Why is it that we can have willpower of steel for days and then, in one moment, lose all self-control and eat everything in sight? You have been extremely diligent this week, exercised regularly and eaten all the right foods. Then Thursday night rolls around and you find yourself faced with some mouth-watering chips or an irresistible takeaway. Many of us give in and then immediately regret it.
Here are their simple strategies to help you keep temptation at bay:
• In the face of a tempting Indian meal, eat really slowly. Chew each mouthful twice as long as you normally would and put your fork down between bites. That way you really get to taste your food (the difference is amazing), your brain has more time to register when your tummy is full, and you don’t feel pressured to eat just because everyone else is, or just because the food is there.
• If you know you are going out for a meal with friends, try to eat light meals during the day, but don’t starve yourself or you’ll end up eating more than you intend once you’re at dinner. Unless you’ve got a will of iron, you aren’t going to be able to resist, so eat small portions and try to drink a diet drink or water.
• Before you eat anything, ask yourself how hungry you are, on a scale of one to ten (ten being starving), and only eat if you are a six or over. It’s a really good trick and it makes you think before you eat.
As far as emotional ups and downs are concerned, many of us are much too hard on ourselves and need to allow some room for mistakes. If you feel that you have slipped from your healthy eating plan just try to put it behind you. There is no point feeling guilty — it is extremely counterproductive because you just start to think in negative terms — how you can’t cope or can’t do it.
Recipe of the Week
Gallo Pinto
Serves 6 — 8
Ingredients
3 cups water
1 tsp. salt
1 1/2 cups white rice
1 1/2 tablespoons olive oil
1 medium onion, finely chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced
30 g beef bacon finely diced
1/2 tsp. ground cumin
1/2 tsp. freshly ground black pepper
2 cups cooked red beans, rinsed and drained
Method
Boil 3 cups water and 1 teaspoon salt in a large saucepan. Add the rice and bring back to boil. Reduce the heat and gently simmer the rice covered, until tender, about 20 minutes. Let the rice cool for 5 minutes, then fluff with a fork. Meanwhile, heat the oil in a large frying pan. Add the onions, garlic, beef bacon, cumin and pepper and cook over medium heat until golden brown (about 5 minutes). Add the beans and cook for 3 minutes. Stir in the rice and cook until lightly browned and very flavorful, about 3 to 5 minutes. Add salt and pepper to taste. Serve while hot.
Ask Alva
I have been trying to lose weight for a while and for a time everything went great. But now my weightloss plan has slowed down and I am only shedding a couple of kilos a month. Ali
Are you trying to lose too much weight or shed the pounds too quickly? If so, your goals may be unrealistic, or you may be following too strict a diet. People tend to lose most of their weight in the first few weeks, although most of this is water. After losing this initial weight, people tend to lose half a kilo a week on average, which is still considered good progress. However, if you are taking a slimming supplement, this figure could double to one kilo a week. To put matters into perspective, half a kilo of body fat is equivalent to 500 calories, so to lose one kilo means cutting out 1000 calories, which is no small amount. Remember, you didn’t put the weight on overnight, so you can’t expect to take it off instantly either. My Healthy Eating Guide will explain how to follow a healthy diet and you can mail for a free copy to [email protected]
Alva
For all your weight concerns and questions e-mail Alva Carpenter at:
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