TIp #19: Take Your Mind Off Food

The newest thing I've learned that has helped me lose weight (down to 146!) is staying busy with something that gets me out of the house. I've joined a writing group that gets me out of the house every Thursday, study at the libery rather than at home, volunteer on weekends, and go out with friends every Friday night. I've noticed that the less time I spend at home, the less calories I'm consuming.

When you are out and you get a little hungry or are overcome with a craving and don't have any food with you, you have to go and buy it, right? Well, that costs money! By the time you realize you have to walk or drive to the shop to get it and fish out money from your wallet (and let's face it, most of us don't have the extra spending money) you've probably overcome that craving or you remembered that you have dinner in an hour and you don't want to ruin your appetite.

So volunteer in your community on your down time, go to that museum exhibit you've been wanting to see, go the movies with your boyfriend (forgo the food of course), do a little extra studying and get that A, go to your school's football game, or even just go out and party with your friends! Go ahead! I give you full permission (if you are over twenty-one) to hit the dance clubs and flaunt it! Just go easy on the booze and you could even call clubbing healthy!

Tip #7: Reward Yourself!

Quick: Why do you want to lose weight?
Is it to feel better about yourself? Is it to be viewed better by peers? Is it fit into that bikini you've hidden in the back of your closet that you are too scared to look at? No matter what your answer was, you're likely to forget it eventually. When that ooey-gooey-super-extra-chocolatey-creamy ice cream sundae comes calling your name, your diet plans often fall to the wayside. It might be a little easier to resist, though, if you know that if you lose two pounds that week, you'll treat yourself to that new book you've been dying to read. Rewarding yourself reminds you that you are doing something good for yourself and your actions deserve a little compensation.

Here's my list:
Five more pounds: New workout clothes (including Reebok Easytone! Dying for a pair! I heard they were amazing!)
Ten more pounds: Piloxing gloves and Barre DVDs (and a visit to the Birham yoga studio! Can't wait to try it!)
Fifteen more pounds: Mani-pedi and a facial!
Twenty more pounds: New bikini and a trip to the beach!
Twenty-five more pounds: Ralph Lauren Romance perfume!

You can choose from any rewards you really want! Maybe something like mine or maybe you'd rather have a new little black dress or a new tennis racquet! My only warning is not to reward yourself with food! Don't lose five more pounds and give yourself five-pound cupcake! You will start to relate happiness with junk food and you'll crave the unhealthy stuff even more. You'll basically be moving backwards in your diet. Chose something you really want (but wouldn't usually splurge on) that doesn't have to do with eating.

Starting making your list and stick to it!

Tip #6: Be Social and Burn Calories!

I find that its a lot easier to do something with a little support. Take dieting, for example. It's hard to eat one piece of dark chocolate when the other people you are with are diving into a slice of chocolate cake with chocolate fudge filling and whipped chocolate frosting. What helps me to eat only the piece of chocolate and not the cake is surrounding myself with health conscious people. I inform my friends that I am trying to get healthy and the people who are health conscious only try and help. They say that they won't order anything that I can't eat and they will pass on dessert so I won't get tempted and they'll stop eating whenever I do. They commend me only my weight loss efforts, some even saying that I'm their role model and they are trying to do the same thing. Its easier to diet when someone is backing you up one hundred percent.

Exercise is the same thing. It's hard to push yourself into running the extra mile when you are the only one running. It's a little different when a track star is running next to you. You want to push yourself harder. You want to prove that you can be just as good as they are. It's just human nature. I join my friend for her dance workouts, even though she has been dancing since she was 3. She's crazy when it comes to practicing her routines, but I know she got her body from doing these workouts. I can do the same. I also play tennis with another friend who plays on a tennis team. I took lessons when I was 10 and that's it but it is fun and challenging to play with her. Tennis and dance both torch tons of calories but I don't even notice because I want to prove to myself that I can be just as good as they are.

When my friend who dances and I get together, we often end up playing Wii Fit or the Michael Jackson Experience or Just Dance, all three of which are challenging and major calorie burners. Neither of us notice because we are so busy going, "Oh come one! Best two out of three!" or "You got the star points! I did the actually moves! Rematch!" We plan on doing it for half an hour and end up playing for over an hour! You can play with up to four people so gather up groups of friends and just have fun!