Building good eating habits

It's best to kinda ease into it at first. You know, making simple changes like picking something you know you eat that is bad for you and swapping it out for something better. For example, when I first started, I immediately cut out juice and started drinking unsweetened tea with lemon instead. Then I worked up to cutting out soda and replacing it with carbonated water, then fast food with only buying things from the grocery (it could be whatever I wanted, it just couldn't be fast food), and etc. Try replacing something every week or so until you've noticed significant changes in how you eat.

Note, it's also okay to eat 'unhealthy' things. I still eat things that are considered bad, but in very closely watched moderation because it's very easy to over eat on those things. In the end, this is all up to you and what you consider better eating habits.

Another VERY important habit you need to pick up as fast as possible is weighing your food. This is absolutely vital otherwise it's very easy to over eat.

Good luck to you! I hope you figure out what works best for you.

There are good points in each of these links.


http://stronglifts.com/7-ways-to-build-the-habit-of-eating-healthy/

http://www.active.com/nutrition/articles/6-ways-to-develop-healthy-eating-habits

theskyrimjedi wrote: »

I plan to walk and workout 3 times a week.I'm sitting at 200 right now. Looking to lose 20 pounds. It gave me a January date as far as losing that much, but do you even think that is accurate?

Also, You have all gave me great ideas. I been working on reducing soda. Its been hard, but I'm doing ok. I have stopped eating so much bread. A scale would probably help too. I'll give it a try. I think one problem is snacks. Like finding replacements for chips, cookies and such.

You don't necessarily have to replace those things if you can't find a satisfying alternative. You can still have those things, but I'd recommend weighing out a serving of it (the back of prepackaged foods should all have a serving size, and it will tell you how many grams a serving is. Weigh out the food until it equals how many grams it says.) This is the best to go by. Don't just believe when it says '11 chips equals 150 calories' because every chip weighs differently and this could be off').

If you find that you actually do want to cut out those things completely though, there's always starting with healthier alternatives of those foods, like baked chips or oatmeal cookies, then work up to replacing them with foods like almonds or a thin bagel with a very light serving of cream cheese. These are all just examples, and again, it's okay to have those things if you want to. It's just all about practicing self control.

Seriously, just have fun experimenting! Try new things, work out what you like and what you don't like. Don't make this something that should be hard and miserable. See it as more like an adventure. If you don't like carrots, don't eat carrots but if you do, that's awesome. I guarantee you'll find a bunch of things you never thought you'd like more than chips and cookies.

TallyToes wrote: »

theskyrimjedi wrote: »

I plan to walk and workout 3 times a week.I'm sitting at 200 right now. Looking to lose 20 pounds. It gave me a January date as far as losing that much, but do you even think that is accurate?

Also, You have all gave me great ideas. I been working on reducing soda. Its been hard, but I'm doing ok. I have stopped eating so much bread. A scale would probably help too. I'll give it a try. I think one problem is snacks. Like finding replacements for chips, cookies and such.

You don't necessarily have to replace those things if you can't find a satisfying alternative. You can still have those things, but I'd recommend weighing out a serving of it (the back of prepackaged foods should all have a serving size, and it will tell you how many grams a serving is. Weigh out the food until it equals how many grams it says.) This is the best to go by. Don't just believe when it says '11 chips equals 150 calories' because every chip weighs differently and this could be off').

If you find that you actually do want to cut out those things completely though, there's always starting with healthier alternatives of those foods, like baked chips or oatmeal cookies, then work up to replacing them with foods like almonds or a thin bagel with a very light serving of cream cheese. These are all just examples, and again, it's okay to have those things if you want to. It's just all about practicing self control.

agree totally