My key to success: Change your routine

by MM
(New York)

I lost 10 kg in 3 months... and stayed at the same weight for the last 10 years! How I did it? I changed a few key things in my daily routine.

These are:
- eat 25% less of anything you put on your plate
- limit "fillers" like potatoes, rice and pasta as much as possible
- eat lots of fresh fruit, as much as you like!!
- limit fatty foods like bacon and chicken skin
- limit alcoholic beverages to 1 unit a day in the first 3 months
- do 30 min. of exercise a day (running, cycling)... get a dog if you love pets and you will have to walk at least 3 times a day!
... and the most fun thing: pick one day a week that is your "cheat day"... you can eat anything you wish on this day without feeling guilty :-)

Wonderful Mediterranean diet tips from my friend

by Zara

The Mediterranean diet changed my life and that is one amazing fact! At the age of 34 I had problems with my weight, in fact I could be considered obese. I had always been a chubby kid because I was addicted to fast food, particularly French fries and king sized burgers. My parents did not realize the dangers and I was a kid to understand that..

Every day I finished my lunch with a big Coke, and in addition, I did no exercise.

As the years went by, I didn’t change my lifestyle, except that I got a car which made things worse actually because then I was constantly moving around in my car and hardly walked at all.

So, soon I found myself having serious health problems, being obese, and in addition, my husband left me and I was left without support.

One day I came across a really good friend of mine that had been traveling around Europe, on shores of Mediterranean Sea. Getting acquainted with my story, she gladly shared some diet tips with me.

She told me that she particularly liked the diet of Greeks, who’s Mediterranean food consisted of about vegetables and fruits, 20% of meats and all kinds of sausages, vitamins and minerals, natural fiber and little or no saturated fat. They usually eat fruits before passing to the actual meal, breakfast is a heavy one, with all types of salads and various dishes, lunch is full as well, but supper they try to have as light as possible. Some people prefer a cup of tea instead of anything to eat.

A dieting tip she gave me was quite easy - all you had to do was to have 3 meals a day each consisting of 2 boiled potatoes, a small piece of chicken breast and 40 gm curd. Once a day I had a salad of lettuce, tomatoes and cucumbers seasoned with Greek’s favorite olive oil. I also had green tea which gave me the feeling of full stomach.

I kept dieting for 10 days, combined with exercises and walks in the fresh air. A month later I got amazing results, lost pound after pound and regained my self confidence and happiness.

Healthy "no carb snack" before a party

by Becky

Do you want to rein in your appetite before attending a party? Snack on a small portion (about 1 ounce) of nuts, preferably almonds, about an hour before the party.

Almonds are packed with protein and fiber, and they also provide monounsaturated fat, the "good" fat that is so important in Mediterranean diet plans. The protein and fiber will fill you up and keep your blood sugar levels stable so food cravings won't derail your diet!

I always keep unsalted, dry roasted almonds nearby so I can snack healthfully.

Losing weight is a permanent lifestyle change, not a plan

by John
(MA, USA)

How to stop overeating? The key I've found to losing weight is to think of it as a permanent lifestyle change for the better and not some plan which expires once the weight goal is reached. You're making a change to diet and lifestyle to improve your life and it's something which you'll keep up because it's good for you, it's not merely a means to dropping some pounds.

Note that I say diet and lifestyle, it's not just changing what you eat but also the way you live and think.

First, we need to accept that there are no quick fixes, it's going to take effort to reach and maintain our goals but those efforts are well worth it. Once you've accepted this thought the rest starts falling into place. You begin thinking that healthy foods are good for you and start seeking them out instead of grabbing the first thing off the shelf. You start planning your meals and making them more healthy and nutritious. And you incorporate healthier activities into your life; start exercising, find outdoor activities to take part in and so forth.

Once you've made these changes and they become part of your life, you'll find that you enjoy them and it's not a chore, and you'll make your weight goals and be a much healthier person at the same time.

But it all begins with accepting that it's a permanent change to your lifestyle and diet.

There is no going back to where you are now. You need to accept that fact and commit to it to be successful.