Old time dieters constantly struggle with how much they eat. Controlling intake is always what brings us down. So here’s the trick: two small snacks plus one full meal—that’s it.
Remember the old SlimFast plan: shake for breakfast, shake for lunch, and a sensible dinner? That’s what we’ll do but without the shakes—let’s use healthy friends instead.
Half fast
Snacks are required to get you through the day and should be eaten with intent. This way, no matter what you have for supper, you’re good. Try yogurt, protein, and fibre. Yogurt is good for the tummy because of probiotics (good bacteria), things like carrot sticks can never do you harm, and cheese or a handful of nuts fills you up. This way you get only goodness from the day.
Hunger pangs need to be addressed with protein and not right away. Let your body munch on fat for a while. And you don’t need to eat first thing. Our night long fast can continue until done. So eating breakfast isn’t necessary.
True fasting is stressful and we’d all starve to death (eventually). What we need is a plan that limits intake. So wake up with fasting in mind and then cheat from there. It may take a few days to adjust, but once you get going—it works. (And that’s what dogs do.)
Body as a friend
Psychologists always talk about gratitude. That we should be thankful for every day. You know what I’m grateful for? My body. I’ve abused this vessel for years, always placing it somewhere down the list. Maybe it’s time to care for my friend.
Separate body from self and imagine your body in need of relief. It’s been dragging you around for a long time and may need a break. Time to catch up. You have loads of calories stored up that need to burn off.
Treat your body like a friend. Eating less means sleeping less and you’ll gain energy. Energy that’s now being used to digest. Remember, weight loss is a byproduct of living well. So to lop off pounds, you gotta love Big Joe (Julie, Frankie, or Jill).
First thing
When you wake up, what’s the first thing that goes through your mind? Mine was food.
The road to bettering your body includes fixing mental health and, believe it or not, you can rewire your brain. It’s the power of positive thinking and everyone can do it. Make the first thought of your day to control food intake and then continue from there.
Success comes from focus and this is your chance. Yes you’ll feel pangs, but they’re less painful than recovering from surgery. So why wait until something breaks? Move your body’s priority up to top of the list.
Summary
There’s a scene in the movie Crash, where a mother blames her oldest son for her younger son’s death. She says, “You know whose fault this is? Yours. I always told you to bring your brother home (from the streets), but you were always too busy being successful to ever get that done.” Think of this as a warning to yourself.
Rise with good thoughts, eat only two snacks a day plus one full meal, and exercise when you can. This way you’ll sleep less, have more energy, and your body gets to make a friend.