Small Changes in Eating Habits to Lose Weight

Making Tiny Alterations to What One Eats Can Help Shift Pounds

Oct 3, 2008

Just as saving a small amount of money every week can add up over the years, so making small substitutions in what one eats can cause gradual but steady weight loss.

Many people are sick of going on yet another diet! But just making small changes to what one eats can sometimes save large numbers of calories, allowing slow but steady weight loss. This will add up over the months and years, just as small amounts of money saved in the bank accumulate into enough for an annual holiday. Here are some tips...

Use Lower Calorie Substitutes

Eating what one usually does but making small changes to foods with fewer calories can make a huge difference. For example, one can use low fat spread instead of butter, 0% fat yoghurt instead of ordinary yoghurt or cream, skimmed milk instead of the full cream variety. Apples and oranges have fewer calories than bananas, Jaffa Cakes far fewer calories than chocolate digestive biscuits. One does not have to make drastic changes, just small substitutions.

Don't Eat Between Meals

Eating outside of mealtimes can add a huge number of calories over the course of the day. Those who get hungry between meals should simply add in scheduled snacks, a few over the day if necessary. A healthy snack will maybe add a hundred calories or so, while nibbling all day can add far, far more.

Write Down Everything One Eats

Many people really don't know what they eat. They think they eat very little, but conveniently forget some of the snacks and nibbles, the trips to the fridge when peckish. Writing down everything one eats can be quite educational. It is then possible to work out a sensible way to cut down, or simply make more substitutions.

Allow Oneself Some Treats

When trying to save money, most people allow themselves a treat now and then. When trying to lose weight, it's important to do the same thing. If one doesn't, life stops being worth living, and one abandons the weight loss attempt altogether. So it is good to allow oneself one high calorie treat a week, or perhaps have a meal out at the weekend, and never mind the calories..or the cost!

Don't Keep Leaping on the Scales

Being a slave to the weighting scales has sabotaged many weight loss programmes. One is better off to eat sensibly in the way described, and only use the scales rarely. Weight loss need not be quick - even half a pound a week adds up to two pounds a month...or 24 pounds in a year! This is an eating habit for life...there is no rush.

Also...Wallis Simpson said that one could never be too rich or too thin. Many people seem to be constantly trying to lose weight and also to save money. For those in this situation, the following articles may also be of interest.

The copyright of the article Small Changes in Eating Habits to Lose Weight in Weight Loss Methods is owned by Helen Krasner. Permission to republish Small Changes in Eating Habits to Lose Weight in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.