Sabotaging Healthy Eating

As parents all we ask is that our children be healthy. Hair and eye color, short or tall, brainy or athletic for the most part we are ambivalent. But we all value health - for our children and ourselves. Unfortunately we sometimes engage in practices that work against us. Any of these sound familiar?

• Skipping Breakfast can result in insatiable hunger the rest of the day. Often leads to unplanned snacking and eating super-size portions at lunch and/or dinner
• Losing Track of Snacks - all those mindless munching adds up and sabotages a well-planned diet
• Sipping Calories - don't overlook the drink calories. Fruit juice, soda and fancy coffee drinks add a lot!
• Not enough H2O - water is needed for burning calories; metabolism drags if dehydrated which means slower weight loss
• Loading up on Low-fat doesn't mean saving calories. In fact many products contain the same or sometimes more calories than their fat-containing counterparts.
• Crash Diets are usually very low calorie with means fast weight loss but also a slowed metabolism. Weight gain happens more quickly as well.
• Ditching Dairy - the body burns more fat when it gets enough calcium and produces fat when calcium depried. Supplements won't do here.
• Drive thru bait - convenience of fast food becomes a habit quickly and despite good intentions the fries and shakes are the most common choices
• Daily Weigh-ins are a recipe for frustration and not a good measure in short term as weight fluctuates for a lot of reasons.
• Unrealistic Goals - dreams of quick weight loss set dieters up for frustration and failure
• Exercise Avoidance - tough to lose weight with food restriction alone. Exercise allows more calories consumed while still losing weight.

When I was a kid, my dad developed some heart issues that were treated in part with his losing some weight. I can remember him saying to me - The goal is not for me to eat as little as possible in order to lose weight but to eat as much as possible while still losing weight. He was right. Keeping normal practices in our lifestyle while making small permanent changes with which we can live indefinitely.

Eat healthy, be happy, live a full life,

Marcia