Popcorn has saved me and my weight

It has become my new best friend with my weight loss goals.

You see my problem is, that I tend to be a mindless snacker or nibbler. I will grab something here or grab something there, and probably consume more calories than I need.

But ever since I found those 100 calorie popcorn bags, I have managed to keep away from nibbling. For me, popcorn seems to fill me up, it is satisfying, and just hits the right spot. It feels like I am eating a lot of food, when in reality I am eating very little.

There are many tricks and tips to help with your weight loss goals, you have probably heard them all, and some of them are just wives tales, but you have to find the right snacks, tips or tricks, to help keep you on the right path. My daughter loves those 100 calorie chip snack packs, but I personally find it tastes just like "more". So, when I popped a bag of the 100 calorie popcorn, I knew I had found something to help me through the weak moments I will have!

I can pop a bag, and other than I notice there is not quite as much butter or salt taste, I still like them, and I can pop a bag, and still work away at what ever I am doing, and feel like I am mindlessly eating, (which is what I do anyway) and feel like I truly ate something. This attack of the munchies, usually gets me mid afternoon, so just the smell and then the taste, and the eating of a warm snack, and I fell full. I can now get to dinner.

There are many great tools out there to help with weight loss, but habits can be hard to change. I need something that I can eat while I am still working. I make a point of only grabbing one kernel at a time, and this bag seems to last forever, and it still feels like I am mindlessly eating. It is all a trick to your mind of course, but for me, whatever works to help me with my weight loss goals!

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Are you a snacker? A nibble here and a nibble there? Next thing you know you have blown your calorie count for the day and more?

Here is a tip to keep those snack attacks under control:

If you are the meal creator in your family, then this is a area that can be difficult if you are trying to lose weight and watching your diet. Even if you are creating a healthy dinner for you and your family, a nibble here and a nibble there can add up big time for calories.

If you are anything like me, I will chop away at something and then mindlessly pop whatever it is I am chopping into my mouth. By the time I have dinner cooking, I have probably eaten a meal with all my picking and nibbling and taste testing.

I didn’t think I ate that much, but it is amazing how many calories you can ingest without really knowing it. If I was cutting up cheese, or slicing cheese, I would pop a slice in my mouth. This went on just from force of habit. Plus I would “taste test” everything I was cooking!

The rest of the day, I was pretty good with my diet and exercise, but come any meal preparation, especially making lunches at night, then it all went out the window.

So, I devised a simple trick that has helped, and once I got in the habit of doing this, it has worked well.

Brush your teeth, before you prepare dinner, or lunches or whatever meal you are working on, that can cool off your cravings. If that is not enough to put you off taste testing, then chew some sugarless gum. You are less likely to be doing any taste testing with gum in your mouth! That fresh minty taste will usually stop you nibbling on ingredients.

If you are truly hungry while making a meal, then pop a 100 calorie popcorn package in the microwave, and put it in a bowl just for you. Keep snacking on that while you are creating your meal. For me, the worst time was when I was preparing lunches at night for the next day. I would make a sandwich and want to nibble the ingredients! By either chewing gum, brushing my teeth, or snacking on my special snack, it stopped me from sabotaging my weight loss goals.

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Are you trying to get rid of belly bloat? You know that puffy feeling in your midsection that feels like it should explode?

Bloating in your midsection can account for 5 pounds of weight, sometimes more.

After all that hard work you have been doing, you were looking forward to a flatter, sexier midsection right?

Then attack bloat naturally, you don‘t need supplements for this. You probably think you need to eat less but this may not be the case, but if you try a few additions or subtractions to your diet, you can have that sexier, flatter belly in less than a week.

Here are 3 tips to get your started. They are easy, and inexpensive, and you can start right away.

1. Drink at least 8 glasses of plain water a day (skip the sweeteners) as well as eat water based fruits and vegetables. I know you have probably heard this before, but it does work! This all helps keep things moving in your digestive system. Spread your water over the day, do not drink glass after glass in one sitting. Aim for 4 cups of water during the morning and 4 cups during the afternoon. Or fill a pitcher with 64 ounces of water, and keep in the fridge and consume over the day. That way you know you don’t have to keep track.

2. Stop chewing gum. Air from chewing gum ends up in your gut, and you will feel like you have gas, which will cause a distended belly. If you must chew gum, try to chew with your mouth completely shut. You probably think you do, but most people don't! This will stop drawing in air. This same rule applies to eating meals. Try not to talk while chewing, as this draws in a lot of air into the belly.

3. Watch your low cal sweeteners, these sweeteners do not always fully digest, causing gas and bloat. Try to wean yourself off any unnatural sweeteners, and get used to a unsweetened taste gradually.. you won't miss it.

Try these above tips, and you should notice a difference in your belly. The day you zip up your jeans without that bloated feeling will also be the day you notice the scale drop. This could be the cause of those stubborn last 5 pounds you wanted to get rid of.

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Post Title. 06/06/2009
 

Food has always been a central part of any celebration. With that in mind, how are we suppose to lose weight with very low calorie, low fat, or no fat, and no carb diet, and enjoy ourselves, while watching everyone around us eat cake?

Weight loss can be hard, yet we are bombarded daily with ads about how easy it is to lose weight, if you just follow their program or buy their product. If it was as easy as buying a product, then there would be no weight problems at all.

I have personally watched two friends, lose and gain weight 4 times in the last year. By the end of the year, they were the same weight as when they started, and they were miserable during the entire time, as well as picking up every cold and flu.

What is the point of working towards that killer body if you feel miserable, weak and sick?

If you are seriously overweight, and it has affected your health to the point of an emergency, then follow your doctor's instructions. But if you are like me, and needed to lose a few pounds, or in my case 25 pounds, then there are ways to tweak your routines to help with your weight loss.

In that same year, that my two friends lost and gained weight with their very low calorie, low fat, no carb diets, I lost 26 pounds, and really didn't feel it at all. Now they are asking me how I did it!

If you do not want to give up any of your favorite foods, then try adjusting the size a bit. I don't mean cut it in half or anything, but try putting it on a smaller plate. Have you noticed how large the restaurant plates are now?.. Have a glass of water just before you eat, and that will take away that urge for seconds.

A pound is 3500 calories. If you adjust your day by approximately 250 calories, that will give you a weight loss of one pound every two weeks. That may not sound like much, but it adds up quickly. If you just can't remove 250 calories, then do a few walks around the house, while you are yakking on the phone, or do some stretches or steps during commercial breaks on TV, walk your dog. Try to burn 100 calories with a bit of exercise, and then you only need to get rid of 150 calories in your food, which is really just a little tweak, could be as simple as dropping one soft drink for water..

By trimming a bit here and a bit there on your meals, you can easily find 150 calories.. No, this is not a blast the fat in 7 days diet, no, this is a slow and steady weight loss that you are likely to continue with, it is not really a diet at all.. and that is the point!

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Post Title. 04/09/2009
 

Today I was in a rush, and forgot to bring my lunch, but ran to the grocery store, and tried one of the lean cuisine meals, you can throw them in the microwave,  and loved it!.  They are usually around 300 calories or less, and it kept me full for most of the afternoon..  great backup idea.. keep a few in the freezer. 

There are few different brands, just check the label to monitor the calories and enjoy!

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Post Title. 04/06/2009
 

Exercising with other people, is a great way to get out there and just do it...  I seemed to have hit a plateau with my scale, but my waist seems to still be shrinking..  That is the power of exercise.  I also signed my dogs up for dog training, since they are a bit unmanageable with guests!.  We have to walk and practice with our dogs for the one hour, and I really felt it in my legs later, but had a lot of fun..  every movement burns some calories.  Exercise with a friend!

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Along with your new way of eating, a bit of exercise helps to keep things moving.  I don't mean you have to huff and puff down the streets or in a gym, I mean simple quick exercise that helps your mood and your body.

Walk the dog..  if you don't own a dog.. go to the animal shelter and offer to walk a little dog or an older dog (don't go for the super strong big dog that will pull you down the street just yet!) even just for 15 minutes, you will feel better, and the dog will enjoy a nice walk..  A WIN WIN situation,   If you feel like going for more than 15 minutes, then BONUS!..  But start by telling yourself, you are only going to walk the block, and then see how you feel.  It is a mind game when it comes to exercise.  If your brain thinks it has to sweat and puff for one hour, you are not going to do it, but a 15 minute quick walk?..  just as effective, especially if you do a few of them during the day.  This will keep your progress moving, and help to avoid the plateau's you hear about.  Plus you will feel good for the fresh air and making a dog happy!

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Yesterday I was measured and weighed, and I managed to lose 2 more pounds, and one inch off my hips and one inch off my waist.  I am now within 10 pounds of my weight loss goal. 

A year ago I was 28 pounds heavier than I am now.  I followed my own plan, (HOME page) and it is still working well.  I have added more exercise to my routine, to keep things moving.  Plus I FEEL like exercising now, I have more energy, and the best part of all my blood pressure..

119/75..  A year ago it was 148/95  and going up..  I actually noticed my blood pressure drop after a 12 pound weight loss.  It actually didn't take much.  If I had not tried this plan, I would have been on meds.  I found this slow and steady weight loss worked best for me, but you can speed it up, but don't lose too quickly, as it will be hard to keep off.  I don't even feel like I am dieting!  You can do it.. especially if I did it!  .

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