Diet Tips

Weight loss is all about calories in vs. calories out. But sometimes it's not that easy, and we can use a few tips to push us along. The tips in this section were submitted by readers, and include a few of our own favorites. Check back often for new and fresh ideas to jumpstart your diet, or help you get through those little hurdles along the way. Have a tip to share? Send it to us!

Take your time

Don’t crash diet. It’s important not to set yourself goals you can’t meet when you’re trying to slim. Plan to lose weight over the next year, not by February. It probably took you 12 months to put it on in the first place.

Small goals

Need to lose a lot of weight? Make it easier by concentrating on small goals, such as 5 pounds at a time.

80/20

Try to eat healthy 80 percent of the time and let the junk be only 20 percent. If you haven’t eaten your five daily servings of vegetables yet, no junk. No punch or other calorie-laden drinks until you’ve had your water for the day. - Gail Cuthbert, Kent Women’s Aerobic & Fitness Center

Once a week

Designate one day a week where you can have whatever you want without a guilt trip. The secret to being on any sort of eating plan is getting right back to it if you happen to slip a little bit. - Courtenay Schurman, Body Results, Seattle

No stress

Stop the “stress” excuses. If anything, the holidays are the times you must be exercising. Just make better choices and some small changes in recipes to allow some calorie reduction ? but don’t overdo it. If it doesn’t taste the same as the real thing you’re bound to eat two or three times as much! - Carla Quam, Cross Train Concepts Conditioning Studio, Ballard

Tight pants

Wear “too tight” pants to the supermarket (even under a long tunic or jacket) to politely remind you to stay away from the candy aisle.

Don’t give up

If you have a bad day, start again the following day. One day won’t matter, but two might.

Curb the urge

The next time you find yourself tempted to go for fast food or order a pizza, get active for about 15 or 20 minutes instead. Walk on the treadmill or outside, weed the garden, or dust the furniture. After you’ve moved around for a little while, your body will feel better and you will likely find that you want something healthier for dinner. Your body is thanking you

Snack attack?

Don’t fall into the trap of buying snacks “for the kids”, they don’t need them either.

You can’t fail

Remember that having a lapse is not failing. If you go off your diet, don’t quit and don’t get mad at yourself. Just get back on track.