Save Money – Ditch the Diet!

Getting healthier and lose some weight.

Don’t starve yourself and be miserable. Steer clear of sugar, fats and alcohol and follow these simple tips. Perhaps the easiest one is - you would not put diesel fuel in your petrol engined car so don't put junk food into your body - treat it with respect and then like your car, it will work longer and better.

1. Extreme diets – cabbage soup diet, grapefruit diet need to be ditched. Working out five times a week also needs to be forgotten. Here we need to concentrate on something sensible. A system that works for you, with a target that is attainable, where you will not be defeated or depressed.

2. Take the sensible line - first of all make sure you eat breakfast. No, not a fry-up, but a good cereal – not one loaded with sugar - try porridge.

Making porridge is no longer a chore. Three tablespoons porridge oats (organic are better) placed in a deep bowl with a small pinch of salt, plus a handful of sultanas and a mug of cold water, microwaved on High for three minutes will do the trick. Top with some fruit, a sliced apple or something to your taste, and you will last until your mid-morning light snack and feel better. Save money here - this is much cheaper than a fry-up and is better for you.

3. You need to eat five times a day. Yes, that‘s right – five times a day. Three sensible meals (that word again) and two snacks to sustain you. Give preference to home cooked meals. Ready meals usually contain far too much sugar and salt to be good for you and are expensive. Save money here.

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4. Don’t overload your plate. Don’t pig-out. Have plenty of vegetables – but not potatoes. If you should over-load your plate don't force yourself to eat it.

5. A good tip here is to use a slightly smaller plate . The lack of space on the plate will encourage you not to 'pile it high'- just aim for a normal looking meal, adjusted to the size of the smaller plate.

6. As you read down these tips it will occur to you that one ingredient in your diet that is absolutely essential is will-power. You must want to succeed. If you don't have this desire, the person you will be hurting is the one person that matters most in all of this - YOU.

7. Snacks means fruit, thinly sliced carrot sticks, hoummus on a slice of crisp bread or something similar. Forget all about Mars bars, chocolate fudge cake – they have just gone sailing out of the window along with the crisps, pork scratchings and other forbidden so-called 'delicacies’. Ditching all these items will also save you money. To be brutally honest, the current high prices of foods will encourage a lot of people to take a different view of their diet.

Who would have thought the sub prime market crises would have ended up fighting obesity?

8. Cut down on the caffeine intake. Make sure you drink your coffee with some food to avoid acid overload. It has been proved in the States that people who over-indulge on coffee have more stomach pains. Also some of the lattes sold in coffee bars, as well as being expensive, contain enough calories to be a meal in themselves. If you cannot cut off completely make sure you choose the skinny version. Think good health and save money here.

9. Make sure you do not cut yourself off from the family or friends because of your new eating pattern. Make a point of having a meal with them once a week. Otherwise stick to the ‘sensible’ eating plan.

10. If you are a chocoholic limit your intake to one square or one chocolate only after your evening meal. Look upon this one chocolate as your 'special treat'. Excess alcohol is another weight trap. Sorry, but it has just got to go. Be firm with yourself - only you can do it.

11. There is no need to he hard on yourself, but instead of food treats, why not treat yourself to a delicious foam bath? Give yourself a manicure, read a new book (from the library) watch a TV programme that is special and different to what you would normally watch.

12. On the exercise front, walking is the cheapest and one of the best forms of exercise. It can be done anywhere, is cheap – think - save money - does not need special clothing apart from a good pair of shoes. If you really get into the swing of things you should try and aim at 30 minutes a day spent walking. If you are out in the sunshine for 15 minutes per day, this is sufficient for your skin to easily top up your daily doseof Vitamin D (Tip No. 14)

Don't use the excuse of poor weather/or weather too hot - just get out there in the great outdoors and walk!

If you can buy yourself a pedometer (or save money and borrow one) aim at 10,000 steps per day. Walking really does work, not only will the fresh air do you good, but after a few weeks of this regular exercise, you should notice your stomach muscles are more toned. Swimming is also another good exercise if there is a pool near you.

13. An unexpected benefit of walking and exercise is that your blood will pump around your system in a more efficient manner and you will probably find when you are walking your head clears. Use this walking time to sort out problems, seek new ideas and generally enjoy what you are doing. If you have a dog take him/her with you - company is a great and makes your walk more enjoyable

If you live in a town a dog gives you a reason/purpose for walking and,if you meet someone while you are walking, is also a good ice-breaker. Don't forget to take a 'poo' bag with you should the dog have an emergency stop. Also don't fall foul of the local bye-laws. (Pun there!)

This is not a diet - just a sensible (the word again) system. Just let it become your way of life. Don't make yourself miserable, but don't use the excuse - I am feeling miserable - otherwise you will fail. It all boils down to eat less and exercise more. Get a grip! This is all a question of balance.