The Difference Between A Diet And A Life Style

I think the difference between a diet and a life style change is whether the healthy changes you are making are truly things you can stick with in the long haul. I think in order to form habits for life they must be balanced and things you can truly live with. Radical extremes get in the way of progress. For me saying I am going to walk for 2 hours 7 days a week is unrealistic, I could do it for a few weeks, but eventually I would fall off, I may procrastinate on doing it in the first place. This is an example of a diet mentality. What I do instead is say I am going to walk for 20 minutes in the morning before work, and 20 minutes most days after work and 30 minutes during my lunch. It is far easier for me to stick to the smaller chunks of time, because I don't feel pressure to get every thing done in one session. I find comfort in knowing I will have another chance to finish what I started. I find it difficult to get away for longer stretches of time and I find the prospect of walking for such a long period daunting whereas the idea of walking for twenty to thirty minutes is doable. I am finding that the main thing I need when it comes to life style changes is to find what truly works for me. No more all or nothing! CLM

Lesson I Have Learned: Salad Should Taste Good!

Over the years I have been very strict about what I will allow on a salad. I have used the salad spray dressing that is 10 calories per serving, I have stopped putting chopped nuts my salad, skipped dried fruit and left cheese off the salad. What I have been left with is a dry boring salad that I cannot bear to eat. I have noticed that I eat salad far less frequently and that it has become quite the chore to eat salad. For a person that does not care for cooked vegetables much I need salad daily! I have been a calorie counter and I have been afraid to order salads fearing the worst that they would be 1,000 calories the highest calorie item on the menu, and mean while I have been busy ordering french fries, fried chicken and fried cheese and rich pasta dishes instead. I think there is a such thing as going over board with becoming the calorie police. I may not mind skipping cheese on my daily sandwich, but I would like to add a sprinkle of low-fat cheese to my salad and I am not talking fat-free greek feta unless that is the taste I am going for. I am bringing toppings back to my salads, a few sprinkles of nuts, dried fruit or cheese may add some calories to the zero calorie salad, but to me it is so worth it!!!!!!!!!! Hey it is bad enough I am passing up the milk shake and the fries and having water with my meal. I will not go on an diet that I cannot live with. CLM PS: Speaking of flavor I use real mayo, made with Olive oil on my veggie burgers along with a little mustard, I figure I am off setting it by eating the 100 calorie bread. I believe there needs to be give and take and balance to cutting both calories and fat. I see now that I really need to eat from all the food groups and not just go crazy in any one direction. I also learned I rather eat light pop-corn than fat-free. CLM

Lesson I have learned: Walking does a body good!

Lesson I have learned: Walking does a body good! Earlier in the day I was feeling so blue. I went for a walk during my lunch break and when I came back I felt like a different person. As I inch closer to 30 I am learning so many powerful lessons about health. #1 I learned that fiber and water go hand and hand. #2 I have learned that walking is better than any anti-depressant. #3 Salad does not have to be a meal, you can add it to a meal. I like to start my meal with fresh vegetables. #4 Fresh fruit is a daily must. #5 I like my yogurt just on the low sugar side. #6 A small bowl of cereal is just fine! #6 When it comes to snacking low-fat is better for me than low-carb! Ice cream, chocolate and fatty chips are not the best snacks for my body. I traded in my high fat snacks for low fat treats such as frozen pops, light pop-corn and sugar-free pudding! Bonus: Today was a great day! I walked at lunch and after work! I plan to rise and shine at 5:45 am to hit the gym before work. Only non-rainy days I will bring healthy snacks to work instead of a sit down lunch and I will put the novels down and put on my walking shoes instead! CLM