Focus on Being Healthy Not Being Skinny

Here's one of the most important points to keep in mind if you are longing for weight loss success - don't focus on being skinny, just focus on being healthy. All too often folks get the notion that the only way to successfully lose weight is to starve yourself and that you must turn out looking like one of the skinny models in the many magazines plastered on newsstands and the supermarket aisles.
Let's put this nonsense to rest: Don't focus on being skinny, instead focus on being healthy.
In a nutshell, if you focus each day on your nutrition and exercise plan your weight will take care of itself. The only time problems usually occur is when we allow too much sustenance to enter our body without providing a way to burn off the excess in the form of exercise.
Therefore from the moment you wake up, be mindful of every single thing you put in your mouth throughout the entire day. Everything has a calorie count so don't merely pay attention to the types of food you're putting into your body but also the quantity.
Portion size is usually what packs on the pounds since many people eat until they are stuffed. Guess what, if you are eating to the point where your stomach feels like it's going to "explode", you've eaten far too much. Your body just doesn't need that much food to function efficiently.
Eating an appropriate portion size is often the toughest aspect to get a consistent handle on especially since there are numerous opportunities to overeat every day. In other words, even if you eat a healthy breakfast and lunch that doesn't necessarily mean your day will end nutritiously. Dinner can often be a caloric nightmare since most of us are tired at the end of the day, lose self-control, and eat far too much.
If this happens not only will you eat too much, but since dinner is likely later in the evening your body won't have the opportunity to burn off the excess. Then you'll go to sleep and all those extra calories will now simply stick around on the body in the form of fat. Instead of ruining your weight loss efforts and essentially shooting yourself in the foot, here are some tips you can use to help control the portion size at every meal.
One of the best ways to combat overeating is to first serve yourself an appropriate portion of food on a small-sized plate and drink at least 2 glasses of water during the meal. Take your time when eating your meals too. It takes about 20 minutes for the body to register if it's had enough to eat so slow your chewing, drink that water and take your time.
Once you finish your portion, get up from the table. Don't sit around since your eyes may drift back to the food that's still out and convince your mind that you should eat some more. Best yet, start doing the dishes and packing leftovers in travel containers. This will really help get you out of "food mode".
Don't overlook the dangers of snacking while doing leisure activities too! Those moments when you're watching television, on the computer, reading a book, playing video games, or anything else you enjoy doing during your free time. This manner of eating can greatly affect your daily calorie total causing you to go way over an amount that's appropriate for you. Try not to snack while you mind is occupied on something else and you'll save your body countless numbers of calories over the year.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/9334992