How to Cook, Eat and Lose Weight
July 4th, 2009 by Margot
Here is few tips on how to lose weight without any diets, magic pills or starving yourself. It did work for me: I lost 20 kg since last autumn and slowly I’m still losing weight… but the most important is that I feel sooo much better. My goal is to loose about 10 kg more, to have weight like before my daughter was born. Diets are good for some people but when you have to cook for your family, it is hard to diet yourself… unless all of you go on a diet, what with small kids in the house, is impossible.
So here are my tips:
- Prepare more veggies and beans & pulses (legumes) for your dinner.
- Eat more fruits, especially grapefruits and other citrus fruits, apples are great snacks too.
- Use less fat, bake instead of frying.
- Drink as little calories as possible (tea with sugar, coffee with milk and sugar, sweetened juices, shakes etc.)
- Eat smaller portions on smaller plates (make you feel like you are eating more when in reality you are eating less).
- No late night eating, and if you have to – eat some fruit. Fruit bowl in visible place (living room in my case) helps a lot.
- Drink lots of water and caffeine free teas such as red bush (roibos), mint tea and all kind of herbal and fruit teas.
- Green tea, cinnamon tea (¼ tsp of cinnamon powder + some honey for cup of water, but don’t over do it, too much cinnamon is poisonous), lemon tea (slice of lemon with hot water) helping weight loss.
- Natural yogurt and granolas filled with nuts and seeds are good source of fiber, healthy oils and acids, what make them great low in calories snack or breakfast.
- Less or no white bread.
- Exercise 3-4 hours a week, if some days you can’t exercise: clean, vacuum, sweep, go for a morning walk. Joining the gym is very good idea and will keep you motivated more than when you would try to exercise on your own. In my case morning exercise before breakfast is the best option (burn more calories than exercising later) and give me kick to start the day, so I always try to go to the gym around 7 am.
- Allow yourself for little pleasures and eat what you like, but make sure 80% of the time you eat healthy.
- Strict diets does not work or last long (at least for me) but consequent eating less and exercising more yes, it does work (!)
Please note that I don’t have medical background so please contact your doctor before trying any of the weight lose methods.
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July 4th, 2009 at 12:40
Sounds a hair like the Adkins Diet. Which DOES work for so long as you follow it. I did see it work on someone I worked with. Though, I’d like to say IT wouldn’t be a diet for me, your sandwiches really are not sandwiches. I for one can not gain weight. I eat small small portions several times a day.
There is another thing here that I like about the UK. I presume when you mention tea, you are speaking of loose tea. Something that is more recently coming somewhat into fashion in The States. Though I can really speak of my area which is not the city.
BTW: Nice work on “the Slider”. Its been updated too!
July 4th, 2009 at 20:23
you have stated basically all known facts about regulating intake of food (small portions, more meals)
(kidding!)
and exercising on regular basis.
i agree with all that. and my diet and exercising regimen is similar to yours.
to add on the top of all is enough sleep, no addictive habits and vacation/holiday twice a year
greetings to you marg and yours — jb
July 5th, 2009 at 09:15
Great post. Hopefully, you’ll encourage a few people to do the same, given that there’s nothing on your list that screams ‘diet’. It’s all about moderation, and a little exercise. You sound so positive and upbeat – it’s clearly worked for you! Congratulations!
July 5th, 2009 at 20:22
Wonderful and interesting post, Margot, I wiull copy this, huggs! Gloria
July 6th, 2009 at 03:09
nice post I agree as a dietitian Rebecca
July 6th, 2009 at 03:56
Thank you for sharing!! I’m trying to lose weight as well, but keep slipping, especially lately. I will definitely try to follow more of these tips
July 6th, 2009 at 21:02
Also good info for foodies to know and remember. Somtimes we can get out of hand!
March 10th, 2010 at 00:38
I really liked your post; it has so many good ideas about how to lose weight. I just would like to ask you something, do you have an RSS Feed I can subscribe to? I want to be up-to-date on your blog. Thanks.