When You Are On A Diet!

You finally have decided to go on a diet to lose those extra pounds. However, it has been several days and you do not see any results; "is it the diet or is it me?", you ask yourself. Well, perhaps there is a little both of things. Here are SIX cases or moments that can be interfering and you had not noticed.

You finally have decided to go on a diet to lose those extra pounds. However, it has been several days and you do not see any results; "is it the diet or is it me?", you ask yourself. Well, perhaps there is a little both of things. Here are SIX cases or moments that can be interfering and you had not noticed.

1. During summer it is very likely that you have had an opportunity to go on a well-deserved vacation! But do not lie down to sleep. Relaxing and not doing anything makes you let your guard down and, although you may be sweating because of the hot weather, you may not be burning the necessary calories. Besides, as vacation spots are full of temptations you do not want to miss out on, limit yourself to following these tips:
   
   Number 1: Drink lots of water! Aside from quenching your thirst, natural water will give you the feeling of being full and will keep you hydrated, which is essential especially during this hot weather.
   
   Eat as much as you want, but not sweet desserts. b) Avoid alcohol during and between meals. c) When you eat out, try eating light foods and, of course, the menu must include salads, with which you should start our meals. Also, take advantage of any opportunity to enjoy your vacation in an a-c-t-i-v-e manner; enjoy swimming, taking a stroll or exercising in any way for at least 30 minutes.
2. Stressful situations. When you start a new job or you have many activities that stress you, or you have an important change in you life, such as a new job, a new house or even moving to a new city, it is normal for nerves and tension to blow out of proportion. In these circumstances it is easy to eat more than you should, or to stuff yourself with sweets to comfort yourself and make up for the stress. To avoid this, take a head start on these events: fill up your refrigerator with healthy foods that are low in calories, try to relax by taking out time to do something you enjoy, go out for a walk, trying to make these long walks. It is shown that walking reduces anxiety and tension, so plan on making one of your daily trips a half-hour walk that helps to accelerate your metabolism.
3. Living as a couple. According to a recent study, women gain an average of five pounds after marriage (some up to 15). Nutrition experts suspect that this weight gain is related to what they call "video and home dinner syndrome": sitting on the couch in front of the TV with snack foods. They also attribute it to married women now having to cook by which they eat breakfast, lunch and dinner more than when they lived on their own or were single and putting aside the gym in order to spend more time with their partner. To avoid falling in this trap, look for a sport that you can share with him. Also, have all the necessary ingredients to prepare quick salads and precooked meals instead of frozen pizza and French fries. Looking for a diet and a sport both of you can enjoy might help you maintain a shape that other couples envy.
4. You have a baby! When the baby arrives. During pregnancy, nature prepares us by increasing the fat reserves on our hips and thighs; those of us who tend to gain weight go into a dangerous stage. If you gain weight even though you take care of yourself, do not get depressed; after birth and the forty days thereafter, when your hormones regain their balance, you will be able to go on a diet. In the meantime, since our eating schedule will be thrown off because of the baby, keep healthy foods that are low in fat, particularly fruits, in the refrigerator. Remember that you have to eat well, especially if you are breastfeeding. There are organizations, such as March of Dimes and the WIC Program, that could advise you a recommended diet and you may also check with your doctor. Also remember that even if you lose weight, it is important to firm up your womb muscles. You will soon be in better shape than before if you follow the tips you get from the organizations or your doctor and also exercise.
5. When you work at home and you have small children, the risk of eating more than you should is very high because you always have food at your fingertips. The best solution to this situation is to exercise. If you do not dare to ask your partner to watch the kids three times a week so you may exercise, then bring the gym home. Play with your kids, do gymnastics, ride bikes. It also helps to watch exercise shows on TV because they give you ideas to take advantage of everyday objects and furniture to stay flexible and in shape. How about playing with the exercise balls? Your kids will surely enjoy that as well.
6. Stop smoking. This harmful habit speeds up the metabolic rate (more fat is burned), increases the feeling of being full and seems to relax your nerves. This is why it is normal for you to gain weight when you stop smoking: you eat more. However, it is a natural weight gain that you will be able to lose easily by following a diet. Please, do not smoke just to maintain your weight! The risks of getting cancer and/or having a heart attack are real. What you can do is go on a diet when you have stopped smoking. Sticking to a diet and quitting at the same time is impossible because the anxiety and need for the nicotine will make you grab anything even when you know you are committing a great sin in terms of your diet. Instead you can have cucumber, carrots, and fruit with a little bit of sugar handy.

A good idea is to drink plenty of water; this helps the body get rid of the nicotine and it has a certain filling effect. Physical exercise, which is very helpful when you want to lose weight, has other additional advantages such as relaxing your nerves in a natural way and calming the anxiety caused by the lack of nicotine.

Whenever you try to lose weight, check with a professional that will help you lose it in a supervised manner.

The worst thing you can do once you have lost weight is go back to your "normal eating habits". If you do, you will regain the lost pounds. Estimate one maintenance week for each five pounds lost. To maintain your weight, gradually introduce into your diet small amounts of the "forbidden" foods. Now, if you truly want to maintain the weight you have reached, decide with military-like discipline which foods will never again be part of your diet for being bad for you.