Small changes for weight loss and a long, healthy life

It’s no secret that the United States is not the healthiest or leanest place on the planet. But there IS good news if you want to get healthy…and lose weight. There are baby steps that you can take. You don’t have to ban ice cream or pizza from your mouth; you just have to make a few small, simple changes to get big and very important results…results that will last a very very long lifetime!

1. Don’t drink your calories. Sodas, coffee drinks, smoothies and alcoholic beverages can all reek havoc on your waist line. The typical can of soda contains 150 calories, coffee drinks can have anywhere between 130 and 800 calories, and smoothies and alcoholic beverages are no better. So…what is the change here? Drink water before anything else. Water has zero calories and great body benefits!

2. Hide the goodies. Move all the tempting cookies, chips, ice cream or whatever sabotages your healthy habits to the back of the cupboard, fridge or freezer. Out of sight, out of mind.

3. Don’t hide the goods! Good food, that is! Get the fruit and veggies out of their drawers in the bottom of your fridge so that they are right in your face as you open the refrigerator door!

4. Eat an appetizer before your meal. Nope, not stuffed mushrooms or chips and salsa, but eat a small veggie salad or fresh veggies before every meal. Research shows that people that follow this practice eat up to 12% less per meal…think of how that can add up!

5. Walk it off. Whether you are an avid exerciser or a self-proclaimed couch potato, everyone can benefit from taking the stairs and parking in the furthest space away from your destination. Every little bit of movement counts: standing is better than sitting, walking is better than standing. Make it your motto.

6. Make the best decision possible. At the drive thru, at the family dinner, at the lunch meeting, at the refrigerator, make the best decision possible…the healthiest decision possible. It takes 21 days to create (or break) a habit…stick with it!

7. Slow down. Eating slowly can help your body register fullness before you overeat. People that take time eating (instead of scarfing your meals and snacks), weigh less.