Knowing our Basal Metabolic Rate (BMR) is helpful when planning our meals. This tells us how many calories we need to stay at our current weight or to achieve our desired weight. Go to (http://exercise.about.com/library/blbmrcalculator.htm) and plug in your height, weight and gender to get your BMR.
- Decide how much we want to lose each week (no more than 1 -2 lbs.) and pace ourselves accordingly. Losing weight too fast can result in saggy skin and can sometimes be unhealthy.
- Keep track of our blood pressure. BP machines are free at most Fry’s Food Stores.
- Take a week to observe what we actually eat. Write down every single thing that goes into our mouths daily. We’ll be surprised at some of the mindless eating we often do.
Meal planning is vital to weight loss. In order to maintain good health it is best to eat balanced meals. Let’s plan our meals and try to eat more whole foods and less processed foods. Taking a lunch to work verses eating out will not only help our waistlines but also save money. Include healthy snacks such as carrots, celery, fresh fruit, nut and berries. We can make our own trail mix with nuts and raisins, so we don’t get too hungry in between meals.
Eating an apple a day is really good for us! God’s natural candies (fresh fruit) are healthy and make great snacks when on the go. Drink plenty of water. Listen to your body it will tell you when you eat something that does not agree with you. You know that bloated feeling you get after a heavy greasy meal. That’s your body telling you not to do that again.
Remember, we don’t want to live to eat; we want to eat to live!
NancyT
