by Lowri Ann Davies

Created on: July 30, 2008   Last Updated: June 29, 2009

There are always times when you feel that you should be spoiling yourself but always hold-back because of the consequences, for example during holidays when there are party, meal and Barbeque invited pouring through your door. There plenty of Diets designed to 'radicalize' the way you live eat and feel, genuinely I don't feel these are ever tailored to fit everybody's lifestyle.

The easiest way to keep the weight off is by playing a game of 'chess' (of sorts), there is a saying that you should eat a King in the morning, a bishop in he evening and a pawn at night.
This basically means that when you first wake up you fill your body with the most food. This doesn't mean to say that you can stuff yourself with junk. Lot's of food within reason, like perhaps a fibrous breakfast cereal with some fresh or dried fruit and some toast. This will fill up your stomach for a long time as the fibre in the cereals swells in your stomach making it fuller.
The bishop meal could be something like a noodle salad or a packed lunch including a little bit of something you fancy like a chocolate bar or a bag of crisps. This is where you can be a bit naughty.
Then the Pawn for tea should be something a little smaller, no huge hearty meals just before bed. If you eat before you go to bed your body doesn't use the nutrients that you absorb from your meal so they store them instead as fat. So it is beneficial to eat a little earlier.

Now this does sounds a little bit impractical but it's really all about routine when your off work too, i know it sounds tedious but keeping busy during our time off means you eat less. Scientists have proved that when you aren't busy your body releases a hormone that makes you hungry therefore you are more prone to snacking. Also keeping fit and busy does release endorphins which are hormones that improve your mood. An improved mood means that you are less prone to snacking on fatty thing because you aren't feeling down and low and looking for a sugar high to boost you. It also means that your burning those all important calories.

Now Snacking is an issue that is quite something to address because often meals don't fill you up, particularly if you are a busy busy woman and constantly on your feet. There is nothing wrong with a bit of devilish snacking now and again the odd choccy bar or bag of sinful crisps but when you find yourself tucking into your third family size bag of crisps for that day it then perhaps you need to stop and think. The best things to snack on are dried fruit or nuts and seeds which I know can sometimes taste a bit boring. The best way to do it is to combine them yourself into a lovely flapjack absolutely simple to make and even simpler to eat. Just combine some oats and some puffed rice cereal, dried fruit and few seeds with a bit of brown sugar, butter and some honey, bake it and enjoy.

Remember that food isn't designed to be seen as a kind of enemy, it's designed to be nutritious and enjoyable. Combine things in healthy portions, keep yourself busy even if it's a couple of sit-ups during advert breaks or running up to the shop to buy your newspaper. Keep yourself in a little routine even when you're not at work just so that you don't feel obliged to snack more.

Remember it's just a game of chess, (of sorts).

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