by Alicia Gonzalez

Created on: May 04, 2009   Last Updated: June 29, 2009

So many of us look at ourselves in the mirror and cringe at our pudgy body. We wish we could figure out the secrets that help shed the pounds. However, there really aren't any secrets. We have pretty much heard all the big and little things that a person can do to lower that number on the scale.

What we consume plays a large role in how we look and feel.

Drink that water! Water keeps us hydrated and flushes out our system. Make it a habit to drink a glass of water before meals and throughout the day. Buy bottled water or refill bottles with water to take with you when on the go.

Make sure to eat those vegetables and fruits. We all know they are good for us, yet so many of us don't eat enough of them. If you don't eat a lot of them, you will end up replacing them with other foods that will most likely have a larger amount of calories and fat. Make it a habit to eat them with your meals and for snacks as well.

Eat healthier meals. Overall, try and make healthier choices. Instead of pizza, eat a salad. Instead of cheeseburger and fries, eat some grilled chicken and mashed potatoes. You can make healthier choices when you go out and eat as well. Sill want that pizza? Order or make a healthier version. Get thin crust and more veggies for toppings instead of meats.

Can't go without dessert? Try frozen yogurt, pudding, angel food cake or a fun size candy bar. These desserts are better for a person and will still satisfy your sweet tooth without sabotaging your weight.

Soda taste so good and so many of us crave it or have a habit of drinking it. A lot of people will say to cut it out completely and to never switch to diet pop because it is bad for you. While diet soda may have ingredients that are not the greatest, overall it is better for your weight than regular soda. If you must drink pop, switch to diet.

Have healthy, handy snacks. A lot of us will grab something at the last minute. Most of our convenient snacks are not the healthiest. Buy healthy food snacks that are individually packaged or package your own up after buying them. Fill snack zipped zip lock bags with baby carrots, grapes, celery, strawberries or other fruits and vegetables. It is also a good idea to buy the 100 calorie snacks they sell out there.

Planning what you eat, how much you eat and when you eat is also important.

Planning your meals can help you consume healthier meals. We all have very busy schedules. Fixing dinner can be tiresome. If we don't already plan out what we are going to eat, we so often

• 1
• 2
• 3
• Next Page >>