Small "tips" you use for your journey!

sistermaryagnus

I weigh myself every day because I can gain 2 pounds in a day EASILY and it keeps me accountable. I think of it like checking my bank balance everyday and not get emotional about it.

mrsstutzman23

I just started using MFP two weeks ago but one trick I have picked up is to log my meals before I eat them and make sure they don't put me above my daily goals. I have noticed that Kiwis and Apples are great little snacks that don't add much in regards to calories and sugar. I also cut out soda and energy drinks (coffee, redbull) all together. I have replaced them with green tea, chamomile tea, and water (sometimes I add lemons and/or strawberries for a sweeter flavor).

Pikashel

I thought of this recently and haven't done it consistently, but... I'm female so I put on lipstick after I have a meal as extra incentive not to eat anything else until the next meal. As for liquids, use a straw to not mess up the lipstick.

subakwa

FridayApril01st2016 wrote: »

Cut up food as you eat it, so that it takes longer to consume; instead of cutting it all up before.

I am intrigued - isn't this normal as soon as your mother stops cutting up all your food for you at the start of a meal? You only cut the piece that you are about to eat, surely?

Otherwise, good tips.

I have sugar-free Polo mints on hand to "flavour" me up instead of thinking I need a snack.

Options Choc Mint hot chocolate drink for a sweet hit at 38 calories.

Organic soya milk for high protein lower cal replacement for semi-skimmed milk.

Water with a dash of lemon juice in pint glasses for my soft drink.

Crunchy salads - raw cauliflower, radishes, chunks of cucumber, celery etc to bulk out meals with some oomph.

Multiple varieties of hot sauce in the cupboard. Spicy is so much more satisfying and slows down the eating.

Kitchen dancing whilst cooking, making a cuppa, washing up etc to burn a few more cals for fun.

Promising yourself small rewards (food or non-food) for small milestones - half the time you don't even take yourself up on them when you get there but they motivate me!

Weighing daily and owning that. It also has side-benefits. For example Ihave cut my salt down because I don't like it bumping me up on the scales the next day. I wouldn't have done that normally as I love salt!

wizzybeth

85Cardinals wrote: »

When you're eating, always feed your dog 25% of what you're having. Cuts the calories way down and keeps Rover happy too.

But you're probably not doing Rover's health any good.

RoseTheWarrior

elphie754 wrote: »

I never leave anything on my plate because all of my food is weighed and logged. If I'm weighing and logging it, you can bet I will be eating it.

Same here! I lick the container for peanut butter I'm not missing ANY!!

wizzybeth

I drink plenty of water as it not only keeps me hydrated, and gives me extra exercise steps with all the extra trips to the bathroom (ha ha), but it helps me overcome "boredom eating." Like if I find myself wanting something to eat "just because" and not due to actual hunger, I tell myself to drink about 10oz of water first. That usually helps me avoid the snack.

I only eat foods I actually LOVE (not just "tolerate" or merely "like") so that my eating experience is as enjoyable as possible. For the calories to deserve me eating them, it has to be GOOD. That means...I will not eat a Dunkin Donuts donut...because they are generally mediocre at best...but I will eat a Krispy Kreme and savor every bite. I don't have the opportunity for Krispy Kreme that often, so it is a wonderful treat!

I DO ALLOW myself to eat treats like Krispy Kreme or ice cream or Skittles. I log them, and work them into my day.

I also do not leave food on my plate - as I have weighed & logged every gram. Sometimes I will give my dog a small taste, because she is drooling on my leg or something, but it's very grudging, because I logged those calories, dang it.

I participate in FitBit challenges, as it helps me get more steps in when I see that so-and-so just edged by me with number of steps, lol. Love my FitBit; next to MFP and my digital kitchen scale, it is the most useful tool in my healthy lifestyle toolkit.

emmadonaldson95

Pretty much every lunch or dinner I make I add at least 1 portion of fruit or veg eveb if it feels like a strange combination. Helps keep you full.

CattOfTheGarage

I do the small plate thing. But I get awfully good at fitting large food on a small plate...

Cortneyrenee04

I only eat what I love and never to be polite. I eat when I'm hungry, not when it's "time" to eat.

I jump around at any available time- while waiting for the kettle to boil, food to cook, whatever! Same with squats.

WBB55

-I eat on a schedule if at all possible, and I don't trust my brain's "hunger" cues.
-To lose, I weigh 99.9% of everything I put in my mouth and log it.
-I walk more.
-I gave up eating most things with high fructose corn syrup.
-I look up a restaurant's menus before I go there.

85Cardinals

CattOfTheGarage wrote: »

I do the small plate thing. But I get awfully good at fitting large food on a small plate...

It's a real art!

brb_2013

cariduttry wrote: »

i do meal prep sunday nights. i eat bland and boring for lunch at work (chicken, rice, & veg) so i have more options calorie-wise for supper.

i eat everything on my plate...if i weighed it and am counting those calories, sorry/not sorry, i'm eating it!

if i feel like snacking, i drink a huge (16-20 oz.) glass of water first. my brain mistakes hunger for thirst.

i exercise for strength, not for weight loss. keeping the two separated in my mind prevents me from the irrational thinking, "i worked out, so now i deserve a treat".

i weigh every day, same time/same place, and track it on happy scale (app for iphone). seeing the slow-and-steady downward trend keeps me from feeling exasperated by the "slow" part.

i track everything, even/especially when i overeat. it keeps me accountable and lets me see it's not quite the crisis i've concocted in my head.

i pre-plan and pre-log what i'm going to order at every restaurant. it makes me feel more in control of the situation and keeps me from blowing my calories.

These ones are key for me as well! Great tips

85Cardinals

Pikashel wrote: »

I thought of this recently and haven't done it consistently, but... I'm female so I put on lipstick after I have a meal as extra incentive not to eat anything else until the next meal. As for liquids, use a straw to not mess up the lipstick.

This is awesome. Sometimes I brush my teeth, vaguely similar idea. I'm not above trying the lipstick either.

Sarah_Suggs

Using herbs & spices to season my veggies.......They make everything taste so so good & make me want to eat veg, it also keeps me away from salt as a seasoning which i am trying to lower.

JaydedMiss

Awesome tips guys. Love reading these.