Barbara's Top Twelve Tips for Weight Loss

Tip # 1:  

Don't Starve yourself ! Plenty of diets allow you to eat all you want. There is no need to go hungry. If you like to eat, find a plan that lets you do it with plenty of fruits and vegetables !

Tip # 2: 

Drink Water. It fills you up, flushes toxins from your body, and decreases appetite. Drink at least 6 glasses every day. Even a better option drink lemon water as it helps you lose weight.

Tip #3: 

Drink Sage Tea:  Sage tea may help you lose weight and lower your cholesterol. When I need to kickstart my weight loss and get rid of an extra kilo or two this is what I drink and it works very well for me !

Tip # 4:

Exercise:  Exercise burns calories, suppresses appetite, raises your metabolism, firms and tones your body. And it is difficult to eat while doing sit-ups ! J  

Tip # 5:

Think Green ! You would have to eat 3.5kg of mixed leafy greens (lettuce, raw spinach, sprouts, endive, lambs lettuce, corriander) to consume the equivalent in calories of a large order of French Fries (500 calories). If you like salad dressing, put it on the edge of your plate and dip the prongs of the fork into it, rather than smothering the whole salad.

Tip # 6:

Mindful Eating …. And enjoy Your Food !   Eat slowly and pay attention to eating. Never eat while reading, watching television, on the telephone, or engaged in an activity - you won't notice you are eating, and you won't feel full.

Tip # 7: 

Fool Your Stomach:  with a before-meal snack. It takes twenty minutes for your body to realise it is being fed, and respond by feeling full.  A couple of celery sticks, a carrot or a cup of broth before a meal should do the trick.

Tip # 8:

Plan Ahead, Be Prepared: Keep a variety of foods that fit your diet plan to hand, and healthy, low-calorie snack food available for sudden moments of hunger. Throw an apple or two in the car. Keep a small Tupperware of almonds in your bag for nibbly moments.

Tip # 9:

Alcohol:  is the downfall of many dieters - empty calories that go straight into the system as sugar. Alcohol also suppresses the body's ability to burn fat. If you must have a drink, opt for a glass of dry wine diluted with some sparkling water and sip it slowly. An occasional Gin and Tonic is also a great low calorie option.  

Tip # 10:

Read Labels:   Know the glucose, fat, protein and carbohydrate count per packet (not just per serving) of the food you are buying. Don't be fooled by 'serving' sizes - some 'servings' are impossibly small. (How many of us eat only three crisps out of a packet !?)

Tip # 11:

Eat a small snack before grocery shopping:   (a piece of fruit, vegetable crudites e.g. celery and carrot sticks, wholemeal crackers with a tablespoon of humus or guacamole, goat's / sheep's yoghurt or a handful of nuts and seeds) before you go shopping for food. You will be surprised how sensibly you shop as a result.

Tip #12:

Carob Powder: When you feel like a sweet pick me up beverage in the afternoon. Instead of a reaching out for a sugary chocolate make yourself a cuppa of carob drink either hot or cold. Add a tsp to hot water then let cool or put in the fridge for a cool summer version.  Carob also has excellent nutritional value. It contains magnesium, calcium, iron, phosphorous, potassium, manganese, barium, copper, nickel and the vitamins A, B, B2, B3, and D.