by Monica Allen

Created on: January 19, 2007   Last Updated: September 22, 2009

The thought of dieting and exercise might be daunting, but it's key to healthy living. The older we get, the higher the hill we have to climb to achieve or maintain a slim and trim figure. First and foremost, the mind must be exercised. Looking forward to starting a new program, getting slim and trim in this case, instead of considering the process an act of punishment, is how we need to switch our way of thinking. Society conditions us to believe that being thin is a sign of beauty, not so much a sign of health. No wonder so many of us suffer from poor self-esteem and a false sense of self-image.

I am here to set the record straight. To become slim and trim, the healthy way and no matter what our body type, we have to accept the process of change. We have to understand that it is going to take effort on our part to achieve this goal. Most importantly, we MUST set a goal. Goals allow us to track results, and if we don't track results, it's impossible to monitor change. Setting goals and keeping track will without a doubt set us up for success!

When replacing high-fat meals with healthy alternatives, be creative by designing your own recipes. Modify your favorite dishes to incorporate healthy food choices and cut back on portion sizes. Cutting back on the portions we consume will have a huge impact on how much weight we lose. Remember that the size of your fist indicates the size you should eat of each component on a plate (3-6oz lean protein, cup whole grains and cup vegetables).

It's important to set specific times for meals and snacks and to stay consistent with the times you set. The ideal timeline to eat is early in the morning, mid-morning, noon, mid-afternoon, and in the evening. Don't let busy schedules deter you from taking proper care of your diet. Your health is more important than the sales report your boss has requested. Don't skip meals to later find yourself overindulging your ravenous appetite.

A great tip to keep in mind if you're really serious about getting slim and trim is don't eat three hours before you go to sleep and one hour before you workout. It's better to let our bodies pull from the stored fat during a resting or aerobic phase to replenish our muscles, instead of pulling from food that has been consumed just prior to these activities. It's nice to know we can shed pounds while we sleep, huh?

Drink lots of water. Hunger-pains are usually a sign of dehydration, which most people solve by eating. Next time you feel this way try drinking

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