Shifting Your Eating Habits

Proper eating habits are always important for you to stay successful in your fat loss goal and maintain it. There are a few habits that need to stick:

Eat breakfast. No matter what time you wake up, breakfast is a must. Even if you're sleeping in and waking up at what might be considered lunch time, eat something. It doesn't necessarily have to be breakfast-type food, but make sure you start your day with proper fuel.

Eat at least four times each day. Remember that research shows that people who eat breakfast and frequent meals throughout the day, weigh less and have less body fat than those who do not. These healthy habits help control appetite and help you make better decisions when the time comes to eat.

Drink water. Make sure you're staying hydrated and limiting sugary, less nutritious beverages.

Watch your choices late at night. Eating after 8 P.M. will not make you fat! This is a myth. The real problems are the choices and amounts that are eaten late at night. When those choices are buttered popcorn, candy, chips, and [fill in the blank with what you know you shouldn't be eating], you've typically exceeded the amount of calories you needed for that day. When this practice becomes a habit, the pounds start creeping on. Make it a goal to eat dinner 2.5 hours before bedtime to allow for adequate digestion and a good night's sleep.

You may be thinking to yourself that you already do these things and it's not really a shift in your eating habits. That means we've been successful over the last few months at making that mental shift!