas a day is sending your brain a message that it needs more and more sugar to feel satisfied. Eventually it will stop knowing when to send the message to your stomach that you’ve had enough because you have been giving it so much sugary taste without any nutritious calories your body is expecting.  One study about fake sugars suggests they can make you gain more weight than real sugar.

Your body is SMART.

It is constantly sending you messages that will help it be as healthy as possible, so listen to it! When you have a craving, it could be because your body is trying to get you to eat something it may be deficient in, such as iron or other important vitamins and minerals.

• If you are craving red meat, some leafy greens and dark green vegetables could be a healthier way to satisfy your craving.
• If you are craving chocolate, eating some raw nuts, seeds or fresh fruit could satisfy you and offer you the nutrients you may be lacking.

While you might be craving some not-so-healthy snacks or food, there are healthy alternatives that can satisfy them.

Finally, don’t worry if you go overboard some night at a particularly exceptional dinner or event.  Take things one meal at a time; that’s all you can do, so try not to feel overwhelmed or you may give up on yourself.  Learn how to eat to satisfy, not to fill. Portion control is a critical aspect of healthy eating, nutrition and making your weight loss plan successful.