Health & Wellness

The One-Day Diet Makeover

01.03.13 The One-Day Diet Makeover

It seems that innumerable men and women are in a constant battle to lose weight.  But there’s no need to fight this battle year after year.  You can change the way you eat in just one day. And not just temporarily – but for good.  Cotton Candy has a few tips and tricks that can completely makeover your diet in just one day. And we promise, you won’t feel like you’re missing out.  So use this advice to painlessly transform into a more disciplined, fit and satisfied person.

No.1 Start the Day Right
The old mantra “breakfast is the most important meal of the day” holds true. Breakfast sets you up for success in your diet.  When you eat a healthy breakfast, you will be less prone to binge during the day and more likely to pay attention to what you are eating.  When you’re choosing breakfast foods, try homemade meals because you can control the amount of sugar and sodium in your food.  Cereal is always a quick and popular choice.  But make sure you choose a cereal that’s high in fiber and not loaded with sugar.  The fiber will give you the energy boost you need to start your day.

No. 2 Control Your Portion Sizes
Remember to eat smaller meals, frequently.  By eating reasonable portion sizes throughout the day, you’re less tempted to overeat in a few sporadic sittings.  Many also tend to overestimate how much food is contained in a one serving size.  WebMD.com provides a fun, easy guide that gives easy-to-remember references which will help you determine the proper portion size on your plate.

No.3 Snack Smarter
Many of us don’t pay attention to the snacks in between meals.  But the choices at vending machines and food trucks can destroy your entire diet plan.  Try high-quality protein or fat to snack on, such as a serving of nuts or nut butter, turkey slices, one-third of an avocado or an ounce of organic cheese.  All of these will help curb your cravings for junk food.

No. 4 Drink Up
Most of us know how important water is to a healthy, effective diet.  Yet many of us don’t drink enough water or don’t know how much water we should drink.  The easiest way to know if you’re drinking enough fluid is to look at the color of your urine. If you’re drinking enough water, your urine will be clear or pale yellow. A darker yellow means you aren’t drinking enough water.  The more water you hydrate your body, the higher your energy level will be.  And for dieters, water has no sugar, calories or fat, but has a filling effect that may  deter you from overeating.

No. 5 Know What You Are Eating
It’s important to know the ingredients in your food.  Read the nutrition label before you purchase.  These labels will let you know if you are about to consume food with excess sodium, sugar, fats or artificial ingredients.  When you read the label, you should be able to pronounce the ingredients in the food.  If you’re not able to do this, then you’d probably be better off choosing something that is organic or a product with only a handful of ingredients.

Cotton Candy Magazine®