Avoiding Fat Traps
Back in caveman days – if those days really existed, (please don’t email me about theories, etc.), we had to struggle on a daily basis to get enough food to eat. We were conditioned to ‘go for it’ whenever food was available. And when it came to keeping fit – we didn’t have to find to exercise – just simply surviving meant that we got plenty of exercise. What I’m getting at is this, we are ‘programmed’ to go for and crave food – especially fat for its sustaining calories that we can rely on in times of need, and sugar for its quick bursts of energy.
Nowadays food is everywhere we look. It’s virtually impossible to get away from it. Every gas station offers snacks and even some clothing stores have candy bars and other fat traps, uh, delightful treats near the checkout counter. So what can you do? Pay for your gas at the pumps. It’s really more convenient and it eliminates the need for you to be tempted by those mouth-watering snacks.
There’s a trend to buy in bulk. This is a way to save money – but studies have shown that the more food people have available to them, the more they will eat. With that in mind, buying in bulk may not be a great idea. But if you want to buy in bulk to save money, simply separate the portions out into acceptable sizes. Put a small portion of those of in a place with easy access and the rest should be place out of sight.
Simple is better. Here’s what I mean. The human brain has separate centers for sour, sweet, and salty tastes. When you turn on an appetite center there is an urge to eat until it registers full. Many manufacturers work to add sweet tastes to sour or salty foods, and vice versa. While it’s true we enjoy sweet and sour flavors, and things like kettle pop popcorn, the reality is – these products are harder to stop eating than their simpler counterparts.
Be careful about where you eat out. Romantic settings are often dimly lit, and they are the kind of places that people tend to spend long evenings. This means the meal may start with an appetizer, include alcoholic drinks, the main course, breads, and even a dessert. The key is, moderation. Choose to stick with your main course, and up to two of the other items. If desserts have been ruled out then stop the waiter before he/she goes into describing the delectable delights. Instead, you can simply order a cup of black coffee.
Free refills are not really free – just ask your hips. The only way to truly enjoy free refills is if you are drinking water.
Limit your choices. This applies mostly to eating at buffet style restaurants. One way to handle this is to begin with a full glass of water and a nice salad. As you eat your salad you can be deciding on what you will have next. The idea is that the water and salad will help fill you up, and therefore, you will not overeat. When you go back to the buffet, again, add some fruit or other healthy, low calorie choice, and build from there.
Training your body takes time. For some people, sticking with a healthy eating routine is easier through the week than it is on the weekends. That’s because the weekends bring time with friends and family. But your body will have a hard time adjusting to heavier eating on the weekends and a healthy routine through the week – you will have a difficult time losing weight, and if you do lose it, you will likely gain it back.
If you work in an office you know office food is always around – things like donuts, bagels, candy, cookies, and more, are commonly brought in to be shared – more fat traps. And they are placed in the most tempting locations. It’s often almost impossible to avoid being around these goodies. So what do you do? This is a tough one, but, if you are clear about your intentions, your co-workers will understand and at least some of them will be supportive.
If all of this is beginning to sound like a lot of work, don’t feel overwhelmed. There are some easy ways to eat healthy and avoid these fat traps. One of the easiest and healthiest is the Bistro M.D. program. The meals are carefully prepared to ensure proper nutrition and serving sizes. It’s a proven weight loss program that works. Created by a bariatric physician and award winning chefs. Put our experts in your kitchen! The plan takes all the guess work out of what to eat, and your shopping is done for you. Overall, you’ll find it saves you money and stress. Give it a try Get $25 Off on First Week’s Order excluding shipping at BistroMD.com. Use Coupon Code: NewYou2012
