by Gauri Trivedi

Created on: October 07, 2008   Last Updated: October 14, 2008

The only time I crossed hundred pounds was when I got pregnant. And that was the only period that I stayed over hundred pounds. The day my baby completed half a year, I was back to my original weight. To some it seemed like a miracle, a few presumed I would be either starving myself to death or hitting the gym every day. Neither was true. Only those close to me knew I had a natural tendency not to put on weight easily, that coupled with a few thoughtful eating habits, made me stay slim all year round.

I would not call them diet secrets, there is nothing about them that I am not willing to share, but I would regard them as positive eating habits which obviously count a lot in keeping me naturally slim.

1. One balanced meal a day

I am not a fussy eater and can eat just about anything as long as it is vegetarian. Yet, I make it a point to eat one whole meal a day, preferably lunch. A balanced meal which gives my body enough of all the necessary nutrition and fills up my stomach too. The positive effect of this is that I don't feel hungry long after that full meal and am able to avoid mid-day snacks.

2. Tea

Long before I read about its benefits, I was drinking tea, twice a day with minimum sugar and milk. I am glad that it contains antioxidants, but that's not really the reason I drink tea. A hot cup of tea is a good start to a day and when I feel a little tired as the evening sets in, tea is what I need to freshen me up.

3. Not tempted by fried foods

I don't know which of the statement is true. I stay slim because I don't eat fried foods OR I don't eat fried foods and that is why manage to stay slim. Honestly speaking, I dislike oily and fried foods because they give me a sore throat every time, but the advantages of not eating them are not lost on me.

4. No table salt

As a rule, I never add salt additionally. Salt added on to cooked food doesn't get digested easily by our body. Sprinkling salt on salads is also not a very healthy way of eating them. Keep this small thing in mind and resist reaching out for that cute little salt shaker on the table.

5. Cheese better than butter

Being a vegetarian, I try and include cheese in my diet to get enough fats and protein, but butter, I try and avoid as far as possible. I am sure nobody can really ignore butter totally but it is definitely not a part of my daily food.

6. Water after half an hour

Long back I read somewhere that drinking cold water immediately after a meal, makes it easier for fat to accumulate in our body. To avoid this, there must be a gap of half an hour or so between meals and drinking water. I have taken this information literally to heart. As much as I get tempted, I drink water only after some time has passed after the meal.

7. A little effort to digest the food

When we were kids, my mother used to make me and my sister clean up after dinner. Early in life she wanted us to learn the importance of cleaning up the kitchen before going to bed. Her intention was maybe to give us a lesson in cleanliness, but I got a twofold benefit from it. By cleaning up after meals my body gets some exercise and by the time I am finished, I already feel lighter.

To conclude, there are really no diet secrets that make me stay the way I am, it is just a few simple rules I have made for myself and as long as I stick to them, I can just about eat an ice-cream everyday!

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