Lighten Up!



Cut back without denying yourself by switching to the fewer-calorie, lower-fat versions of the foods you love. Cheese, salad dressing, mayo, and frozen fruit are just a few of the foods that come in light, low, or reduced versions. Chances are you won't notice a taste difference and the only thing you'll be missing is the extra calories.

Eat More

You read that right. While the traditional school of thought regarding weight loss is to always eat less, why not try eating more? More of the good stuff that is. Treat yourself to healthy goodies such as fresh fruit, cut veggies, or low-fat yogurt. Select things that you love - my personal favorite is honeydew melon and fresh carrot sticks. Focusing on adding new, healthy foods will enable you to cut back on the junk.

Get Involved

Start getting active by participating in the activities that you love. Not only will this help burn calories, but it will curb boredom, foster new friendships, enrich your intellect, keep you busy, and (as cliche as it sounds) help you feel great about yourself. Take a class, learn yoga, go for a hike, do a home improvement project, etc.

Clean House

In your closet, that is. Once you reach an ideal weight, get rid of all your "fat" clothes and spring for a new wardrobe. It's a great motivator to get in shape and maintain your new svelte figure. Plus, you will be decluttering and organizing, which is always healthy.

Downgrade

When it comes to certain things, cutting back just slightly can make a world of difference. For example, if you drink 2% milk, switch to 1% or 1% to skim. Whole milk has more than 95% the fat and twice the calories of skim milk. Or when eating out, order wine by the glass, not the bottle since alcohol is high in calories. Drink diet soda or light beer, so you're not depriving yourself but you are making a healthier choice.

Weight Loss Supplements

Diet pills have long gotten a bad rap, but utilizing a weight loss supplement can actually be an effective weight loss tool. Taken as directed, a weight loss pill, such as , can help you lose the initial few pounds; thus, acting as a catalyst and motivator to help you adopt a healthy lifestyle and get in shape.