I'm a single dad and I'm unemployed. Since being laid off, I've gained a TON of weight! I rarely have time to exercise or plan a complex diet. Can anyone suggest a good, inexpensive diet that works? Also, I need a good, hardcore workout regime to get into. I'm not afraid to work out, but something I can do at the house when the kids are asleep would be nice. I need to lose this weight...can anyone offer some advice? I've got about 100 pounds I need to lose. (Not all that was gained while out of work, but why stop with the new weight, right?) Thanks...I appreciate your help.
Responses (3)
These 10 diet tricks aren't always easy to stick to, but they've worked for us.
1. Tried-and-true tips
2. Put away the (food) scale
Portion control isn't about measuring; it's about ordering two appetizers instead of an entrée and cutting back on bread if you have pasta.
3. Stash fruit
Keep fruit at work. It helps during the I-need-chocolate part of the afternoon.
4. Shake chocolate
When I'm trying to drop a few pounds, I carry around a shaker cup of chocolate protein powder. If I'm ravenous, I add the water, and it fills me up so I don't eat something high-calorie instead.
5. Set limits, then go nuts!
In the cafeteria I use a 4-by-4-inch Styrofoam box, and I put whatever I want in there. It's almost impossible to overeat.
6. Floss for dessert
Brushing my teeth after dinner makes me less likely to eat again before I go to bed.
7. Take a 'before' photo
Before I got in shape, a friend convinced me to take photos of myself wearing nothing but a sports bra and underwear. Anytime I fall off the wagon I look at those pics—that's all the motivation I need!
8. Avoid liquid calories
Cut out drinks with calories—juice, lemonade, and, hardest of all, after-work wine.
9. Break out the skinny jeans
Wear something tight! It provides the extra bit of motivation to lay off the fries.
10. Pitcher this
Fill a pitcher with water and cucumbers. It's pretty—and it feels like a treat.
Healthy eating is not about strict dietary limitations, staying unrealistically thin, or depriving yourself of the foods you love. Rather, it’s about feeling great, having more energy, improving your outlook, and stabilizing your mood. If you feel overwhelmed by all the conflicting nutrition and diet advice out there, you’re not alone. It seems that for every expert who tells you a certain food is good for you, you’ll find another saying exactly the opposite. But by using these simple tips, you can cut through the confusion and learn how to create a tasty, varied, and healthy diet that is as good for your mind as it is for your body.